The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-26
r.-moses' Descent from the Mounta,n.

Already the two beautiful tablets on which
the ton commandments were written were in
his hands, when his intercession with God had
secured their respite from the destruction Of
the Lord.
1.-CoNcERNIEG THE TABLES or TESTIMONY.
These were the tablets On which the ten
commandments were written They were
probably not nearly so large as wo arc accus-
toned TO think them. Certainly neither SO
large nor sohcavy but that Moses easily carried
thom, one in one hand and one IN the other
Perhaps ho carried them as we say, one under
each arm. "Ghoy were the work OF God"
Ii is not necessary to suppose that they were
newly created for that purpose, but selected
from material already at hand in the moun-
tain. The essential thought in connection
with them Is THAT these ten commandments
tho Law Of God--were IN no sense the offspring
Of Moses thought. Ho never conceived such
q system of righteousness. These wonderful
words, which shine ont more clearly and re-
splendently after these four thousand years
than ever before, which have never been surer-
eeded or improved upon even in the thought
OF man, were Gods own revelation OF right
eousness, Tho tables were the work of God:
the writing was tho writing OF God" No
wonder Jesus snid TO them: II came not to
destroy the law either by superSeding them
with another law or hy ndding To them or
n
GOT or title, They must stand forever as the
highest expression OF divine righteousness aud
though the Law is not the Gospel and must
not be oonfounded with il in amy way, and can
not do aught for as but make manifest our sin
II nevertheless lies AZ the foundation Of our
salvation; for. Jesus having perfectly fulfilled
it for u.s. the Spirit fuliiliS Il in us and itself
becomes our defense and justification.
2.-~Moshs' DESCENT FROM THE MOUNTAIN.
Armed with these two tables OF testimony,
Moses, no doubt with swelling heart and 10Y.
GUS anticipation Of the further delight aud
gladness OF the people when they should see
this further manhestion Of the divine favor iu
giving them this hgaven-yyrtten law, started
down the mountain. After he had passed
down and out of tho cloud which had shut
him in with God and away from the sight Of
even Joshua, his faithful servant who went so
far with him, and coming again 10 the place
whore Joshua had boon waiting for him All
these forty DAYS, he proceeded on his way 10
the camp. SUI further down the side OF the
mountain they went suddenly the sound Of
voices sm0tc on their ears. Joshua was tho
first 90 bear 70, and az once reported il 10
Moses. surprising il WAS tho shout Of COM
q shouldor OF the mountain would be- fndistinct.
but the bottcr trained ear Of Moses, or his
better Judgment, told him that it was neither
the shout Of those who were victorious in
battle NOR the cry Of those who were defeated.
lt WAS the soond, or tlc voice Of reyelry 1t
Is noted by travellers that In all the latter part
OF the descent from Sinai the plain az its base
Is shut ont from sighti and that sounds would
be heard from it long time before thC plain
would open on the view, STANLEY, Sinai and
Palestine. j. 80 Rut now, approaching tho
edge IF that projecting table on the mount
beneath which The whole camp lay spread oot
before him, tho dreadful spectacle II tho idol
alroVs rcvGl around the calf filld h.S eva.
Much more 6ii 10 IN his heart. first wish
amarongnt then with bitter disappointment.
and finally with an upsPriusing anger, which