and the generation then in being was reduced to a state of the most abject fervitude, and cruel bondage. Such ufage the people of God have often experienced from the world, at the inftigation of him, who in Scripture is ftyled, "the prince of this "world."

26. He fent Mofes his fervant, and Aaron whom he had chofen. 27. They fhewed his figns among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.

When the tyranny and oppreffion of Pharaoh were at the higheft, and Ifrael cried unto Jehovah because of the bondage, he remembered his promife to Abraham, and fent Mofes, with Aaron, to effect that mighty deliverance, which was to be the grand pledge and figure of our falvation by Jefus Christ. Of him Mofes prophefied, when he said, "A pro"phet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you "of your brethren, LIKE UNTO ME." Deut. xviii. 15. cited and applied Acts iii. 22. He came to rescue mankind from a fpiritual bondage, and to deliver all who were " oppreffed by the devil:" Acts x. 38. he came at a time when that oppreffion was most grievous among Jews and Gentiles: his birth was fignalized by an order from another Pharaoh, to flay the infants; and Egypt afforded him a refuge from the tyrant's fury: he wrought innumerable fighs and wonders;" but they were all figns. of mercy, and wonders of love. Thofe of terror and vengeance were referved for a future advent, foreshewed in the deftruction of Jerufalem

28. He fent darkness, and made it dark and they rebelled not against his word: or, and did they not

ftill rebel against his word? 29. He turned their waters into blood, and few their fish. 30. Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings. 31. He spake, and there came divers forts of flies, Heb. a mixture came, and lice in all their coafts. 32. He gave them hail

for rain: and flaming fire in their land. 33. He fmote their vines alfo, and fig trees; and brake the trees of their coafts. 34. He pake, and the locufts came, and caterpillars, and that without number; 35. And did eat up all the herbs in their land: and devoured the fruit of their ground. 36. He fmote alfo all the first born in their land: the chief of all their firength.

Who can behold this army of divine judgments thus paffing in dreadful array before him, without trembling very exceedingly at that power, which is able to fend them, fingly, or in conjunction, upon a finful land? Who can reflect upon their number and variety, without adoring that goodness, patience, and long fuffering, which tried fo many different methods, and waited fo long, to lead the offenders to repentance? For more particulars, fee the comment on Pf. lxxviii. 43-51.

37. He brought them, i. e. the people of Ifrael, forth alfo with filver and gold and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. 38. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.

The Ifraelites not only came forth from Egypt, but came forth laden with the fpoils of their enemies, which they were commanded to take, by him

who

who is the abfolute lord of all property, and who, as a righteous judge, did thus award to his people the wages due to their incredible labours, the Egyptians being now willing and ready to furnish them with any thing required, in order to difmifs them.. "The Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in hafte : for "they faid, We be all dead men." Exod. xii. 33. And what was very extraordinary, among fuch a number of men, women, children, and cattle, nothing was "weak and feeble," nothing unable to perform the journey. The order was, that "not a "hoof should be left behind;" Exod. x. 26. and he who commanded gave ftrength to obey. Thou haft also enjoined us thy fervants, O Lord, to quit Egypt, and march for Canaan; let thy grace invigorate us from time to time, that fo we faint not by the way.

39. He spread a cloud for a covering: and fire to give light in the night. 40. The people asked, and he brought quails and fatisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41. He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out: they ran in the dry places like a river.

"Brethren, I would not that ye fhould be ig"norant, how that all our fathers were under the "cloud; and were all baptized unto Mofes in the "cloud; and did all eat the fame fpiritual meat; "and did all drink the fame fpiritual drink; for

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they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed "them; and that Rock was CHRIST." 1 Cor. x. 1-4. In our paffage through this wilderness of life, over barren fands, and amidft fiery ferpents, be

thou,

thou, bleffed Lord, our guide and our guard; protected by thy providence, fupported by thy word, and refreshed by thy fpirit, lead us even where, and in what manner it fhall feem good to thee; only do not thou forfake us, and we ask no more.

42. For he remembered his holy promife, and Abraham his fervant. 43. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chofen with gladness.

The fame God hath fince "remembered again his "promife to Abraham;" he hath vifited his people, and redeemed them from the bondage of fin, under the tyranny of Satan; which redemption they daily celebrate in the church, with " joy and gladness," waiting for their final deliverance from death and the grave, when they are to fing in heaven" the fong of "Mofes and of the Lamb." Rev. xv. 3.

44. And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people: 45. That they might obferve his ftatutes, and keep his laws. Praife ye the LORD.

It was not, therefore, intended, that the Ifraelites fhould regard Canaan as their paradife, and look no farther; but that, being rescued from their enemies, and fettled in peace and plenty, they fhould improve the opportunity, thereby afforded them, of ferving the Lord their God, and of fecuring to themfelves, through the obedience of faith, an inheritance in a better country, that is to fay, an "heavenly." And let all the children of faithful Abraham, whofe lot hath fallen in a land flowing "with milk and honey," upon earth, reflect, that God hath given them riches, and the leifure which

"

riches procure, not for the purpose of indulging and corrupting themselves and others, but that they may glorify him, benefit their neighbours, and fave their own fouls; "that they may obferve his ftatutes, and keep his laws." Ifrael was delivered by Mofes, and the church redeemed by Chrift, that God might "purify to himself, a peculiar people, zealous of good "works." Tit. ii. 14.

XXI DAY. EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM CVI.

ARGUMEN T.

The Pfalmift here again commemorates the divine benefits, upbraiding withal the ingratitude of those who received them. 1.2. He exhorteth men to the praife of Jehovah; 35. proclaimeth the bleffedness, and longeth for the felicity of the faints; 6. confefleth the fins of Ifrael, and giveth a detail of their rebellions; 7-12. at the red fea; 13-15. when they lufted for flesh in the wilderness; 16-18. in the matter of Korah; 19-23. in that of the golden calf; 24-27. at the report of the spies; 28-31. in the affair of Baal Peor; 32, 33. at the waters of Meribah; 34-39. in not destroying idolatry, but