The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-03
u.-Moses's Prayer for Himself.

Having now prevailed with God for the peo-
pie ana seen them restored to favor, he makes
bold to ask something for himself.
II BEsEECH THEE SHOW ME THY GLORY"
He had seen so much of Gods glory, wit
messed SO much OF His grace, that he thirsted
for more; even as Paul, who had known and
served his Lord Jesus for thirty years, and had
been carried into the third heavens, where he
saw things not possible to be told, yet declared
that he pressed on "that he might know Him
and the power of His resurrection" SO now
Moses prayer for an unveiled sight of Gods
glory. This is the boldest prayer
on record. We can scarcely realize the mag
nitude of it, OF course Moses did not have
form or figure in mind, but desired the fullest
beatihc vision of God. He wished not only to
be admitted to the sight of the uncreated glory
of God, but that he might be strengthened to
behold it. This desire must lie at the bottom
of the heart of everyone who has in any least
wise known the power and tasted the grace of
God; but few, before or since, have been so
bold as to openly ask that it might be granted
unto them. Surely this was "asking largely,
that his Joy might be full" increase of aT-
petite doth grow by what it feeds upon"
1.-The yelled Splendors that he had been al
lowed to see only made him hunger the more
for the unveiled radiance that he had not seen
great prayer, though it was one that
could not be fully answered.. at least
at that time. We cannot displease God
by asking too great things from Him;
especially when it is connected with his glory
and is not designed to be consumed on the
altar of mere carnal desire or curiosity, and
especially when we have been intent on using
our privileges in prayer for unselfsh ends as
Moses had done.
2.-THE PRAYER ANSWERED WITH LIMITATIONS.
Some prayers are not possible of answers.
This was one of them. Not because God is
n di1orr OH dom
ly, above all that we can ask or think" but
because we are not able to bear the answer.
Chou canst not see my face, for there shall
no man see me and live" AT least not now.
and it will be answered to all the saints.
Fifteen hundred years afterward, he
stood with his Lord on the Mount of Transfg-
uration, and talked with Him there in the
fullness of His glory, which the disciples on
the earth could not behold No doubt now in
the ineifable glory He is beholding that which
He longed to see on the earth. In the mean
time God told him that He would grant the
desire of his heart so far as it was possible. If
he could not show Him his essential glory,
he should at least see his ethical glory that is,
the glory Of His character, and at least some
"back parts of the essential glory. With
these limitations in the answer let us see
what part or how much of the prayer was
answered. (a) 81 will make all my goodness
pass before thee" First i viii show the all
the goodness l have in reserve for thee. at
doth net yet appear what shall be, but We
know that when lie shall appear, we shall be f.
Ike Him, for we shall see Him as he is" My
thought is that God took Moses up on the
mountain and there caused to pass before
his eyes the goodness he had in reserve; most
likely showed him the coming secret of his
death, Gnd his translation by anticipatory
resurrection re- into into glory dude y;
and his purpose of grace in him, in way yet
more clear than Abraham had been enabled
to see Chrst's day; in a word, spread before
him panorama of his future life and glorious
destiny. We cannot think Of aught else, and
we dare to think this. The prayer OF Moses,
and the answer so far, has been granted to us,
at least as touching the glory Of God in the face
Of Jesus Chaist." (b) A revelation of His
name. 81 will proclaim the name of the Lord
before thee" This was that revelation of the
grace of God to man in Christ Jesus. 1t could
only be stated IN words afterward (xxxv., So,
for the time was not yet when the whole story
Of that name could be revealed in the person
Of Christ. Moses when he saw this vision Of
grace in Jesus, bowed his head and woTshiped,
and besopght that God might thus in grace 60
In and out among them (XXXv, y.
SHE SOVEREIGNTY OF GRACE.
In making this revelation Of his the
zeal glory" tho Lord uniolded 10 Moses
that showing mercy to thousands, was mat
ter Of pure grace. Tie expression, Il will
show mercy upon whom l viii show mercy"
does not convey tons tho idea OF arbtrariness
in Gods dealings with men, but absolute free
dom. / ann not bound to show mercy; but /
choose 60 DO So and none can hinder, as none
can compel me. Much less are We 10 UNDER
stand that God has made arbitrary selection Of
some to the exclusion OF others, but that lie
has devised mercy for men, and that that ner-
CT (so no doubt he showed 70 Moses was ac-
cordiu. TO purpose Of grace in Christ, which
had been fom before the foundation Of the
world.
4.--THE MANNER or THE REyELiITIoE.
This Is described in tie last three verses Of
our lesson. (a) "There is place by mo and
thou shall stand upon a rock" That place
"by" him, and that "rock, /" is Christ. In him
only can we draw nigh 10 God, and only as we
stand on him can We see tho vision OF Gods