life. If parents were liable to have their beloved offspring snatched from their fond embraces, and hurried to an early grave, they might be ready to exclaim, "Blessed are the wombs that never bare, and the paps that never gave suck." Yet no such despondent feelings appear to have arisen, for, in spite of all their oppression and cruelty, Israel continued to multiply yet more and more.

About 1573 years before Christ, Moses was born; his parents were of the tribe of Levi. He was a remarkably goodly child, and the yearnings of parental tenderness longed to save him from destruction. But it is probable they also had some peculiar assurance given them of his preservation; or else, confiding in the general promise of deliverance to Israel, they hid the infant three months, in dependence on God, probably at the hazard of their own lives. This fact is honourably recorded in the epistle to the Hebrews, with the assurance that it was done "in faith." At length they could conceal it no longer. The existence of the infant was discovered, and perhaps the parents had intimations that the executioner was at hand to slay him before their eyes. Faith and love are ever fertile in expedients. The mother took an ark, or small basket, of rushes, made water-proof by being coated within and without with a kind of bitumen or pitch. In this ark she placed her infant, concealed it among the flags on the side of the river, and set his sister to watch it, and, under the secret guidance of the

Lord, expecting some providential interposition on his behalf. How perilous the situation of this helpless babe! every moment liable to be found by Pharaoh's servants, or to be devoured by crocodiles, with which the Nile abounds; but he was placed there in faith, and the Lord answered the expectation formed of his providential care and interpo

sition.

The steps of Pharaoh's own daughter were directed to the spot; she perceived the deposit; the cries of the beautiful babe excited her compassion; she rescued and adopted him, and unconsciously employed his own mother to nurse him. During his residence under her pious and affectionate care, she doubtless implanted in his young mind the first seeds of religion: she taught him to know and fear the God of his fathers, and to feel sympathy for his suffering brethren. When of an age to be removed from her care, he was educated and provided for as the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter, perhaps regarded as the presumptive heir to the crown of Egypt, certainly accomplished in a very eminent degree in all the learning of the Egyptians, among whom he appears to have possessed a high degree of esteem. But he was made by divine grace a partaker of that faith which overcomes the world; hence, supremely valuing the blessing of the covenant, and convinced that Israel was indeed the people of God, and that the promises towards them would certainly be accomplished, he determined to

cast in his lot among them, and risk, yea, even renounce and suffer all for the sake of his religion. He "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Under these impressions he went out to seek an opportunity of delivering Israel, expecting that the Israelites would cordially welcome him, and concur in the necessary measures for effecting their rescue. Seeing an Egyptian oppressing an Israelite, he slew the tyrant, and rescued the sufferer. In taking this step he probably acted prematurely; for the spirits of the people were sunk, and their dispositions become hopeless and servile; and instead of concurring with Moses, they reproached him. Seeing two Israelites strive together, Moses next attempted their reconciliation; but in this he was no better received than in the other, and, finding that his own people would not stand by him, and that the king sought to slay him, he fled to Midian. Perhaps, in this instance his courage, which had been too rash, was too hastily depressed. This step led to the delay of Israel's deliverance forty years longer. During those years, however, "Egypt filled up, and Canaan was filling, the measure of their iniquities; the Israelites were rapidly increasing; and Moses, walking with God in the lowly and retired life of a shepherd, was learning to endure hardships, and to exercise faith, patience, and meekness." It is said, that Moses was content" to dwell with Reuel the priest of Midian, and tend his sheep; a fine example of the influence

VOL. I.