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have recorded his name, and the prosperous condition of the colony in Goshen could not but excite such enquiry. It is improbable that the lapse of seventy years should obliterate all recollection of the splendid administration of Joseph; and of that visitation of providence, which, but for his foresight, would have desolated Egypt, as it did the neighbouring countries. 'And Pharoah said, who is Jehovah that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go.' Exod. v. 2.

and kills their infant males

Pharoah formed the horrid design of rooting out this hated people, by causing all the male children to be put to death as soon as they were born; and by another mandate to his subjects, to cast all the male children, that should be born to the Hebrews, into the Nile. The sacred writer relates the circumstance to introduce the most signal instance of providential deliverance, that is to be found in history. Josephus informs us, that Amram was comforted in a vision, by an assurance, that the child should not only escape the malice of the tyrant, but prove at last the deliverer of the Israelites. The story is not unlikely; and St. Paul asserts, that Moses, when he was born, was hidden by his parents three months through faith,' (Heb. xi. 23.) which seems to imply, that they had been favoured with some promise concerning him. At the age of forty, he gave up all the prospects to which he was entitled, as the adopted heir of Pharoah's daughter; choosing rather, as St. Paul expresses it, to endure affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the

pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, having respect unto the recompense of reward. Moses, at Mount Horeb, was exceedingly reluctant to accept the high charge, and he was even guilty of obstinate resistance to the divine will; but after he entered upon the work, we find him prompt and vigorous in its execution. Leaving the Israelites, he and his brother boldly entered into the presence of Pharoah, and addressed him in this dignified strain: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. Moses and Aaron were directed by the Almighty to appear before the tyrant, who treated them with impious contempt, and demanded of them a miracle to shew their power. His proposition was accepted, the rod in the hand of Aaron was cast on the ground, at the command of Moses, and became a serpent. Pharoah treated it as a cheat, and sent for his magicians. The Almighty permitted their rods likewise to become serpents; but, that the power of Jehovah might be seen, the rod of Aaron swallowed up the rest; still was Pharoah's heart hardened. Aaron stretched his rod, and their favourite river Nile became blood: The same river poured forth swarms of frogs, which entered the dwellings of the Egyptians and the palace. Then did he permit Moses, on condition of being freed from the frogs, to let the people go. Again he violated his word, on which, without warning him, the Almighty smote the dust of the earth; and it became lice, throughout all the land of Egypt, upon man and

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beast. Next the swarm of flies was so troublesome, that Pharoah was constrained to yield his consent; and again was his plighted word broken. Now a grievous disease of boils and blains' attack both man and beast. A dreadful storm of hail, mixed with fire, smote throughout the land of Egypt. Pharoah's fears were alarmed by this awful visitation, which threatened to desolate all the country, except the province inhabited by the Israelites: again he submitted to Moses, and again he deceived. The man of God knew the deceitfulness of his heart; but, to manifest the glory of Jehovah, Moses went out and stretched his hand to the Lord, and the storm ceased. visitation is more alarming in those countries than that of locusts. Well, therefore, might the officers of Pharaoh tremble at the denunciation of so dreadful an invasion, and reproached him as being insensible to the calamities of his country. Let the men go that they may serve the Lord their God. Again was the rod of Moses stretched forth, and an east wind brought up the ministers of divine vengeance, which darkened all the land, and devoured all the herbs of the field. Again Moses stretched his hand, and a thick darkness covered the land three days; but the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. All these signs and wonders having failed to humble the haughty Pharoah, the Almighty proceeded to make a more terrible display of his power; and, therefore, he said to Moses, 'About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt.' And at the awful hour of midnight, the avenging angel

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of the Lord passed through the land, and smote all the first-born of Egypt. So sudden and fearful a stroke struck Pharaoh and his people with awe; Then did Jehovah, in the year of the world, 2513, “ with a high hand," lead his people out of Egypt.

Thus with ten wounds

The river-dragon tam'd at length submits

The river-dragon is an allusion to the crocodile, in the river Nile, and to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself Ezek. xxix. 3.

the sea Swallows him with his host;

When the tyrant learned the course which the Israelites had taken, he considered them as a prey fallen into a snare, and pursued them. Then the people dispirited, upbraided Moses, saying, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us to die in the wilderness? had it not been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we die in the wilderness? And Moses said, Fear not: stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Jehovah gives the command, go forward," and the miraculous column removes from the front to the rear of the camp, between the Israelites and the Egyptians. When Moses lifting up his rod, a violent east wind arose, and clave the waters in the midst, through which

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they all went dry shod. No sooner were the Israelites landed, than the Egyptian host were thrown into disorder, their hearts misgave them, and they attempted a retreat in vain, the rod was again stretched, the watery mountain rushed together, and whelmed the impious Pharaoh, his chariots and horsemen, in the mighty deep. Moses, as he contemplated the terrible power and goodness of the Lord, broke out into a rapturous song of thanksgiving. "Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters."

227 God from the mount of Sinai, whose grey top Shall tremble,

It was indeed a sight so terribly magnificent, that the man of God himself said, "I exceedingly fear and quake. Heb. xii. 21. The ten commandments were delivered with all this grandeur from the summit of a mountain, in the presence of all the people, with the sound of trumpet, to denote the immutability and universality of the love of God. The judicial and ceremonial statutes were given privately to Moses, because they were of limited duration; the moral law was proclaimed aloud, to show that it concerns all men, and that it is of perpetual duration. Who sees not in Moses, while standing thus between God and the people, a lively type of him, who in the fulness of time" came to fulfil the law and the prophets; and to offer up in his own person an atonement for the transgressions of his people ?"

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