vidence of God, that had done so great things already for them, claoured against Moses aud Aaron, and with bitter reproaches asked them, whether there were not graves enough in Egypt, that they must bring them into the wilderness to be sacrificed, and exposed to more cruel deaths. Moses, no doubt, saw that there was no visible way in nature for his people to escape, but the very difficulty of the case served to confirm his faith and hope; and he was fully persuaded, that the same almighty power, which had enabled him to do so many and great wonders, would not forsake his people, but would find them a way to escape out of this distress also. In this confidence, he exhorts the Israelites to be of good courage, to put their trust in the Lord, and to wait his divine will and help; for that he would shew them his salvation, and would fight for them and deliver them. Then having laid their case before God in earnest and supplicating prayer; and having received a command from him to march the people forward, with a promise, that, upon his striking the sea with his rod, it should divide, so as to let the children of Israel march through the midst of it on dry ground; and that it should close again, and drown Pharaoh with all his host: in full confidence of this extraordinary protection, he obeyed the divine orders. S. Did the Israelites believe God, and obey Moses in this?

T. Yes and Moses having ordered them to march in the night, they advanced towards the sea-side; God at the same time covering their march from the enemy, by removing the miraculous cloud or pillar, which attended them, from

the front to the rear of the Israelites camp; so that its dark side being opposed to the camp of the Egyp tians, it was a cloud and darknės; to them, and they were not able to see what was doing before them, so that the one came not near the other all night; while its light side being turned to the Israelites, it gave them sufficient light to proceed forward.

S. How was their total deliver ance effected, and what further measures did God take for it?

T. The sea, as God had promised, obeyed the cominand of Moses; for he no sooner had waved his rod over it, than a strong east wind blew, which divided the waters, so as they stood suspended like a wall on each hand, and left a dry and safe passage, until the Israelites gained the other shore.

S. What became of Pharach and his host?

T. The Egyptians judicially blind with revenge and fury, as soon as they found the Israelites decamped, pursued the same rout, and attempting the same passage, entered after them into the midst of the sea.

S. Did they overtake the Israelites?

T. No for they were no sooner inclosed in the sea, but the Lord troubled their host, took off their chariot wheels, and sent down from above fierce winds and tempests, storms of hail and rain, terrible thunders and lightnings, and whatever else would make the condition of the Egyptians horrible; and at last, when they in vain sought to turn back from their pursuit, God commanded Moses to stretch forth his hand over the sea, and immediately the divided sea unites; and

the roaring waves, breaking forth from their invisible chain, swal. lowed up the Egyptians, making them a lasting monument of God's justice and vengeance.

sea?

T. This sea, called by the ancients Sinus Arabicus, and now Gulfo de Mecca, is that part or branch of the southern sea, which whashes Egypt on the west, and Arabia Felix and part of Arabia Petræa on the east, and its north. ern bounds touch upon Idumea, or tho coast of Edom. Edom in the Hebrew tongue signifies red, and was the nick-name given Esau for selling his birth-right for a mess of pottage; the country inhabited by his posterity was called after this name, and so was the sea that washed its coast the Greeks not understanding the reason of the appellation, were blindly followed by the Latins, who called it Mare Rubrum, and we the Red-sca: so that it should properly have been called the sea of Edom. Rut the Hebrews call it the sea of Saph, or flags; abundance of which weeds grow at the bottom of it; and the Arabs at this time call it the sea of Clysona, from a town on the western coast, supposed to have been at the place where the Israelites passed over; and as the nante is thought to signify overflowing with water, probably it might be so called, in memory of the fate of the Egyptians, who were drowned therein.

S. How did the Israelites behave on this overthrow of the Egyptians? T. They beheld with wonder and amazement their own deliverance, and the miraculous destruction of

this joyful deliverance, and with all thankful acknowledgments of God's goodness.

S. How long did Moses continue here?

T. As soon as they had solemnized this blessing of the Lord with songs, mirth, and dances, Moses led the Israelites into the wilderness of Shur.

S. What is the meaning of a wilderness or desart here, and in other parts of scripture?

T. Here, and in most other parts of scripture, a wilderness or desart, were not places altogether uninhabited, as the word is now generally understood by us ; but the country was more open and common, containing hills and woods, & some towns, with good passure. From which towns those desarts or wildernesses took their proper name.

S. Did the Israelites continue in the fear of God, and in obedience to Moses?

T. No: for they had scarce travelled three days in this wilderness, before their excessive thirst and want of water put them out of all patience, and at length meeting with water at Marah, it proved so bitter they could not drink it, and they were like to mutiny; till by God's direction, Moses made use of the wood of a certain tree, which, as soon as it was thrown into the water, made it sweet; not through any inherent virtue in the wood, but altogether from the appointment of heaven.

S. Where do we hear of them next?

T. At Elim, a region which appeared pleasant and fruitful; here they found twelve wells of water, and Seventy palm or date trees; and here they encamped for some time: but travelling thence, they made towards the Red-sea, and came to the desart of Sin, between Elim and Sinal; were distrusting God, and fearing that provisions would soon fail so great a multitude in that bar ren country, they murmured and exclaimed against Moses and re pented that they had suffered them selves to be decoyed from the plenty they enjoyed in Egypt.

S. How did Moses appease them? T. He told them that the Lord would supply them with food from heaven, and in the evening give them flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the fall: that their murmurings were, in reality an impeachment of the Lord, who heard them, and would, if continued, severely punish them.

S. How did the Lord perform that promise?

T. In the evening he caused quails to fall amongst them, in such quantities, as covered their camp; and on the next morning, when the dew was gone, they found manua to serve them instead of bread.

S. What do you mean by manna? T. It was a little white round thing, as small as the hoar frost, and in shape like the coriander-seed. At first sight, the Israelites cried out in a surprize, Manhu, which signifies, what is this? From whence this heavenly food was called manna. When it was first gathered, it tasted like honey, but being ground and baked, it tasted like bread

kneaded with oil. And with this bread, God fed them forty years; having commanded them by Moses to gather in every morning, and to eat it all up the same day, except on the sixth day, when they were enjoined, to gather as much as should serve them on the sabbath day also. S. Was this manna a miraculous

food?

T. Yes, on many accounts: because it fell but on six days in the week; and in such quantities, that it fed almost three millions of sculs for some time; and such as provided thereof above the limited measure, profited not by their labour for they found nothing over when they came to measure it; and they that gathered little found no want; and though, if any of that which fell on the first five days, was kept above one day, it stunk and bred worms; yet the double quantity, which was sent every Friday morning, képt sweet for two days besides, it continued no longer than the Israelites abode in the wilderness, Lut ceased as soon as they got corn to eat in the land of Canaan.

S. Where did this manna first come down?

T. In the wilderness of Sin, which is half way between Elm and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month, after the Israel. ite's departure out of Egypt.

S. How much was every one commanded by God to gather for a day's provision?

T. An omer, a measure containing about four English pints. And this was the quantity which God commanded to be kept in the ta bernacle, as a sample of that miraculous bread, wherewith he had fed them in the wilderness,