The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-03

GOD knew him by name. Now he really opens
up his heart. He could not bear that the peo-
PIE should be bereft OF Gods presence, and
Ihat they should be counted out of his grace.
lie mad before said that if God would not for
give their sin, he preferred not to live himself
now he boldly asks favor for them and pleads
thelr cause. They are thy people. God had
spoken OF them in his anger as "the
people,, and stiif-necked people
whom he would destroy. Moses
says boldly: Consider that this nation
is thy people" Had he not adopted them for
Apfaham' sake; had he not called them, and
redeemed them with high hand and an out
stretched arm? True they had been migrate
ioi ana had slnned grievously; yet they were
called beings. sinners, and would he now cast
them OIL and disown them? He loved them
III the beginning, not for their righteousness
but because he had in his sovereign goodness
Just loved them Deut. vii, Z, s.. What I'M
selhshness and devotion is this on Moses part
what is the good of having access TO God, if
we do not use it to intercede for our friends,
especially when we have such good arguments
as Moses had.
o.-MosES' PRAYER ANSWERED.
And he said, My presence shall go with
thee, and l will give thee rest" Here was an
answer IN part, but not wholly. 1t was an an
swer SO far as the promise of the Divine Pres
ence was concerned, and so far as he was con-
cerned. II will go with thee and give thee
rest" but nothing is said here as to his rela-
ton to the people, OF that would indicate that
he would fully restore them to favor. Most
persons would have stopped here, but not so
Moses. His heart was set on having the peo-
pie fully restored to favor, and their past
tfansgreSslons fully blotted out. 1t was ''half
a loaf" but not the whole loaf which he
had asked
6.-MosEs CONTINUING IN PRAYER.
rms partial answer to his prayer only stiml
ulated him to press his whole suit, or the rea-
suit he had at heart, yet more boldly and per-
" an will
carry us not up hence" He persietently links
himself with the people. He does not say
carry me not up hence, but carry ''us'' not up
hence. Here is another argument for the peo-
pie: For wherein shall it be known that
ana Thy people have found grace in Thy
sight? Is it not that Thou goest with us? So
shall we be separated distinguished, / and
Thy people, from all the people upon the face
OF the earth" The presence of God in the
sigh OF glory might abide over Moses's tent,
ana all would know that God was with him ;
but he says, "Let thy presence be signalized
over the whole camp, that all the nations may
know that thy people, not alone thy single
servant and friend, are peculiar and separa-
ted people Else will not the nations respect
them, or think of them as thy people,"
7.-MosEs' PRAYER FULLY ANSWERED.
Moses, like Jacob, had prevailed. He would
not let the Lord go until he had secured the
entire restoration of the people to favor. The
Lord hears and answers according to all that
is in his heart. "And the Lord said unto
Moses, will do this thing also that thou hast
spoken concerning the people,: for thou hast
found grace in my sight, and know thee by
name" What a triumph of prayer is
this. God is overcome by his servant,
who knew the strength of his position, used it
not for his own profit, and knew Gods heart.
Ii we would prevail with God, we must stand
on our gracious privileges bear ourselves un-
selfishly, know Gods heart of grace, and be
familiar with his promises and purposes as
they are revealed in his word.