of God, among themselves, or to maintain public worship. By degrees they nearly lost the true religion, and had adopted some of the idolatrous practices of the Egyptians.-Deut. xxix. 2, 4.

Obs.-This was now the third time, that the church was nearly carried away by the wickedness of the world: once previous to the flood; a second time before the calling of Abraham, and now the third time in Egypt.

But, as in the former instances, so in this last instance, God did not suffer his church to be quite overwhelmed, The true religion existed, although its existence was feeble, and God had his faithful worshippers, even in this miserable, dark and corrupted age, although they were few.

CHAPTER VIII.

Travels of the Israelites-Destruction of Pharaoh-Giving of the Law-Idolatry of the Israelites.

form Egypt?

A. At Rameses, the chief city of Goshen, on the 15th day of the first month (Abib, or April,) 430 years after the promise had been given to Abraham, in Chaldea, and 215 from the time Jacob went into Egypt.-Ex. xii. 37, 40, 41. Q. How many were they in number?

A. 600,000 men, besides women and children, so that they amounted to nearly two millions.Ex. xii. 37.

Q. What direction did Moses take with the people ?

A. He led them towards the Red Sea.-Ex. xiii. 18.

Q. In what manner did God manifest himself to them?

A. He sent a cloud, in the form of a pillar, to guide and shade them from the scorching sun by day; and a pillar of fire, or a bright cloud of the same form, to guide and illuminate their camp by night.-Ex. xii. 21, 22.

Q. What did Pharaoh do, when he heard that they would not return?

A. He hastily gathered his horsemen and chariots, and pursued them.-Ex. xiv. 3–9.

Q. Were not the Israelites alarmed at this intelligence?

A. Yes, exceedingly alarmed, and began to murmur against Moses; but by divine direction. he led them through the Red Sea, which God divided, so that it stood like walls on each side, until they had safely reached the opposite shore. -Ex. xiv. 10-22.

Q. What became of Pharaoh and his host?

A. In attempting to follow the Israelites through the sea, they were overwhelmed, by the returning waters, and wholly destroyed.-Ex. xiv. 23-31.

Obs.—Thus, in a most awful manner, perished this infatuated monarch, and his equally infatuated followers. In an

equally awful manner, will God finally destroy all the incorrigible workers of iniquity. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

Q. Whither did Moses lead the Israelites from the Red Sea ? A. Into the wilderness, or Desert of Shur.Ex. xv. 22.

Q. What is the meaning of a wilderness, or desert, here, and elsewhere, in the scriptures?

A. Not a place, altogether uninhabited, as the word now generally means; but a region of country more open and common, containing hills and woods, and some towns, or villages.

Q. Did not the Israelites murmur, on account of expected want?

A. Yes; but God sent them quails, and a kind of bread called manna, which fell every night, and was gathered in the morning.-Ex. xvi. 2, 31.

Obs. This manna was a little white thing, like hoar frost, and in shape like the coriander seed. When first gathered, its taste was like honey; but being ground, and baked, it tasted like bread kneaded with oil. Upon this kind of bread, did the children of Israel subsist, nearly forty years. Q. Did the Israelites meet with opposition in their march? A. Yes; the Amalekites, descendants of Esau, came out to fight them, but at length were conquered.-Ex. xvii. 8, 14.

Q. How long were they in reaching Mount Sinai ?
A. Three months.-Ex. xix. 1.

Q. Why did God lead them through the wilderness, to this mountain ?

A. To humble them, and prove them, and to know what was in their hearts, whether they would keep his commandments.

LESSON XIII.

Q. What took place while they were encamped at Sinai?

A. In a manner, the most solemn and magnificent, God delivered, from the mount, the moral law, or ten commandments.-Ex. xix. xx. Q. What do these ten commandments express?

A. The whole duty of man to God, to his neighbour, and to himself: in a few, but most significant and explicit words.

Q. Are these commandments binding on us at the present dary?

A. Since God has no where repealed them, they are now in force, and will continue in force to the end of the world.-Matt. v. 17.

Q. Did God institute and enjoin any other laws?

A. Several; some of which related to the manner, in which the Israelites should worship him, and others, pertaining to life, liberty, and property.-Ex. xxv.-xl. & Lev.

Q. But why should God make civil laws for the Israelites? He has never enacted such laws for other nations?

4. God, by their request, became their king, or civil ruler; it, therefore, devolved upon him to make their laws.

Obs. ---Hence the government of the Israelites, after their coming out of Egypt, was called a Theocracy, which signi fies. the government of God. All officers were appointed by God; war was proclaimed by him, and laws were given from the tabernacle. This kind of government lasted until the time of Saul.

Q. Do not some of the laws, enacted for the Israelites, appear weak and foolish?

A. They may appear so to those, who do not understand wherefore they were made; but it should be remembered, that they chiefly prohibited the vain and superstitious practices of the the surrounding heathen nations.

b. A few examples will illustrate this subject. The 178 were forbid to round the corners of their heads, or mar the corners of their beards." This was designed to

prevent a practice of this sort among the Israelites, which prevailed among the heathen priests, which they considered tessential in their idol worship.

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So the Israelites were forbid to wear a garment of "linen and woolen;" because such garments were worn by idolatrous priests, and were supposed to possess some great magical virtue.

Also, they must not "seethe, or boil, a kid in its mother's milk." This the heathen often did, and sprinkled the milk on their gardens, to make them fruitful. By these laws, God designed to make a wall of separation between the Israelites and other nations, and especially to keep them from idolatry.

Q. Did God enforce these laws by promises and threatenings?

A. He promised that if they would obey him, he would bless them, and drive out the heathen from the land of Canaan; but if they should disobey him, he threatened to forsake them, and to afflict them with many national calamities. Deut. xxx. xxxi.

Q. Did the Israelites promise to obey these laws?

A. They did. Moses wrote them, and having read them, the people solemnly assented to them.-Deut. xxvi. 16, 17.

Q. Did Moses ascend Mount Sinai ?

A. Yes; where he remained forty days, in which time he received instructions about building the tabernacle, and other instruments of worship; and moreover, received two tables of stone, on which were written, by the finger of God the ten commandments.-Ex. xxiv. 12, 18; Deut. x. 1-6.

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