inexpressible wish of our burthened souls. The spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (w) We find that they pitched before Migdol, a tower, magnificence, &c. So must we renounce the honours of this world, and follow him who is meek and lowly, that his presence may go with us, and that we may be preserved in the midst of temptations and trials. The Angel of the Covenant, who appeared upon this occasion on behalf of the Israelites, was an illustrious type of the Lord Jesus, our great deliverer from guilt and sin. It was he of whom the Prophet Malachi seems to allude, when he says, "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, (w) Rom. 8. 26. even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts." (x) It was he who appeared to Joshua as the captain of the host of the Lord, and commanded him to loose his shoe from off his foot, the place whereon he stood being holy. (y) The Angel of God, who had hitherto gone before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. (z) He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. (a) The sea saw it and fled: Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: (x) Mal. 3. 1. (2) Exod. 14. 19. (y) Josh. 5. 14, 15. (a) Ps. 18. 11. N but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. (b) Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing to the children of men. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightenings lightened the world: the earth shook and trembled. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Then believed they his words: they sang his praise. (See Exodus, c. 15.) Admire then, O my soul, the fulfilled promises! the wonderful works of the Most High. How his poor feeble followers are encouraged and assisted! May our meditation of him be sweet, and our souls, which he hath redeemed, rejoice in thee, our Lord and our God, for ever and ever. (b) Ps. 78. 53. Journey V. v. 8. And they departed from before Pihahiroth and ·MARAH, (i. e.) Bitterness, so called from the bitter waters found there. And they murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? How soon did they forget the power of Him who is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders! who now shewed Moses a tree,* which he was to cast into the waters, by which they were made sweet, a further confirmation that it was from him alone they derived such innumerable blessings. And are not we apt to say, in the bitterness of our spirits, who will shew us any good? forgetting that he who careth for the fowls of * Supposed to be the Date Tree. the air, will also care for us. He whose compassions fail not, for they are new every morning: and though no chastening for the present seems to be joyous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (c) Though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. (d) He who is our Sovereign Balm and good Physician, and whom we are commanded to obey, and to walk in his ways that it may be well with us; (e) if we take the yoke of Christ upon us, we shall find rest to our souls; for his yoke is easy, and his burden is light; and his commandments are not grievous. (f) It is good for us to bear the yoke in our youth, for God hath |