“AND Moses said; Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms and stank.” Ex. 16: 19, 20. Though the people murmured against the manna after using it some time, it was not so at the first. They were hungering in a desert land, and they were prepared by these necessities to receive it with thankfulness. And we may remark that they were not the only ones that have received with thankfulness the benefits of God's grace when they felt their need, and grumbled after they had enjoyed them awhile. But I say, At first, they gladly received it, and prized it as a precious gift from the God of their Father Abraham. How, then, must they have been astonished to find a quantity of this much-prized provision, carefully set aside for future use, turned into a loathsome mass of crawling worms! Why was this? It was because they had disregarded the order of the Lord. It was ordained of him that it should be preserved only for Sabbath use, to put a difference between the seventh day and the other days of the week. It was a part of his plan for magnifying this sacred institution among his chosen people; and the course they pursued would, if successful, have obliterated this distinction, and brought the Lord's Sabbath down to a level with other days. God does not change. His ways are equal. He does not audibly speak in the hearing of all men; but what he says, all men should regard. He does not work the same miracles in the sight of all; but what he does is for the benefit and faith of all. He often gives illustrations of his will regarding the children of men, and we are expected to apply them to our times and circumstances. This corruption of the manna was not for them alone; it was to show us how God looks upon the goods we gather and treasure up without respect to his will. How many consult their own tastes, their own convenience, their pride of possession, in saving worldly goods, instead of seeking the mind of God. Goods so acquired, whether little or much, are as great an abomination in the sight of God as was the putrid manna. “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” It was because they feared to trust God from day to day, that they laid up manna contrary to his will. Many will pray with great complacency and apparent faith—“Give us day by day our daily bread”—if they have a good stock on hand; but if, in the providence of God, their store fails, anxiety, fears, and doubts, take possession of their minds, and they forget the prayer—just when it is needed. There is sometimes much self-deception hid under a profession of faith, and covered up with words of prayer. “When the Son of Man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?” J. H. W.