become actually the cause of joy! "The valley of Achor[of bitterness]-proves a door of hope." (Hosea ii. 15.) There are lessons of God's love, and experience of his mercy, which can be learned only in the school of affliction. If we would see the stars at mid-day, we must descend into some dark, deep pit: "when we walk in darkness and have no light," then shall we behold "the salvation of God." IV. THEIR COURSE IS PROGRESSIVE, AND THEIR END IS CERTAIN: "They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." 1. Their course is progressive: "from strength to strength." In the margin it is "from company to company"-outstripping one another, pressing on, and on, and on—from post to post-from mile to mile; they stay not, nor rest, nor turn aside, until the golden towers of the temple gleam in the distance; and then they quicken their step, till they reach the goal! -Apt emblem of the Christian's course: "The righteous holds on his way [and grows] stronger and stronger." (Job. xvii. 9.) The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov. iv. 18.) All the illustrations of Scripture teach the same truth. There are babes, young men, and fathers in Christ. There is grace in the blade, the ear, and the full corn, &c. : "grow in grace," saith St. Peter. (2 Peter iii. 18.) "I press toward the mark," &c. saith St. Paul. (Philipp. iii. 13, 14.) If our christian life be not progressive in knowledge, in experience, in virtue, in all holiness, its character is suspicious: we have need to fear. 2. The end is certain: "every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." The nouns of number followed by a verb singular require the insertion of the words "every one of them," as supplied, and most accurately, in both our versions. The perfect security and certainty that each pilgrim will reach Zion is thus most strongly marked by the original idiom: The gathering tribes, yea each individual among them, shall safely reach Jerusalem, and appear with holy joy before God. So every one of the heavenly pilgrims shall attain their end and hope. True, the mixed multitude perished in the desert, and many who came out of Egypt did not reach Canaan; and so, many who profess to set their faces Zion-ward will never find their way thither. But still, all who do in truth commence the journey shall reach the end of it: "God's little ones shall not perish." "He who has begun a good work in them, will complete it." (Philipp. i. 6.) "He who loves them will love them to the end." (John xiii. 1.) "Their lives are hid with Christ in God." (Col. iii. 3.) Who shall find them to hurt them? Could the king find Jeremiah and his scribe when "the Lord had hid them?" (Jer. xxxvi. 26.) The hope of the hypocrite may and must perish; but he that truly believeth shall never be ashamed. 1. Some we fear have not yet commenced this heavenly journey! How sad your state! Know you, or do you consider, whither your steps are leading you? Every step, every hour, slowly, silently, but too surely, you are going towards eternal perdition! Oh think on your ways; be wise, repent, and be converted; turn your faces away from sin and death; look towards God in Christ, and ye shall live. A few more steps may lead you where hope never comes: may you repent and believe in time! 2. Others are humbly and patiently journeying towards Zion: -Happy are ye! You may be traversing the vale of misery, but the pools are filled with water! "God's comforts refresh your souls." Be not discouraged; yield not to despondency; all shall soon be well with you: a few more weary steps, and then eternal rest; a few more heaving billows, and then the haven of bliss shall be yours:-sorrow for a little moment; joy for ever and ever! 3. Shew your gratitude to Him who preserves and refreshes you, by endeavouring to extend the same blessings to others. Has he opened springs in the desert to you? Have you means, ordinances, Sabbaths, sacraments, and the written and preached word? Do you value them-profit by them? Then see that you give of your prayers, your substance, and influence, to impart these same benefits to all; to your neighbours, friends, and fellow-countrymen, at home and abroad; yea, to "the whole world!"* * Here the cause of any particular religious institution might be appropriately introduced. XXXII. PHARAOн. Exodus v. 2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. THERE is an infinite variety in the mode of instruction afforded us in the Word of God. History, prophecy, precept, doctrine, poetry, all in turn attract and edify us. But no portion is more interesting than the examples recorded in Scripture: whether of good men to be imitatedas of Abraham for faith, Solomon for wisdom, Moses for meekness, and Christ for all graces: or of bad men to be shunned as Cain, Ishmael, Esau, Saul, Ahitophel, and many others in the Old Testament; and Judas, Pilate, Demas, and others in the New. But not one of them is more replete with warning than the character of him who speaks in the text. May the Holy Spirit impress the solemn subject upon our hearts and consciences, while we consider I. PHARAOH'S DARING PROFANENESS. II. HIS TRANSIENT CONVICTIONS. III. HIS MISERABLE END. I. HIS DARING PROFANENESS : "This -exhibited first in the impious language of the text: "Who is the Lord," &c. But it may be said he was a heathen prince, and knew not God. True, but it will also be found that his wickedness increased in proportion as God's power was made known to him. Miracles the most stupendous were wrought before him, which seem to have convinced every one in his empire except himself! is the finger of God. . . . but Pharaoh was hardened." (ch. viii. 19.) His servants were at length provoked at his obstinacy and remonstrated, but in vain. (ch. x. 7.) He would not let Israel go, until every first-born was slain: and even then pursued madly, and rushed daringly into the Red Sea and perished! (ch. xiv. 5—7.) What a picture 1. Of the open and daring infidels, socialists, and sceptics, of our own times! Despise, ridicule, blaspheme God's Word, and impiously exclaim, "Who is the Lord? I know not the Lord!" &c. "Fools" in our day no longer "say in their heart [only] there is no God;" but, through the false liberalism and latitudinarian licentiousness of the age, are permitted to insult their neighbours, their country, and the God of their fathers! Oh that God would raise up a standard against them. 2. Almost equally impious is the practical infidel: -he professes to believe all things, and lives as if he believed nothing! "I believe in God"-but I do not worship him, serve him, love him! "I believe in Christ"-but Î never fled to him, sought him, wept with him! I believe in heaven, but I do not seek it; in hell, but I do not flee from it! I hold the ten commandments as of God, and believe that I must obey them or perish-but I am not afraid to say, "O God," II. PHARAOH'S TRANSIENT CONVICTIONS : -they were in him frequent and strong. Pharaoh was soon frightened and humbled. The second plague (ch. viii. 8.) was enough: "entreat the Lord for me!" But hardened himself again, until the eighth plague extorted new acts of humiliation: "I have sinned against God, against you! Forgive me, I pray thee, only this once!" But soon hardened again, until last plague (ch. xii. 31, 32), when he yields, dismisses Israel, and even says, "bless me also!" Yet this prayer was hardly off his lips before he mounted his chariot and pursued Israel! Miserable man! Convinced, frightened, humbled repeatedly, crying for mercy, but perishing in his sins. O how common! Few of the most impious have been without their convictions. In moments of terror, alarm, and danger, the most hardened sinners cry out for mercy: on sick and dying beds, in shipwreck, in calamity; but returning security and ease dissipate the transient conviction. So Ahab sought God, and found a reprieve, though he perished at last a wicked man! (1 Kings xxi. 25-29.) So Saul repeatedly confessed to David! (1 Sam. xxvi. 21-25.) Some have been deeply affected under the preaching of the Gospel: convinced, humbled, softened, sincerely feel, honestly resolve, for the moment; but all proves transient. It will probably be found hereafter that not one sinner is in eternal woe who did not in his life resolve again and again to repent and amend! How vain are idle wishes, and selfconfident resolutions! Place no reliance on them-transient convictions will only deepen condemnation. III.-PHARAOH'S MISERABLE END. The tale is familiar and terrible. Description:-see him, (ch. xiv. 5-9, 23-28); headlong course the yawning gulph does not appal him-he dares the frowning waves, and wall of sea-chasing the Israelites in their miraculous pathway through the deep, he is swallowed up and all his host-even Israel is afraid! (ver. 30, 31.) Faithful, though terrible picture of the madness, impetuosity, and intemperance, with which the men of this world plunge into the depths of eternal ruin! They gaze only on the object of their pursuit, be it pleasure, or wealth, or fame, or vice; and for this they risk their all, and their wreck is total! Checked, but not arrested, in their course by convictions, by providential visitations, warnings, &c.-on they rush as "the war-horse to the battle!" (Jer. viii. 6,) "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure," &c. (Isaiah v. 14.) OBJECTION:-Pharaoh was hardened, as perhaps these may be, and "Why doth he [then] yet find fault?" (Rom. ix. 19); "if so, he could not help it!" ANSWER: Who told you this? It is recorded in the history! But suppose God had not told you this, would you have discovered it? Read the story was not Pharaoh justly dealt with? Did he not sin wilfully against light, conviction, and his own promises? Was he not palpably a free agent? He did not know God's secret decrees, nor do you! If he was at last judicially hardened, it was because he resisted the grace of God! There will be no excuse at last-God is just and merciful-" Let all the earth keep silence before him!" "My ways are equal, your ways are unequal." |