78 THE LAW.

The Tenth Commandment is, | their money, nor for anything that
“Thou shalt not covet.” It is| belongs to them. Coveting is often
wrong to wish for what belongs to | the beginning of stealing. People
other people. God has given us | see a thing, then they desire it, and
what is best for us, and we must not | perhaps, if God’s grace does not keep
desire more. He gives riches to | them from sin, they at last steal it.
some people, and not to others. | We must pray God to give us con-
Why? We cannot tell; but we| tentment, that we may not displease
know that God is wise, and does all | Him by sinful wishes ; for he knows
rightly ; and we should remember, ; all our thoughts, as well as our
that itis He who gives us everything | actions; He sees our hearts; and
we have. If others have more, we | our secret sins we cannot hide from
must not envy them, nor wish for | Him.

 

 

 

 

CCOO>————

XLII. |
7 HE b AW.

S| HEN the Israelites saw the | must try to be like Jesus: we must
A) lightning, and the black- | wish and strive to be holy. We
ness of the mountain, and | must ask Him for all these things,
heard the thunders, and | that we may be made his own dear
the loud trumpet, they | children by faith in Christ Jesus.
were very much afraid, and moved And then we need not fear ; because
away from the mountain, and stood God has promised to save all who
afar off. They said to Moses, “Speak | believe; and we shall not tremble
thou to us, and we will hear; but | at the day of judgment, when we
let not God speak to us, lest we die.” | stand before His throne, because, if
But Moses said, “ Fear not ; God is | our sins have all been washed away
come to prove you, and to tell you | in Jesus’ blood, and our hearts made
what you ought to do, that you may ; new and clean by the Holy Spirit,
learn to know and serve Him aright, | we shall hear our Saviour say,
that His blessing may be upon you.” | “Come, ye blessed ;” and we shall be
We are all poor helpless sinners be- | taken up to heaven, away from sin
fore God ; our own obedience cannot | and sorrow for ever.

take us to Heaven, for we have dis-; When God had finished speaking,
obeyed God many times. How then | Moses came and told the people all
can we goto Heaven? Jesus Christ | He had said, and they answered,
alone can take us there. He bore | “We will obey the Lord; we will
the punishment of our sins upon the | do what He commands us.” Then
cross, and His blood can cleanse us; | Moses wrote all the words of God:
He was perfectly holy, He kept all | and the Israelites offered sacrifices
the commandments; and, if we be- | unto the Lord. Moses read the
lieve in Him, God will accept us for | book of the law to the people, and
His righteousness’ sake. But we | they said again, “All that the Lord