Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Was it to form his church and people to im- the next morning. And is it not extremely plicit obedience to his will, in points which probable that God might intend, by certain they comprehend not, as in those which they arbitrary tokens, to describe the Messiah ; well understand; in all cases whatever, whe- and that the prohibition to break the bones ther he be pleased to render or to with- of the paschal lamb was designed to be a type hold a reason? Was it intended as a sym- of a remarkable circumstance attending the bolical representation of their late condition; crucifixion of our Saviour which Providence tried, and prepared, and refined in the fire watched over with special attention, and of Egyptian oppression; purged, but not con- brought about by a miracle? "But when the sumed by it! Was it a figurative view of soldiers came to Jesus, and saw that he was the judgment of God then executing: Egypt dead already, they brake not his legs."* And scorched with the flame; Israel enlightened, it is clear from what follows, that the evanseasoned, purified by it? Did it look forward gelist considered the precept of the law as a unto, and signify some particular circum- prophesy of Christ; "For these things were stance in the person, the doctrine, or suffer-done," says he, "that the scripture should be ings of the great evangelical sacrifice? O fulfilled. A bone of him shall not be broLord, thou knowest. "Secret things belong ken."+ In many cases it happens, that the to thee, but things which are revealed be- prediction was either not attended to, or had long unto us, and to our children." We thank | not been understood, till the event has exthee for what thou hast condescended to re- plained it. veal to us, and would not presume to "be wise above what is written."

I

Nothing of it was to be "left until the morning." This circumstance was not peculiar to the sacrifice of the paschal lamb, but common to almost every other kind of oblation. This will appear if we consult the general laws respecting sacrifice. Thus the prescription runs: "And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the

"Not a bone" of the paschal lamb was to "be broken." This, as well as some of the foregoing circumstances, is by sundry commentators supposed to be intended as a contradiction to various Pagan superstitions and particularly to the frantic behaviour of the votaries of Bacchus; who, in the fumes of intoxication or of religious frenzy, committed a thousand abominations and extrava-morning." And again, “When a bullock, gancies; they fell into violent agitations, the or a sheep, or a goat is brought forth, then it pretended inspiration of their GOD; they de- shall be seven days under the dam, and from voured the yet palpitating flesh of the vic- the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be tims which they had just killed, and broke all accepted for an offering made by fire unto their bones to pieces. But, the idolatrous the LORD. And whether it be cow or ewe, rites of the heathen nations were so various ye shall kill it and her young both in one day. and so contradictory one to another, that we And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thankscan hardly imagine the great JEHOVAH Would giving unto the LORD, offer it at your own condescend to express any concern, whether will. On the same day it shall be eaten up; the rites of his worship were, in every in- ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: stance, either conformed or opposed to the am the LORD." The solemn affix, "I am usages of idolatry. A very famous critic* the LORD," seems to insinuate, that the reaassigns a very silly reason for this branch of son of the commandment was to be sought the commandment. He alleges it was ano- in the majesty and authority of the lawgiver. ther indication of the extreme haste with-And, independent of authority, decency which the passover was to be eaten. "Men seems to require, that what has once been in a hurry," says he, "do not stand to pick devoted to a hallowed use should never afterbones; much less do they take leisure to wards appear in a mangled, impure, or pubreak them, for the sake of the juice or mar-trid state. Perhaps superstition was, by this row." As if it required more time to sever the joints, and break the bones by violence, than to dissect and disunite the parts without a fracture. The simple meaning of the precept seems to be, that what was once of fered to God should not be unnecessarily disfigured and mangled. The blood must be shed, for that was the seal of God's covenant; We must notice the remaining particulars the flesh might be eaten, for it was given of this service in the manner in which it was for the sustenance of man's life; but the originally performed; "in haste," "standbones, forming no part either of food or sacri-ing," "with loins girded," "with staff in fice, were to be left in the state in which hand," ready to depart. The lamb was to be they were found, till consumed by fire with eaten with "bitter herbs." A representation, the remainder of the flesh, if any remained,

Bochart, Hieroz par. i. lib. ii. cap. 1. fol. 609.

precept, obliquely or intentionally reproved and repressed; superstition, which loves to feed upon scraps, and to hoard up relics, as if they were sacred things; superstition, which gives to the fragments of the sacrifice the veneration due only to the sacrifice itself, and to the great Author of it.

John xix. 33.

1 Lev. vii. 15.

† Verse 36.
$ Lev. xxii. 27-30.

66

66

perhaps, of the mixed nature of every sublu- | second death," a living death of everlasting nary enjoyment; and of the wholesome uses banishment "from the presence of the Lord, of unpalatable adversity. The "standing and from the glory of his power." From posture, and the implements of travelling, that last plague there is no security but one; speak a plain and distinct language. "Arise that security, of which the "blood of sprinkye, and depart, for this is not your rest." ling" under the law was but a type. Run "Here we have no abiding city, but look for to your strong hold, ye prisoners of hope." one to come." "Now we desire a better "Flee, flee for refuge; lay hold of the hope country, that is, an heavenly." "Arise, let that is set before you." "Behold, now is us go hence." A provision was graciously the accepted time; behold, now is the day of made for such as might be ceremonially un- salvation." If God be for us, who can be clean at the future seasons of celebration, against us?" "He that spared not his own and the door of mercy and communion was Son, but delivered him up for us all, how opened to strangers. Blessed prefiguration shall he not with him also freely give us all of the remedy provided for the chief of sin- things? Who shall lay any thing to the ners of the refuge opened for the reception charge of God's elect? It is God that justiof" aliens from the commonwealth of Israel;" fieth: Who is he that condemneth? It is of the liberal, condescending, comprehensive Christ that died, yea rather that is risen spirit of the gospel! Christians, ye" are no again, who is even at the right hand of God, more strangers and foreigners, but fellow ci- who also maketh intercession for us."* tizens with the saints, and of the household of God." "Those who were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

[ocr errors]

Men and brethren, the time is at hand, when a more fearful midnight cry shall be heard than even that which smitten, groaning Egypt raised in the hour of vengeance. The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night." "Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." Behold, a careless, slumbering world, a world lying in wickedness, is threatened with a death infinitely more dreadful than that which destroyed the first-born; with "the

How many things in the scriptures; in Moses, in the prophets, in the law, in the gospel, are dark and hard to be understood? But the hour cometh when the veil shall be removed from our eyes; when the truth as it is in Jesus shall stand confessed without a mystery; and shall be seen and read of all men. "What" he doth, "ye know not now, but ye shall know hereafter." "We know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known."† † 1 Cor. xiii. 12.

* Rom. viii. 32-34.

HISTORY OF MOSES.

LECTURE XLV.

And it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them, by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.-EXODUS xiii. 17—22.*

ALL that weak, ignorant, erring man can know, is a few of the smaller objects which are immediately around him; and of these but a few of the more obvious qualities which they possess, and the relations in which they stand to one another. Remove them but a little as to space or time, and they gradually disappear, till they are at length involved in total darkness. The distance of a few leagues

terminates our vision; the lapse of a few years erases all traces from our memory. The cloud of night conceals or changes the appearance of things the nearest to us, and the most perfectly known. Here, we are dazzled and confounded by an excess of light; there, we are checked and repulsed by dimness and obscurity. The sun forbids us to behold his face by reason of his splendour;

the earth and the ocean present to us but their surface; and the heavens oppose to the eager eye a vault of crystal, saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further." We feel ourselves hedged in, fettered, confined on every side. And our condition in this respect is that of every created, limited being. Open prospect after prospect; expand system upon system; add faculty to faculty; yet the prospect is bounded at length. Suns and worlds are capable of being numbered, and there is a height and depth still beyond, which the understanding of an angel cannot fathom.

quired: and they spoiled the Egyptians." Israel came into Egypt few in number, weak and indigent; but they go out from the land of their oppression greatly increased, mighty and formidable; laden with the spoils of their cruel oppressors, the well earned reward of the labours of many years, and of much sorrow.

It is repeatedly remarked, that the prediction relating to the deliverance of God's people was fulfilled to a single day. Of this we have a confirmation in the preceding chapter, and the 41st verse; "And it came to pass, at the end of the four hundred and There is only ONE Being whose duration thirty years, even the self-same day, it came is immeasurable-whose space is unconfined to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went -whose power is uncontrolled-whose un-out of the land of Egypt." Again, at the derstanding is infinite. With JEHOVAH "a 51st verse; "And it came to pass, the selfthousand years are as one day, and one day same day, that the LORD did bring the chilas a thousand years." He alone can "de-dren of Israel out of the land of Egypt by clare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure."* He is "above all, and through all, and in all!" An impenetrable veil hides futurity from every created eye; but the Spirit of prophesy is pleased sometimes to remove it. Abraham saw the Redeemer's day afar off, and rejoiced. He saw in prophetic vision the servitude, the affliction, and the deliverance of his posterity, at the distance of four hundred years. To mortal man, whose longest span of existence is diminished to much under a century, four hundred years have something like the appearance of an eternity; but before God, time and space are contracted to a point, to a moment. With him, that which is to be done is already done. Men shape events according to their fancy, their fears, their wishes, or their hopes. "But the counsel of the Lord it shall stand, and he fulfilleth all his pleasure."

their armies." And yet, on comparing numbers in the prediction and the history of its accomplishment, we find a difference of thirty years. The seventy interpreters were aware of this difficulty, and have obviated it by thus paraphrasing the passage in Exodus, "The sojourning of the children of Israel in the land of Canaan, and in the land of Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years." To justify which computation we need but to observe, that Moses in the four hundred and thirty years, includes all the time that Abraham had passed in Canaan, previous to the birth of Isaac. And a learned prelate of our own country, Archbishop Usher, in his valuable chronology, has proved this calculation to be just. For Abraham was exactly twenty-five years in Canaan before Isaac was born.* From the birth of Isaac to the exodus from Egypt was four hundred and five, which completes the four hundred and thirtieth year mentioned in this passage, and by Paul in the third of the Galatians, 17th verse.

Thus

In order to preserve to all generations the memory of a period so singular and so important in their history, the ordinance of the passover was to be honoured with an annual

What was the word of the Lord to Abra-perfect are all the ways and works of God; ham ? "And he said unto Abram, Know of thus absolute his power over all persons and a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in all events! No skill, no ardour, no violent a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, efforts on the part of Israel, could accelerate and they shall afflict them four hundred their enlargement. Nor could the combined years. And also that nation whom they shall strength of Egypt, of mankind, of created serve will I judge: and afterward shall they nature, retard it one single hour! come out with great substance." What was the doing of the Lord in conformity to that word? "And it came to pass, that at midnight 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 firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of cattle." "And the children of Israel did according to the word fifteen. He and his posterity continued in Egypt a like of Moses: and they borrowed of the Egyp-period of two hundred and fifteen years. So that it is tians jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and raiment. And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they re

* Isa. xlvi. 10.

† Gen. xv. 13, 14.

Jacob was born to Isaac when he was sixty years

old; and at the time he went down to Egypt, according dred and thirty; which, added to the twenty-five years of Abraham's pilgrimage, from his leaving Ur of the Chaldees to the birth of Isaac, make two hundred and

to His OWN DECLARATION to Pharaoh, he was one hun

plain Moses reckoned in the whole sum of four hundred and thirty years, all the pilgrimages of Abraham and his posterity, from his first leaving his kindred and father's house in Mesopotamia down to their triumphant of Canaan, whose iniquity though not before, was now exit from Egypt, and their setting out on the conquest

full.

celebration; and, as positive and arbitrary institutions derive all their value and use from a right understanding of their meaning, and the design of their author, express words are put into the mouths of parents and heads of families for the instruction of generations to come, in the nature and reason of this solemn service. "And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, This is done, because of that which the LORD did unto me, when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee, upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee, in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beasts: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the first-born of my children I redeem." Hence it appears that, besides this great annual sacrifice, a law was enacted at this time, though it was not to be enforced until they should be put in possession of the promised land, that in grateful remembrance of God's passing over their first-born when he destroyed those of Egypt, the first-born of the human species, and also of the brute creation, through every age, should be dedicated and set apart as a sacred property. The great Legislator was pleased afterwards, by a particular injunction, to appropriate to himself one whole tribe out of the twelve, in room of the first-born out of every tribe, to minister unto him in holy things; and in this ordinance the church of GoD, at that early period, both exhibited and enjoyed an emblematical representation of the evangelical priesthood; not vested in and exclusively belonging to a particular description of men, but the common character and dignity of all christians; a generation chosen of GoD, in Christ, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people-that they should show forth the praises of Him, who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light." And they are introduced before the throne, with this song of praise in their mouths," Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."*

Is it not worth while to compare, seeing the Spirit of God has thought it meet to transmit to us the very numbers, the entire state of Israel, as it were, at the time of its descent into Egypt, and at its departure

* Rev. i. 5, j.

thence? The whole number which accompanied Jacob from Canaan, when driven thence by the famine, himself included, was sixty-six; which added to the family of Joseph already in Egypt, consisting of himself, Asenath, the daughter of the priest of On, adopted by marriage into the family of Abraham, and their two sons, the amount is seventy, when they left that country. In a period of little more than two hundred years, they are increased to the amazing sum of six hundred thousand men of military age, without reckoning females, children of both sexes under twenty, and old men of sixty and upward: for that was the age of superannuation among this people. Taking therefore the calculation so low as four of all the other descriptions for one of the military age, that is, males from twenty to sixty, the whole number of the descendants of Abraham that left Egypt, must have been at least three millions. So that, dividing the whole time of their sojourning there into periods of twenty years, it appears that their number was multiplied nearly three times every twenty years. Now, if we consider, that the most rapid state of population in the ordinary course of nature, and in circumstances the most favourable to it, is a doubling the number of inhabitants every twenty years; and that only in the earlier ages of a people or colony; what must we think of this amazing increase in circumstances the most unfavourable: in a people cooped up in a narrow district, and that district not their own, but the property of a nation much more powerful than themselves; a people among whom marriage was grievously discouraged by the want of liberty, by hard and oppressive labour, by subjection to the despotism of a foreign prince, by penal edicts which doomed all their male children to death, and by which doubtless, multitudes perished, together with their natural increase? The multiplication of Israel in a proportion so great, in a progress so rapid, in a situation so unfriendly, will be in reality found a miracle, though less striking to a superficial observation, being gradually and imperceptibly performed, upon closer attention, a prodigy equal or superior to any that were wrought in immediately effecting their enfranchisement. And this leads us to the grateful acknowledgment of God's wise and gracious providence, in its ordinary operations and effects. What is daily preservation but creation-one omnific "LET THERE BE," daily, every instant repeated? What is the progress of vegetation, of life and reason, but the continual interposition of the great Source of all being, life and intelligence? What is dissolution and death, but the supporting, vivifying power of God withdrawn from the body which is just now inhabited?

This vast host was accompanied with what

Moses calls a mixed multitude. This is sup posed to have been made up of the produce of marriages between Israelites and Egyptians; of Egyptians, who, from the miracles which they had seen wrought in favour of Israel, had been determined to follow the fortunes of that people; and of neighbours who, in the ordinary intercourse of mankind, might be brought into contact with them, and who, through fear, interest, or curiosity, might be induced to follow their camp.

diffidence of another to be countenanced and encouraged; care was to be exercised about those who were either unable or unwilling to exercise any about themselves. What a charge then was that of Moses and Aaron! bearing on their shoulders the burden of such an assembly; a vast multitude agitated with the ordinary passions of human nature; unarmed, unaccustomed to discipline, untractable; one moment elated with extravagant hopes, the next depressed with unreasonable fears. The wisdom of a Moses had been unequal to the task, unsupported by the Wisdom which sees all things at one view, and the Power which "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."

There is a happy disposition in all the evils to which our nature and condition are subject, to find out and to apply their own remedy. Necessity always sets invention to work. Invention puts the machine in motion; and once in motion, every wheel keeps its place, exerts its power, performs its office. But here the mighty machine, prepared in all its parts according to the plan of infinite wisdom, put together and regulated by the hand of almighty power, and conducted by unchangeable truth and faithfulness, could not vary its motion, could not deviate from its design: and the passage of perhaps four millions of people, with their immense possessions of flocks and herds, and other property, from Egypt to Canaan, will appear one of those singular phenomena in history, which no principles of human conduct, no natural and ordinary concurrence of events, are able to explain: and which must finally be resolved into a wisdom and power preternatural and divine. Accordingly, we find Providence taking immediately the charge of them; but not in the usual way, not by forming a regular discipline, and raising up commanders and magistrates of unusual address and ability, but declaring by sensible tokens, which were seen, read, and understood of all, "I am the Leader and Commander of my people."

Man, with his usual ignorance and haste, would have been for conducting this mighty army directly to Canaan. And no doubt the same Almighty arm which had thus asserted them into liberty, could have led them straight forward to conquest. But, in studying the history of the divine conduct as ordering and governing the affairs of men, we find it is composed partly of the interpositions of Heaven, and partly of the exertions of men. It is not all miracle; that were to encourage eternal indolence and stupidity in rational beings, formed after the image of God, and to reduce men to mere passive clods of earth; nor is it all, on the other hand, the effect of human skill, industry, and diligence; for that were to resign the government of the world to the frail and the foolish; that were to weaken the power of religion, which is the life, the joy, the guide, the support of the universe. But we discover divine interposition, to a certain degree, so as to inspire a reasonable confidence in and dependence upon God; and we discern the exertions of men crowned with success through the blessing of Heaven upon them, and this enforcing the necessity of bringing out and exercising the powers and faculties of our intellectual nature. Israel is delivered from Egypt at once; but is introduced into Canaan by degrees. The former, an act of sovereign power, unmixed with, independent upon human efforts; the latter, the less perceptible operation of Omnipotence, blending itself with, subduing, directing, and promoting the designs and endeavours of reasonable beings, who had a great object in view, and a clear But before we proceed to the consideration rule to walk by. Thus, in a case of universal of this wonderful symbol of the divine preimportance, the justification and adoption of sence, we must attend our author, and take the sinner, are acts of free, sovereign grace, notice of a tender and touching circumstance whereby sin is forgiven, and the right and in the departure from Egypt, namely, the reprivileges of sons conferred; whereas, sanc-moving of the bones of Joseph. That truly tification is the gradual work of the Spirit, supporting us by the way, overcoming our enemies by little and little, and making us "meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."

A great multitude of people is always an object of serious attention, and of deep anxiety. Many mouths were to be fed, many humours to be studied, many talents to be employed. Some were to be gained by love, others to be governed by fear; the impetuosity of one was to be repressed, the timidity and

great man had been the saviour of his father's house when he was alive, and was now the hope of Israel after he was dead. In all their afflictions, his precious dust had been to them the pledge of deliverance; and now, when that deliverance is come, they bear it with them to the land promised to their forefathers, for burial. Thus respectable and useful, in life and in death, are the wise and the good; thus anxious ought we to be to promote the best interests of mankind, not only while we are yet with them; but to

« AnteriorContinuar »