Not only for the action, but the time, Pharaoh's choice meets with God's: that very night, when the four hundred and thirty years were expired, Israel is gone: Pharaoh neither can, nor can will, to keep them any longer; yet in this, not fulfilling God's will, but his own. How sweetly doth God dispose of all second causes, that, while they do their own will, they do his! The Israelites are equally glad of this haste. Who would not be ready to go, yea to fly, out of bondage? They have what they wished: it was no staying for a second invitation. The loss of an opportunity is many times irrecoverable: the love of their liberty made the burden of their dough light. Who knew, whether the variable mind of Pharaoh might return to a denial, and, after all his stubbornness, repent of his obedience? It is foolish to hazard, where there is certainty of good offers, and uncertainty of continuance. They go therefore; and the same God, that fetched them out, is both their guide and protector. How carefully doth he chuse their way! not the nearer, but the safer. He would not have his people so suddenly change from bondage to war. It is the wondrous mercy of God, that he hath respect, as to his own glory, so to our infirmities. He intends them wars hereafter, but after some longer breathing, and more preparation, his goodness so orders all, that evils are not ready for us, till we be ready for them. And as he chooses, so he guides their way. That they might not err in that sandy and untracked wilderness, himself goes before them: who could but follow cheerfully, when he sees God lead him? He, that led the wise men by a star, leads Israel by a cloud: that was a higher object, therefore he gives them a higher and more heavenly conduct; this was more earthly, therefore he contents himself with a lower representation of his presence; a pillar of cloud and fire: a pillar, for firmness; of cloud and fire, for visibility and use. The greater light extinguishes the less; therefore in the day he shews them not fire, but a cloud: in the night nothing is seen without light; therefore he shews them not the cloud, but fire: the cloud shelters them from heat by day; the fire digests the rawness of the night. The same God is both a cloud and a fire to his children; ever putting himself into those forms of gracious respects, that may best fit their necessities. As good motions are long ere they can enter into hard hearts, so they seldom continue long. No sooner were the backs of Israel turned to depart, than Pharaoh's heart and face is turned after them, to fetch them back again. It vexes him to see so great a command, so much wealth, cast away in one night; which now he resolves to redeem, though with more plagues. The same ambition and covetousness that made him wear out so many judgments, will not leave him till it have wrought out his full destruction. All God's vengeances have their end; the final perdition of his enemies, which they cannot rest till they have attained: Pharaoh therefore and his Egyptians will needs go fetch their bane. They well knew, that Israel was fitter to serve than to fight; weary with their servitude; not trained up to war; not furnished with provision for a field: themselves, captains and soldiers by profession; furnished with horses, and chariots of war. They gave themselves therefore the victory beforehand, and Israel either for spoil or bondage. Yea, the weak Israelites gave up themselves for dead, and already are talking of their graves. They see the sea before them; behind them, the Egyptians: they know not whether is more merciless, and are stricken with the fear of both. O God, how couldst thou forbear so distrustful a people! they had seen all thy wonders in Egypt and in their Goshen; they saw even now thy pil lar before them, and yet they did more fear Egypt than believe thee. Thy patience is no less miracle than thy deliverance. But instead of removing from them, the cloudy pillar removes behind them, and stands betwixt the Israelites and Egyptians; as if God would have said, "They shall first overcome me, O Israel, ere they touch thee." Wonder did now justly strive with fear in the Israelites, when they saw the cloud remove behind them, and the sea remove before them. They were not used to such bulwarks. God stood behind them in the cloud; the sea reared them up walls on both sides them. That, which they feared would be their destruction, protected them: how easily can God make the cruellest of his creatures both our friends and patrons! Yet here was faith mixed with unbelief. He was a bold Israelite that set the first foot into the channel of the sea; and every step, that they set in that moist way, was a new exercise of their faith. Pharaoh sees all this, and wonders; yet hath not the wit nor grace to think, though the pillar tells him so much, that God made a difference betwixt him and Israel., He is offended with the sea, for giving way to his enemies, and yet sees not why he may not trust it as well as they. He might well have thought, that he which gave light in Goshen, when there was darkness in Egypt, could as well distinguish in the sea; but he cannot now either consider, or fear: it is his time to perish. God makes him fair way, and lets him run smoothly on, till he be come to the midst of the sea; not one wave may rise up against him, to wet so much as the hoof of his horse. Extraordinary favours to wicked men, are the forerunners of their ruin. Now when God sees the Egyptians too far to return, he finds time to strike them with their last terror: they know not why, but they would return too late. Those chariots, in which they trusted, now fail them; as having done service enough, to carry them into perdition. God pursues them, and they cannot fly from him. Wicked men make equal haste, both to sin, and from judgment; but they shall one day find, that it is not more easy to run into sin, than impossible to run away from judgment: the sea will shew them, that it regards the rod of Moses, not the sceptre of Pharaoh; and now, as glad to have got the enemies of God at such advantage, shuts her mouth upon them, and swallows them up in her waves; and, after she had made sport with them awhile, casts them upon her sand, for a spectacle of triumph to their adversaries. What a sight was this to the Israelites, when they were now safe on the shore, to see their enemies come floating after them upon the billows; and to find among the carcasses upon the sands, their known oppressors, which now they can tread upon with in- sult! they did not cry more loud before, than now they sing. Not their faith, but their sense, teaches them now to magnify that God after their deliverance, whom they hardly trusted for their deliverance. Exod. vii, viii, ix, x, xi, xii. TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE, CHARLES, PRINCE OF GREAT BRITAIN. MOST EXCELLENT PRINCE: ACCORDING CCORDING to the true duty of a servant, I intended all my CONTEMPLATIONS to your now, glorious Brother, of sweet and sorrowful memory. The first part whereof, as it was the last book that ever was dedicated to that dear and immortal name of his; so it was the last, that was turned over by his gracious hand. Now, since it pleased the God of spirits to call him from these poor Contemplations of ours, to the blessed contemplation of himself, to see him as He is, to see as he is seen; to whom is this sequel of my labours due, but to your Highness, the heir of his honour and virtues? Every year of my short pilgrimage is like to add something to this Work; which, in regard of the subject, is scarce finite: The whole doth not only crave your Highness's patronage, but promises to requite your princely acceptation, with many sacred examples and rules, both for piety and wisdom; towards the decking up of this flourishing spring of your age; in the hopes whereof, not only we live, but he that is dead, lives still in you: and if any piece of these endeavours come short of my desires, I shall supply the rest with my prayers; which shall never be wanting to the God of Princes, that your happy proceedings may make glad the Church of God, and yourself in either world glorious. Your Highness's in all humble devotion, and faithful observance, JOSEPH HALL |