remind us of them. Like Samuel, let us erect some Ebenezer, testifying our gratitude because hitherto the Lord hath helped us. Let it never be said to our reproach, that we retain with ease the unkindnesses of man, but remember with difficulty the mercies of God. Here we pause in his history, after first turning our eyes to Him whom Moses prefigured, and who alone can rescue us from a slavery infinitely more dreadful than that of Pharaoh. If the Israelites longed for a deliverer when Moses was born, the world was anxiously waiting for Messiah when Jesus appeared. If one edict marks the birth of Moses, another brings the blessed Virgin to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. If Providence delivers Moses from the death with which he was threatened by the jealousy of one tyrant, Jesus is preserved from the designs of another. If the mother of Moses had presages of the future greatness of her child, Mary knew, from the annunciation of Gabriel, from the triumphant song of the heavenly host, from the adoration of the shepherds and magi, from the predictions and gratulations of the inspired Simeon and Anna, that her child was the long-expected Messiah, Jesus, who should "save his people from their sins,”—“ a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel." To this blessed Saviour may the gospel's star conduct us all, my brethren; and when we expire, may we find in him our deliverer from death and hellour conductor to the Jerusalem on high. SERMON XVIII. LIFE OF MOSES. No. II. ACTS vii. 22-29. HEBREWS xi. 24-26. EXODUS ii. 11-22. IN our last lecture we beheld Moses a weeping babe, exposed on the borders of the Nile, and rescued by the watchful care of Providence from a death which appeared almost inevitable. Adopted as the son of the princess of Egypt, he was introduced to the court of Pharaoh, and passed the first forty years of his life surrounded by all its splendour and magnificence. Of the transactions of this period we know nothing, except what is mentioned to us by Stephen in a single verse of his speech before the Jewish council, (Acts vii. 22.) and by Paul when he rapidly retraces the exploits of faith in ancient believers. (Heb. xi. 24—26.) How differently do God and man judge of the relative importance of events. While the writers of profane history dwell with delight on the brilliancy of courts, on the actions of kings, and the deeds of conquerors,—the inspired volume, rapidly glancing at the transactions of palaces, and at those exploits that are eulogized by the poet and the orator,— dwells with interest on every thing connected with the pious and the humble; attends the shepherd of Mesopotamia in all his wanderings, pauses on the afflictions of the suffering man of Uz, or holds up for our imitation the patience and submission of a despised Lazarus.-In the estimation of God and his angels, the graces of the Spirit and the virtues of the soul, are infinitely superior to the pomp of royalty and the splendour of power: and, therefore, if Moses is exhibited at the imperial court, it is only to teach us that he rose superior to its seductions, and renounced its pleasures, when they came in competition with his duty to his God. Egypt was at this time the most enlightened nation upon earth-and Moses was doubtless instructed in sciences and arts by the most distinguished of the magi. "He was," says St. Stephen, “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians;" a declaration abundantly verified by those writings which have benefited the church of God in every age. The providence of God was thus preparing him for the important stations which he was afterwards to fill. How often does the Lord thus qualify persons, unconsciously to themselves and their instructers, for eminent services which they did not anticipate. Little did the superstitious magi suppose that they were rearing one who, as the heaven-inspired historian of the creation, should show the folly and the guilt of their idolatry-who by the most splendid miracles should shake the fabric of their corruptions-who should be the deliverer and the legislator of his people. Little did the Jewish rabbis imagine, while instructing Saul of Tarsus, that they were preparing the most illustrious champion of that cross which was a stumbling-block to their nation. Happy they who thus, like Moses, sanctify their intellectual attainments, and devote them to the service of the Most High-who thus with the gold of Egypt decorate the tabernacle of God.-Happy they who thus, like Paul, lay all their literary laurels at the foot of the cross. Such instances are not unusual; for often "Piety has found "Friends in the friends of science; and pure prayer At the age of forty, Moses forsook all that the world idolizes, and united himself with the afflicted people of God. The delights which encompassed him, the honours that were heaped upon him, and the flattering prospects that were spread before him, could not make him forget the woes of his brethren. The seal of the covenant impressed upon him, probably led him to inquire into its nature and design. He thus was made acquainted with the promises of God to the father of the faithful, and urged to the knowledge and fear of the Lord; and he shuddered at the thought of renouncing those spiritual and everlasting privileges thus exhibited to him, for all the kingdom of Egypt. Moses is not the only one who has been benefited in the same manner."Whatever is pretended by some to the contrary," (this is the remark of Dr. Owen on this event in the life of Moses,)" it is a most eminent, divine privilege, to have the seal of the covenant in baptism communicated to the children of believers in infancy: and it hath been a means of preserving many from fatal apostacies, and of keeping them in the profession of the true religion, notwithstanding outward temptations."* Ye who in infancy were admitted into the visible church, but who live regardless of that covenant, the seal of which was in baptism applied to you, here imitate Moses, and let the consideration of the blessings exhibited to you in this sacrament, induce you to devote yourselves to the God of your fathers. Do not, by a wicked life, strive to tear the seal from the covenant, and wipe up the holy baptismal consecration from your forehead. Incur not the sin and the punishment of Esau by the neglect or contempt of a spiritual privilege-but give yourselves to that blessed Redeemer, whose name hath sacramentally been called over you. Besides, there can be little doubt that the mother of Moses, who as his nurse was constantly with him during his tender years, early instilled into his mind. the principles of the true religion, and taught him to abhor the Egyptian idolatry and superstitions.— Mothers, in this respect imitate Jochabed! The character of the rising generation depends in a great degree upon you. From you, your children receive impressions which generally give a complexion to their whole lives and to their eternal destination. Even when both parents are pious, yet it is principally by the mild, gentle, affectionate instructions of mothers, that the hearts of their offspring are touched. How many Christians are there who recall, with gratitude and emotion, those maternal advices and instructions which, accompanied by the prayer of faith and watered by the tears of holy solicitude, caused the youthful tongue to lisp out the praises of its * Owen on Heb. xi. 24-26. |