performed by Moses, whose serpent swallowed up those artfully substituted in the place of their rods, by the sorcerers, appear to be of such importance as to change his resolution. His heart was hardened, and he would not let the people go.

The miracle which succeeded was of a moré alarming nature; and it induced a punishment. "Aaron smote the waters that were in the river in the sight of Pharaoh, and his servants, and all the waters were turned into blood; the fish died and the river stank, so that the Egyptians could not drink of the river;" and they were obliged to dig round about the river to procure fresh water. The magicians are stated to have imitated this miracle also. From the nature of the case we may infer that the imitation must have been upon a very small scale; for as the waters in the river and in the streams, ponds, and pools supplied by it, were all turned into blood, they could simply try their experiments of deception by the water procured from the wells recently dug. Pharaoh might possibly ascribe the limitation of their power to this circumstance alone; and he still continued obsti

nate.

After the respite of seven days, Moses was ordered to renew his application, and to threaten

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a miraculous, injurious, and irksome increase of frogs, that should come up and cover the land of Egypt. Upon the inattention of Pharaoh to the threat, it was executed in so severe a manner that he began to relent. For although this miracle was imitated by the magicians, yet "he called for Moses and Aaron, and said, intreat the Lord that he may take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let thy people go that they may do sacrifice unto Jehovah." The imitation of the Egyptians must have been very circumscribed, for reasons similar to those we have just mentioned ; and Pharaoh now felt himself compelled to acknowledge the superior power of Jehovah. But upon the removal of the evil he refused to perform the promise."

2

In the next miracle, "Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and smote the dust of the earth, and it became licein man and beast, and the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt." The magicians attempted to imitate this miracle in vain. It is probable that the nature of the miracle, rendered a counterfeit impracticable, as the minuteness of the object would destroy the power of deception. They were however obliged to confess their inability, which as naturally induced them to acknow

ledge, this is the finger of God." But Pharaoh continued obdurate.

When "a grievous swarm of flies was sent into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants houses, and into all the land of Egypt, and the land was corrupted by reason of the flies," while the land of Goshen was perfectly free, Pharaoh again relented. He was now willing to permit the Israelites to institute a solemn sacrifice to their God, in the land. This was not accepted, because it would be obnoxious to the Egyptians. "And Moses said it is not meet so to do for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. Lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? We will go three days journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us." Pharaoh, under the impression of the moment, consented, upon condition that they should not go very far away, Intreat for me." In conformity to the request and proposal, Moses said, "Behold I go out from thee, and I will intreat the Lord that the swarms of flies, may depart." But upon their removal" Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, neither would he let the people go."

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The murrain inflicted upon the cattle was con

fined to the Egyptians; " of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one." The boils also "which broke forth upon man, and upon beasts, throughout all the land of Egypt," and with which the magicians themselves were afflicted, were manifestly confined to that nation. But neither of these miracles subdued the obduracy of Pharaoh's heart.

When the devastation by hail and rain was threatened, the Egyptians themselves were admonished to avoid the impending storm, by driving their cattle from the fields. "He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh, made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: and he that regarded not the word of the Lord, left his servants and his cattle in the field." When" the hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation, smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, and brake every tree of the field;" without injuring the land of Goshen, Pharaoh began to feel even the pangs of conscience. He was convinced that he had been trifling with Jehovah of Israel, and he deprecated his vengeance. "Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned

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this time. The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked; intreat the Lord (for it is enough,) that there be no more thunderings and hail; and I will let ye go, and ye shall stay no longer." Thus under the impulse of terror he gave his full consent, without reserve. But no sooner was the calamity removed than his relucatnce returned, with all its force." The heart of Pharaoh was hardened; neither would he let the people go."

When the desolating swarms of locusts were threatened, and the miseries they should pro duce minutely foretold, the servants of Pharaoh were alarmed, and endeavoured to persuade their sovereign to comply with the demand of Moses. They said, "How long shall this man be a snare unto us? Let the men go that they may serve Jehovah their God. Knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?" He now sought an interview with these messengers of heaven, and proposed to let the Men go and serve the Lord, but insisted upon retaining women, children, and the flocks, as hostages for their return. But Moses said, "We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons, and with our daughters, with our flocks, and with our herds, will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord." The extent of the requisition enraged