people, but if not, forgive my sin--pardoning grace is all my
dependence--hope would fail should it be denied me."

If Moses was thus conscious of guilt, who can say "I have made my
heart clean, I am pure from my sin?--O Lord, enter not into judgment
with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified--
there is not a just man upon earth, who doeth good and sinneth not."
While praying for others, it ill becomes us to forget ourselves.

Are we by office appointed to ask mercy for others and bear them on
our hearts before God? We must not therefore conclude that mercy is
not necessary for us. Like the high priests of old, "We must offer,
first for own sins, and then for the people's." There is only one
intercessor to whom this is needless.

Witnessing the sin and danger of others, should stir us up to the
duty, as it did this leader of Israel. While crying to God for others,
we must beware wrapping up ourselves in fancied purity. To this we are
tempted by a view of greater sins in others, which serve as a foil to
act off our fancied goodness; and especially by the knowledge of
certain great sins in others, of which we know ourselves to be clear.

Some in Moses' situation, would doubtless have adopted that language
--"God I thank thee that I am not as other men are--not as this
people." Very different was the effect it had on him--it reminded him
of his sins, and led him to cry for mercy.

It is of vast importance that we know ourselves--if we attain this
knowledge, from sense of demerit, we shall add to our prayers for
others, _but if not, blot me, I pray thee out of thy book which thou