As _to our sense of the passage_--We conceive these puzzling words of Moses to be no other than a prayer for himself--that his sins which might stand charged against him in the book of God, might _be blotted out_, however God might deal with Israel. "SINS are compared to debts, which are written in the creditor's book, and crossed, or blotted out, when paid.* Man's sins are written in the book of God's remembrance, or accounts; out of which all men shall be judged hereafter.+ And when sin is pardoned it is laid to be blotted out.++ And not to be found any more, though sought for." +++ * Matthew vi. 32. + Revelations xix. 12. ++ Isaiah xliv. 22. +++ Jeremiah l. 20.--Vid. Cruden's Concord. under BLOT. When a debtor hath paid a debt, we are at no loss for his meaning, if he requests to be crossed, or blotted out of the creditor's book; nor would doubt arise should one to whom a debt was forgiven prefer like petition. "You will please to blot me out of your book." Though Moses had taken no part in this sin of Israel. he knew himself a sinner; and when praying for others: it is not likely he would forget himself. The occasion would naturally suggest the value, yea the necessity of forgiveness, and dispose him to ask it of God. When others are punished, or but just escape punishment, we commonly look at home, and consider our own state; and if we see ourselves in danger, take measures to avoid it. To a sinner the only way of safety is, repairing to divine mercy, and obtaining a pardon. That Moses would be excited to this by a view of Israel, at this time, is a reasonable expectation. That such was the purpose of Moses' prayer for himself is clearly indicated by the answer which was given to it--For the _blotting out of God's book_, is doubtless to be understood in the same sense in the prayer, and in the answer; and the latter explains the former. _Oh! this people have sinned a great sin--Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their sin; and if not_--if thou wilt not forgive their sin --_blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book, which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses_, WHOSOEVER _hath sinned against me, HIM will I blot out of my book_: THEREFORE _now go lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee_. The passage thus presented to our view, seems scarcely to need a comment; but such sad work hath been made of this text, and such strange conclusions been drawn from it that it may be proper to subjoin a few remarks. That God had threatened to "destroy that people and blot out their name from under heaven"--that Moses had prayed for them--and that "the Lord had repented of the evil which he thought to do unto them" we have seen above. And here Moses is ordered to resume his march, and carry up the tribes to the promised land, and the reason is assigned-- "_whosoever_ hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book, _therefore_, now go lead the people to the place of which I have spoken unto thee."