others_, that when God would enter into judgment with them, Moses must
be prevailed with to hold his peace, and not pray for them! "The Lord
spake unto me saying, I have seen this people, and behold it is a
stiff necked people. _Let me alone_ that I may destroy them--_and I
will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they_." Let me
alone! As though God could not destroy them without Moses' consent!--
And I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they! As
though Moses must be bribed to silence, ere judgment could proceed
against them!

* James v. 16.

This representation is not to be received without restriction; but we
may safely infer that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much"--that it often draws down blessings from above on those
who deserve no good.

This should encourage us to wrestle with God in prayer, for the
effusions of his grace on those who deserve judgment without mercy,
and who might receive it from the righteous sovereign, did the
righteous hold their peace, and "let him alone."

II. When we witness this holy many [sic] praying _to be blotted out of
God's book which he had written_, it should remind us of our state as
sinners whose only hope is mercy. "Moses' was faithful in all God's
house." His attainments in the divine life were scarcely equaled; yet
must have perished forever had forgiving grace been denied him. He
knew his state; and a view of Israel's danger called home his thoughts
and led him to implore divine mercy for himself, though he should fail
to obtain it for an ungrateful people. "Oh! forgive the sin of this