Whether it was to assert His own right, whether add to His choicest collection, whether to provide safer situation, or whether He has preferred some her employment for us, we are not yet informed; it He has sent a messenger to us, who has broken e pot and taken away the plant. We know that, its present situation, it will be more vigorous in s growth, and more beautiful in its appearance; bat its stalk will not be broken by the fierce wind, or its tender shoots scorched by the burning sun r nipped by the pinching frost; that its blossom will never be a prey to the rude worms, nor its ruit to the tempest. All this we know; and He has sent us His word, that what we know not now, we shall know hereafter.-Anon.

STORIES OF SCRIPTURE WATERS.
CHAPTER VII.

THE RED SEA.

SOME of you, dear children, have probably read of Cairo, and of Suez: the former, the chief city in Egypt; the latter, forming an isthmus, or narrow piece of land, separating the Mediterranean from the Red Sea. Travellers to India usually call at both places on the route. But a deeper interest attaches to them, in connexion with the event now to be narrated. The Red Sea, which runs up to Suez, is a gulf of the Indian Ocean. It is about fourteen hundred miles in length, and about one hundred and fifty in average breadth. It has two

arms

or

branches, running east and west. The latter about one hundred and ninety miles long, and ab twenty in average breadth; and it was about two or fourteen miles south of Suez, its head, that Israelites crossed on their way to the promised la from Egypt. The Red Sea is so called, either fi its washing the shores of Edom, which means r or from some peculiarity in the appearance of waters, giving it a reddish tinge.

You will remember, that the family of Ja settled in the land of Goshen. Could you have b present in the city of Rameses in Goshen, ab three thousand three hundred and forty-seven ye ago, you would have seen a vast company of m women, and children, all prepared for a l journey, marching in a very orderly manner fr that city, with immense flocks and herds. Up that morning they had been slaves, very crue treated by the Egyptians, who had refused to set th free at the repeated command of God. But duri the preceding night, their great Protector had sla the eldest child in every Egyptian family, as punishment for their disobedience. This had t effect. A royal mandate was issued, urging t Israelites to depart, as free men, whither they desire nay, even the most costly presents were given the by the people; and Pharaoh himself sought the blessing on himself and his people, as they departe Their leader was the man whose providential d liverance in infancy was narrated in the last Chapte The number of the Israelites, and those who accon panied them, was nearly three millions. As the

left Rameses, (which is supposed to have stood a few miles from Cairo,) a singular cloud appeared, and went before them, to lead them in the way to their future home. This was the token of the presence and favour of God.

The

The loss of so many slaves would soon be felt in Egypt, and a desire for their re-capture was soon manifested. On the evening of the second day, they had reached the head of the Red Sea, and the borders of the wilderness of Etham. Instead, however, of proceeding through that wilderness, they received a sudden command from God to turn southward, so as to keep the western shore of the Red Sea, and to encamp at the termination of the valley of Bedea, close by the sea-shore. reasons for this were various; the chief one being, that God might deliver them from the fear of Egyptian pursuit, by the utter overthrow of wicked Pharaoh and his army. No sooner had the King heard of the unexpected movement which the Israelites had made, than, conceiving that they were now forsaken of God, and completely in his power, he summoned his body-guard of six hundred chariots, and as many other chariots and warriors as could be readily brought together, and came up with the Israelites as night approached. Their position now was one of extreme difficulty and danger. On their right was Migdol, with its huge mountains; on their left was Pi-hahiroth, with its impassable heights; before them was the Red Sea,— which here was about twelve miles broad, and several fathoms deep; and behind them was the host

of the Egyptians in the only road by which ar escape could be made. When the Israelites becan fully aware of all this, they cried aloud to God, a with great bitterness reproached Moses for havi brought them into such circumstances. But, assur of deliverance, he urged them to wait with con dence, and they should have cause to rejoice. E commanded them to go forward to the very edge the sea; which they did. At this time the clou which had gone before them, moved slowly bac ward, until it came behind them, when it assum toward them a very bright appearance, but towa the Egyptians a very dark and frowning one; th effectually parting the two hosts, and preventing tl army of Pharaoh from perceiving what was takin place among the Israelites. Moses then lifted h rod over the sea; and immediately the waters we divided straight across, from the east to the we shore; and a very strong east wind began to blow which dried up the channel of the sea quickly, an continued to blow all night. The water thus stoo up toward the north and south, like walls of glas leaving a broad channel, into which the childre of Israel, led by Moses and Aaron, at once entered with all their flocks; and by morning dawn they ha nearly all reached the eastern side. About fou o'clock in the morning, God troubled the Egyptian in various ways. The cloud assumed a fearfu aspect, the sea roared violently, loud thunder pealed overhead, and fierce lightnings flashed befor them; while "the clouds poured out water." (Se Psalm lxxvii. 16-20.) In this "horrible tempest,

he chariots got mingled together, and the wheels were broken off, so that, on the uneven bottom of he sea, "they drave heavily." Convinced by these arious tokens that God fought for Israel, they ttempted to flee toward the western shore. But, las! it was too late. No sooner had the last sraelite reached the eastern side, than God commanded Moses to stretch his hand over the sea with is rod; and the waters, which for so many hours ad stood up on heaps, rushed to their proper course, overwhelming and destroying the whole of the Egyptian army, so that not a single man escaped! By the agitation of the waves their bodies were hrown on shore; and thus the Israelites were assured of their destruction, and by these means Obtained much spoil, particularly in weapons of war. Astonished at this overthrow of their foes, at the ingular deliverance God had wrought out for them, nd the wonderful path in which He had led them, hey feared God, and now were ready to credit the Divine mission of Moses; who, to celebrate the rand event, composed a song of triumph, which was hanted by the whole congregation, with ecstasy of eling. The burden of this song was, "Sing ye to e Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously; the orse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea." The Israelites soon afterwards pursued their way safety, a fear having fallen upon surrounding ations. We see how God protects His people, and efeats the designs of their foes, making even the traits and difficulties into which His children are rought, the means of securing their safety, and