abashed before the moral grandeur of this servant of the Lord! How does the humble prayer which he poured forth, show that it came from a spirit exalted above all that is earthly, and fit for the companionship of heaven!

Imitate this example. Catch this spirit, my young friend. Be truly great, by being humble, pious, and benevolent; by consecrating yourself to the promotion of God's glory, and the best good of your fellow-men. In the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom on earth, with all the sublime and interesting objects attending its progress, be absorbed to the full extent of every power of your soul. Here concentrate your affections, and put forth your energies. Lose, forget, annihilate yourself in Christ, and the blessings which his salvation is to bring upon mankind. Live not for yourself, but for him.

Does he not deserve this devotion? He gave himself for you, to redeem you, by his own blood, from the curse of sin.

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CHAPTER XXXVII.

Moses and Joshua descend. Moses destroys the golden calf. Three thousand of the idolaters are slain. Moses again ascends the mountain.

As Moses was descending from Sinai, with the two tables of the testimony in his hands, he was met by Joshua, who had remained somewhere on the mountain till that time, and they proceeded together. Approaching the encampment of the Israelites, Joshua heard the noise of the people, There who were shouting, and said unto Moses, is a noise of war in the camp;" thinking, no doubt, that they had been attacked by some enemy.

"It is not the voice of them that shout for masneither is it the voice of tery," replied Moses; them that cry for being overcome: but the noise And as they drew of them that sing do I hear." still nearer the camp, he saw the golden calf, the object of their worship, and the people dancing around it. Filled with a holy indignation at such conduct, he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them in the presence of the Israelites. It may seem to us a strange act; but the Jews, like other nations of the East, were accustomed to show the strength of their feelings in sore such way,

and especially by rending their garment as a mark of deep sorrow. It was thus, that Moses intended, by doing what he did, to give the most striking manifestation of the bitter anguish of his spirit. In addition to this, the tables of the law,—the workmanship of the Divine hand,—broken into fragments, was a significant symbol to portray the rash guilt of the Israelites in breaking their covenant with God; their forfeiture of its promised blessings, and exposure to its penalties.

Moses then took the calf, and melting it in the fire, and dividing it probably into small portions, beat them out into very thin plates, like gold leaf. These he ground, or broke, into fine particles like dust or powder; and strewing it upon the surface of the brook which flowed near the camp, made the people drink of the waters.

Nothing could so expressively show the utter contempt in which he held their idol, and his detestation of their wickedness; or be a more striking emblem of the impotency of what they had regarded as the god who could guide and protect them.

It may well be supposed that Moses was especially grieved at the conduct of his brother Aaron. He soon showed this by the inquiry which he made of him. "What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?" Let not the anger of my lord wax hot,” replied

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