For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians: and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee, and to thy sons for ever.

And it shall come to pass; when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

Though the Israelites were not presumptuous or profane, like the Egyptians, they were yet sinners, and having, as such, incurred the penalty of death *, they had no claim to divine favour, neither could they redeem themselves. But GoD graciously determined, of His own bountiful mercy, before the foundation of the world, to pardon all those who would repent of their sins, believe, fear, and trust in Him, and obey his Di. vine commands; and ordained that the promised seed of the woman should satisfy His justice, and make atonement for the sins of the whole race of mankind, by submitting to a voluntary death for their redemption.

* Rom. vi. 23.

The

The time for this sacrifice was yet at a very great distance, when Israel was about to be delivered from Egyptian bondage; but as that deliverance was designed to be a type of the greater deliverance from the bondage of sin; and also a pledge to assure his faithful servants of the certainty of it; the LORD instituted the passover, as a representation of the great sacrifice to be made in the fulness of time.

It was a very significant regulation, that in respect to ecclesiastical affairs, every succeeding year should commence with the solemnization of a rite which intimated a redemption from death, through the mercy of God.

The passover was instituted about the beginning of our March, which prefigured, that the Redeemer of the world should suffer in that month: before the institution of the passover, the Israelites began to date the new year from the middle of September, and still continue to do so in civil concerns.

It was required that every household should kill a lamb for itself, that each individual might have an opportunity of expressing his faith in God's promises, by joining in that divine ordinance, which was a token of his intended mercy to them.

A Lamb without blemish was a fit emblem of a Saviour who would live a life of perfect innocence and holiness. The LORD's commanding the Lamb to be slain, indicated, that He, having appointed death to be the punishment of sin, it was necessary, for the satis faction of divine justice, that this penalty should be paid by the Redeemer, of whom the Lamb was a type or representation; and the sprinkling of the blood served at once to testify the faith of the Israelites, and to intimate the efficacy of the blood of the REDEEMER.

The paschal lamb was slain before Israel was delivered

out

out of Egypt, to signify, that the Saviour must suffer before mankind could be delivered from the bondage of sin. It was killed before the law of Moses, or the sacrifices of Aaron were enjoined, to shew, that deliverance comes to the human race only through the REDEEMER.

The manner in which the Israelites were required to eat the passover, was calculated to bring to their remembrance, in future, the situation they were in when they eat it the first time.

The lamb was roasted with fire, to denote (as is sup posed) the dreadful pains which the REDEEMER would suffer. Unleavened bread was an emblem of sincerity and truth *, as bitter herbs were of repentance and mortification.

This rite was to be observed for ever, that is to say, as long as the Mosaic dispensation should last; we shall find by the New Testament, that it was no longer obligatory after Christ was slain.

It is needless to enlarge farther on the subject of the Jewish passover, as the rite is abolished; CHRIST, the true paschal lamb, has been slain for the redemption of the world, through whom alone Christians are to look for salvation; but it may be useful to us to reflect on the wonderful goodness and mercy of GoD, in appointing a mean whereby atonement might be made for sin, and an interest in the blood of the REDEEMER secured, long before He came to lay down his life as a ransom for mankind.

It is observable, that the Israelites were commanded to instruct their children in the meaning of this rite, from whence may be inferred, that it is the duty of christian parents to explain to their children the meaning of that institution, which is now substituted in the

1 Cor. v. 8.

place

place of the passover. Yet how many are suffered to grow up in total ignorance of that Holy Sacrament, which was ordained to keep up a constant remembrance of what has been done for them!

SECTION LXVII.

THE DEPARTURE OF THE ISRAELITES.

From Exodus, Chap. xii. and xiii.

AND it came to pass that at mid-night the LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first born of cattle.

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

And Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye, and the children of Israel: and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.

Also take your flocks, and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone, and bless me also.

And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people that they might send them out of the land in haste : for they said, We be all dead men.

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

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment.

And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required: and they spoiled the Egyptians.

And the children of Israel journied from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, besides children.

And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened: because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

And it came to pass, at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the first-born among the children of Israel both of man and of beast'; it is mine.

And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

This day came ye out in the month Abib. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware

unto