SERMON XXI.

LIFE OF MOSES.

No. V.

EXODUS Xiii-xx.

FOUR hundred and thirty years had elapsed since Abraham, in obedience to the call of God, had gone from Mesopotamia into Canaan. For two centuries, his descendants had groaned in bondage in Egypt, when the predetermined and predicted period for their deliverance arrived. They were rescued from the oppression of Pharaoh by those tremendous miracles which we illustrated in our last lecture. Before departing from the country, they sacrificed and ate the passover, which prefigured that greater victim, through the effusion of whose blood an infinitely greater deliverance was to be effected. They were required to observe this ordinance till the coming of Messiah should substitute for it a sacrament commemorating, not merely a temporal, but an everlasting salvation. To this command they have been obedient in all their national changes; when dwelling in Canaan, or dispersed over the earth; when their temple was in its glory, and since its smoking ruins have in vain warned them of the

abolition of the Mosaic œconomy, they have still observed this ordinance of the passover. What a reproof does their conduct give to many who call themselves christians; who, notwithstanding the explicit and unequivocal command of their Lord, neglect that ordinance which was appointed as a memorial that "Christ our passover was sacrificed for us.”

Notwithstanding their afflictions, and the cruelties which had been exercised towards them, the Israelites, blessed by the God of their fathers, had greatly multiplied in Egypt. In leaving this country, there were six hundred thousand men, able to bear arms; while their whole number probably amounted to three millions. In conformity with the oath they had taken to Joseph, when dying, they carried with them his bones. Though he had lived so long in Egypt, surrounded with honours, still he regarded Canaan as his country, and by his dying injunction testified his assurance of the fulfilment of the divine promises. It is probable that at the same time the bodies of the other triarchs were carried from Egypt to Sychem, (Acts vii. 15, 16.) These cold remains of their fathers must have produced a thousand precious recollections in the Israelites-must have reminded them of the covenant which God had made with them, and by recalling the many gracious interpositions of the Lord in their behalf, and his faithfulness to them while they were upon earth, must have inspired them with a firm belief that he would execute the promises that he had made to their descendants.

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Children of holy parents who have departed to glory, when you contemplate the spot where lie the mouldering bodies of your father, of your mother, do not content yourselves with weeping at the loss of such dear friends, but retrace the kindness and

faithfulness of God to them during the whole of their pilgrimage on earth; and breathe out a solemn and fervent prayer, that he who was your parents' covenant God, may be your God also. I doubt not that the glorified spirits of the patriarchs hovered round their descendants, who bore their mortal remains to the promised land. I doubt not that on that occasion they were permitted to behold the faithfulness of the covenant-keeping God, and that with heavenly warmth they poured forth their gratitude and adoration to him. And who can tell but that the spirit of your father, of your mother, may be near you, when you lift up the heart-felt prayer to your parents' God, and implore grace from on high like them to live to the Lord: so that, whether your ashes mingle in one common tomb, or rest, separate from each other, in remote countries, your spirits may be united in the heavenly Canaan.

The Israelites were numerous; but unarmed, undisciplined, with spirits broken by long servitude, they would have been unable to have resisted their enemies. But Jehovah was with them, and they had therefore no cause to fear. "The Lord went before them by day, in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night, in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and by night." This was the Shechinah-the symbol of the peculiar presence and the guardian providence of God; who, having by the illustrious display of his power, delivered the Israelites, not only exercised an unseen providence. over them, but thus visibly showed them that he would not desert them. It appeared in the form of a pillar descending from heaven, and spreading itself below. to cover the host of Israel. It not only conducted them during the day, through the trackless wilder

ness, but also overshadowed them, shielding them from the scorching sun in the burning desert; and at night becoming lucid, it still directed them. It was the same which afterwards rested upon the ark in the tabernacle, and which, hovering over the mercyseat, between the cherubim, was peculiarly the throne of grace. Notwithstanding their rebellions, their murmurings, and ingratitude, it remained with them from the time of their leaving Egypt, till they came to Jordan, and was the oracle whence God declared his will, the residence of the Lord, and the imperial signal to the host.

My brethren, we have no longer this visible symbol attending the people of God:-But in Jesus who dwelt in it, we have all the blessings it afforded to the Israelites; in Jesus, of whose incarnation, in which were united the lustre of divinity, and the darkness of humanity; this pillar at once of fire and of cloud, was an expressive type. He, like this pillar, is our guide through this barren wilderness, so plainly teaching us the path in which we should walk, that we need not be more uncertain as to the course we should pursue than were the Israelites when their eyes were fixed upon this their director; so full of grace and compassion, that he never forsakes us, notwithstanding our unworthiness, till we arrive at the shores of Jordan-till we enter into the heavenly Canaan. He is our guard, affording us security at every moment, and in every place. When the enemies of God and of our souls rise furiously against us, like this cloud which shed darkness and terror on the pursuing Egyptians, he can appal the foes of his people, and disappoint their designs. He gives us light, celestial light, in the season of darkness and of gloom. He refreshes us with dews of hea

venly grace and consolation as we pass through this world. And in him, as from his oracle, God speaks to us in accents of grace and mercy. Christians, if such are the privileges you enjoy, and the blessings bestowed on you, how great are your obligations to praise, gratitude, and love.

The distance between Egypt and Canaan was so small that only a few days were requisite to pass from the one country to the other. But in order to discipline, instruct, and prepare the people, they are conducted by a circuitous route. Yet, says the Psalmist, Ps. cvii. 7, the Lord "led them forth by the right way;"-not perhaps the smoothest, certainly not the shortest, but still the right way, since it was chosen by unerring wisdom, and infinite love.

Christians, ever be content with the guidings and appointments of God. Though when you are delivered from the power of satan, and the bondage of corruption, you are near the Jerusalem on high, though in a day, in a moment, God, by his messenger, could carry you thither, yet wait patiently, and submissively, while he detains you many years in this wilderness. It is his wise appointment, in order that you may see the wonders of his providence, and the miracles of his grace; that you may learn much of him, and of yourselves, and may be prepared for glory.

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One reason that is particularly given for thus conducting the Israelites, is, that they might not, immediately after their liberation, meet with war. it is thus that he still ordinarily deals with his children, with regard to their spiritual conflicts. The young convert, who has just been rescued, by the mighty power of God, from the kingdom of darkness, and liberated from the chains of guilt, generally is