his people, rose up in dismay and consternation. Every place resounded with the cry of anguish ; "for there was not a house where there was not one dead." Now they began to understand and to feel the terrors of the Lord. They knew not what greater and more awful judgments might be near, and of which the one that they were suffering was only the presage. No time was to be lost. But one way of averting the heavier vengeance of Jehovah remained. It was immediately to grant the request of Moses, in behalf of his countrymen. A message was despatched to him from Pharaoh, while it was yet night. The royal mandate was full and explicit. "Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve Jehovah, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also;"-intercede with the God whom you serve, and procure for me his favor, especially in the removal of his judgments from me and my people."

The Egyptians united with their monarch, in pressing upon the Israelites their immediate departure. "For they said, we be all dead men," if they remain.

Nor did Moses and his countrymen delay. The manner of their going had already been made known to them. They understood that it would be in great haste. There was no time to make any systematic

preparation. "The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes, upon their shoulders."

They did not forget, however, to ask or demand, of the Egyptians, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, which were readily given to them; and, in this way, they carried off a great amount of valuable articles,-a rich spoil, though vastly less than what was in justice due to them.

Four hundred and thirty years had now elapsed, since the time when God promised the land of Canaan to the patriarch Abraham, and he went down to sojourn there. And this seems to be the only consistent interpretation of the passage," the sojourning of the children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years;" taking, as a part of this, the sojourning of Abraham there, and including him and Isaac, and their families, in the expression "children of Israel," which is here, as elsewhere, used as a general term for the whole nation, embracing their ancestors, as well as those who were then living.

The promise of God to the head of the Israelitish nation, made more than four centuries before, was thus exactly fulfilled. That nation, said he, (when, at that time, he entered into covenant with Abraham,) whom thy seed shall serve, will I judge; and afterwards shall they come out with great substance. God will always fulfil his promises. He has

made exceeding great and precious ones to the spiritual seed of the father of the faithful. They shall come out from much tribulation; from the cares and trials, the sorrows and sins of this world, into the heavenly Canaan. If they do not bring away great substance with them, in earthly treasures, they shall have, what is of infinitely more value, a sure title to that inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away,-to endless communion with God, and the Saviour, and the spirits of the just made perfect,―to an eternal progress in knowledge, in holiness, and in happiness, of which it has not entered into the heart of man to form any adequate conception. Are you, my young friend, one of the spiritual seed of Abraham? Have you a title to this glorious inheritance?

CHAPTER XXI.

Assembling of the Israelites at Rameses. First day's march to Succoth. Etham. The pillar of a cloud and of fire.

When the Israelites left Egypt, we are told, that there were among them, six hundred thousand men on foot, besides a mixed multitude, composed proba

bly of Egyptians and foreigners, who were induced to accompany them. A moderate estimate, including the old men, the women, and the children, would make the whole not less than two millions, or two millions and a half, of persons. There were, also, flocks and herds, even very much cattle.

Some arrangement of this immense host, setting out on their journey, was absolutely necessary. To attempt it without a settled plan of movement, on such a track as they would have to take, and through such a desert as lay before them, would produce utter confusion and discomfiture. Moses was too sagacious a leader, to be guilty of such folly. He, doubtless, gave directions in season, and throughout the various residences of the Israelites, that they should assemble, as many as were able, at one point, and as speedily as possible, before taking their final departure. There they would be arranged, under suitable subordinate officers, for the great enterprise; and receive such general instructions as were needed for the vation of order and safety.

preser

Rameses was probably the first and principal place of rendezvous. It is supposed, that it was one of the most considerable cities of Goshen, in the middle of the great valley into which the waters of the Nile flowed, at some distance east of this river; and about forty miles from what is now called Suez. at the northern extremity of the west

ern arm of the Red Sea. There are, it is true, different opinions, with regard to its location, but the above seems to be the one which is best supported. On this supposition, it occupied the site of the modern Aboukeyshid.

It is difficult for us to conceive the deep and thrilling interest which must have attended the assembling together of the Israelites at Rameses. Such an immense concourse, arriving, with anxious haste, in separate bands, one after another, from their respective portions of country, with their numerous flocks and herds, entering the city in different directions, and filling it and its environs to overflowing, was, in itself alone, a most novel and wonderful spectacle. What inquiries, and congratulations among former acquaintances and friends, long separated from each other, must have taken place. How many accounts of the affecting incidents that had just attended the leaving of their old homes, and their coming to Rameses. What an interchange of narratives and reflections, with regard to the various circumstances of their lot; the dealings of Providence with them; and especially the late miraculous interpositions of God in their behalf, in inflicting such tremendous judgments upon their oppressors, and in delivering them from their long and cruel bondage. And yet even all these recollections of the past, their anticipations of the future.

were soon lost in

The great object