more.

you

And will not surrender yourselves wholly to him? He is infinitely worthy of all that you are, and all that you have. From the best principle, from the purest motive, therefore, yield yourselves without reserve unto God your Saviour. He has done much for you, do some little for him ;--little, not because you owe little, but because the utmost you can do is small indeed: it sinks into nothing, compared with what he deserves at your hands. Are you required to suffer for his sake? Your sufferings are not worth a thought, when once compared with his: then suffer patiently, as seeing him that is invisible, and as having respect to the recompence of reward. When thus urged to active obedience, and patient endurance, it is not that by a course of either service or suffering you may gain a title to heaven; this is procured by the Saviour himself; but that you may testify your gratitude, prove the sincerity of your faith, express the warmth of your love, and live to the honour of your God, "For of him and through him, and to him are all things; to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

SERMON XVIII.

ENCOURAGEMENT IN DIFFICULTIES.

(PREACHED AT THE

COMMENCEMENT OF A NEW YEAR.)

EXODUS xiv. 15.

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go

forward.

AN aged pious female, on her death bed, said to her friend-" Go forward; go forward." These words, uttered with emphasis and feeling, by one advanced in Christian experience, and just entering heaven to a young person beginning a decided religious profession, and about to join a Christian church, could not fail to be impressive.

When did personal religion occasion regret? When was it known that a dying Christian warned his friends against a serious care for the soul and eternity? Such a case never existed. Thousands, with their last breath, have honoured the Saviour, by warmly recommending his truth and his ways; but not one has condemned them. Tens of thousands have earnestly entreated their nearest connections to follow Jesus closely and fully; but not one to forsake him. Is not this an argument of some weight in favour of Christianity? Does it not weigh with you?

Considering the text, in connection with its interesting occasion, three things claim our attentionThe situation of the ISRAELITES-The conduct of MOSES-The interposition of JEHOVAH. Having noticed these, we shall be led to an IMPROVEMENT of the subject more directly in application to ourselves. "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward."-Here is,

I. THE SITUATION OF THE ISRAELITES.

It was singularly difficult and trying. They had escaped from Egypt, and were on their way towards the Red Sea, which they must pass before they could enter the wilderness, leading to the land of Canaan. The king of Egypt, who after grievous afflictions had not only permitted but urged their departure, soon repented of what he had done. "It was told him that the people fled; and the heart of Pharaoh, and of his servants, was turned against the people; and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?" In the temper of a tyrant, therefore, he determined to follow them, and to crush them at his feet. "The enemy said, I will pursue; I will overtake; I will divide the spoil :. my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them."

Pharaoh did pursue. "And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him. And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them." With this immense army he overtook the Israelites, as they reached the border of the Red Sea. What then took place we learn from the tenth verse: "And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lift up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched

after them, and they were sore afraid." No wonder at their distressing feelings, and accumulating fears! They knew the strength and rage of the enemy: they knew also their own weakness. They were indeed a large body of people, but unarmed, undisciplined, totally unprepared, and unable to stand against so formidable a host. What could they do? We are told; "And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord." It would be wrong to censure the whole of this vast company: there were some, we trust, who sought the Lord in this emergency, with fervent believing prayer; yet the cry of the multitude has much the appearance of impatient clamour,-a cry extorted by the fears of the moment. As those people mentioned by the Prophet: "Lord, in trouble they have visited thee; they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them." The form of expression favours this idea---they " cried out unto the Lord." The subsequent verses confirm it. "And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word which we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." This language is nothing but petulance and impiety! It is addressed to Moses, but it implies a most ungrateful and base reflection against the God of Israel himself. You perceive, they reckoned upon nothing but dyingthey must inevitably perish, because they found them selves in a difficulty. But had they so soon forgotten the wonders which God had wrought for them in Egypt? And could not that Almighty Arm which had

delivered still again deliver? It is no uncommon thing for many past mercies to be lost in one present perplexity. Instead of saying, as we ought, "Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice," we often lose the recollection of most signal benefits, and sink in deep despondency. Such is the hardness and ingratitude of the heart! Besides; there was something extremely unmanly in this reflection. They said; "It had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." Men of a generous mind would not have spoken thus: they would have argued-Liberty, with all its perils, is far better than slavery; and suppose the worst, it is more honourable to die even in this desert, than to live degraded in chains of cruel bondage.

Observe, then, their peculiar situation :-The roaring sea before them, the exasperated enemy close behind them; on one hand was Pi-hahiroth, a range of craggy, impassable rocks; on the other, Migdol and Baal-Zephon, which probably were strong forts and garrisons on the frontiers of Egypt. Escape, in any direction, was impracticable. There was no way open for them but one, and that, as the pious Henry remarks, was upwards. Some of them looked upwards, and thence their deliverance came. But you

see the body of the people discontented in a painful degree: dissension spread among them; the voice of sedition was loud; the most cutting reflections were uttered against Moses, and the most unbelieving and ungrateful suspicions against God himself. Such was their peculiar situation.---We notice,

II. THE CONDUCT OF MOSES.

This is stated in the two verses immediately before