THE SIN OF MURMURING. THE VIRTUE OF SUBMISSION.

And the angel of the Lord said unto her, (Hagar) Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.-Gen. xvi. 9.

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt ?-Ex. xiv. 11.

Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.-12.

And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter... Ex. xv. 23.

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, what shall we drink ?-24.

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:-Ex. xvi. 2.

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And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt:...for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Ex. xvi. 3.

Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.-4.

And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us ?-7.

And Moses said, This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.-8.

...Come near before the Lord: for he hath heard your murmurings.-9.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,-11.

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel...12.

Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord ?-Ex. xvii. 2.

And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? -Ex. xvii. 3.

And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.-4.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people...5.

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.-6.

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not ?-7.

Only rebel not ye against the Lord... Num. xiv. 9. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,

-26.

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.-27.

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread,

neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.-Num. xxi. 5.

And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people...6.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee: pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for

the people.-7.

...It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us.-Deut. i. 25.

Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God:-26.

And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the Lord hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.-27.

And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee.-2 Judg. x. 15.

...It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good.-1 Sam. iii. 18.

But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.-2 Sam. xv. 26.

...The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.-Job i. 21.

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.-22.

Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and Ishall we not receive evil ?—Job ii. 10.

Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,—Job xv. 12.

That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth ?—13.

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.-Job xxxiv. 37.

I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.-Ps. xxxix. 9.

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.—Ps. xl. 8.

...They waited not for his counsel :-Ps. cvi. 13. ...And tempted God in the desert.-14.

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.-15.

They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.-16.

Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High.-Ps. cvii. 11. Therefore he brought down their heart with labour...12.

I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.—Ps. cxix. 75. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.-124.

My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction.-Prov. iii. 11.