proves, that the extraordinary influence of the HOLY SPIRIT was at that time exerted, though not in so abundant a degree as after the promulgation of the Gospel.

SECTION LIX.

MOSES AND AARON DELIVER GOD'S MESSAGE TO THE ISRAELITES.

From Exodus, Chap. iv.

AND the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

And Moses took his wife, and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of GOD in his hand.

And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my first-born. And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.

And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went and met him in the mount of GoD, and kissed him.

· And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD, who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.

And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their beads and worshipped.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

By taking his family with him, Moses testified his faith in the LORD. The expression, I will harden Pharaoh's heart, will be explained in the sequel; it is sufficient to remark here, that the LORD speaks of this as a purpose relating to a future time, not as a thing already done. Pharaoh had not yet committed that offence to which the punishment here threatened is annexed, but the Loan foreknew that he would commit it..

The rod of GOD was that which had been turned into a serpent, and which was the ensign of Moses' office, as the Minister of the LORD.

The Almighty being now about to fulfil the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by forming their posterity into a nation, as his own peculiar people, styles them His first born; this title signifies, that Israel was the first nation which he took into immediate covenant with Himself.

How comfortable must it have been both to Moses and Aaron to compare together the revelations which had been separately made to them! It seems that they mutually encouraged each other, and hastened to execute the divine commission which they had received.

Moses soon had a proof of the foreknowledge of GOD, for he found the fears which he entertained, that the Israelites would not attend to him, groundless. They hearkened unto his voice as the Lord had said *; and

Exodus iii. 18.

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the

the miracles performed in their sight served to prove the truth of his divine mission.

The behaviour of the Israelites on this occasion was perfectly just and proper, worthy of the imitation of all who are sensible of the goodness of God in time of affliction.

By this lesson ministers are admonished not to be discouraged from the performance of their public duties by apparent difficulties, since the LORD may be expected to co-operate with their endeavours, if they proceed agreeably to His will. And all others are admonished to receive, with reverence and gratitude, those intimations of the divine favour, which it is the duty of ministers to make known to them; and which, as now contained in Holy Writ, are equally certain and valuable as if communicated to us by ministers immediately inspired.

SECTION LX.

MOSES AND AARON GO TO PHARAOH

From Exodus, Chap. v. and vi.

AND afterwards Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

And they said, The GoD of the Hebrews, hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our GOD: lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get ye unto your burdens.

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And

are many,

And Pharaoh said, Behold the people of the land now and ye make them rest from their burdens. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

Ye shall no more give the people straw to make bricks as heretofore, let them go and gather straw for themselves.

And the tale of the bricks which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them: ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our Gov.

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

And the task-masters of the people went out and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

Go ye, get you straw where you can find it: yet not aught of your work shall be diminished.

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble instead of straw. And the task-masters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks as when there was straw.

And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's task-masters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick,both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore? Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick; and behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

Go

Go therefore now and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks..

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case after it was said, Ye shall not minish aught from your bricks of your daily task.

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh.

And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hands to slay us.

And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil intreated this people! Why is it that thou hast sent me?

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Then the LORD said to Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

And GoD spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of GOD ALMIGHTY; and by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them* ?.

And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were strangers.

And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage: and I have remembered my covenant.

*It is the opinion of several good Critics, that this verse should be read interrogatively; for it is certain, that God was known to the patriarchs by the name of JEHOVAH.