reminded them that on this night, they must save the blood of the Paschal lamb in a bason, and sprinkle the two side and cross posts of their doors with it, that the destroying angel might look upon it, and pass over their houses without giving them any molestation; in memory of which deliverance they were to keep a feast of unleavened bread seven days, and were strictly charged to instruct their children in the meaning of the institution, that they might likewise perpetuate it to future ages,

The appointed hour being come, and the Israelites having provided for their own security, by marking their houses according to the direction of Moses, God sent out his ministers of vengeanee, who suddenly dispersed themselves through the land of Egypt, and smote all the first-born with death, from the eldest son of Pharaoh to the first-born of the meanest captive, and even to that of every animal in the kingdom. The infliction of this judgment was so sudden and terrific that Egypt was altogether confused, and every habitation of the natives resounded with groans of the dying, and fruitless

people.-Every family of the Israelites was to kill and roast a lamb, which they must eat with bitter herbs and unleavened bread, and such parts of it as remained after the repast, were to be burnt with fire, that none of it might remain till morning. The express mode of eating is also particularly mentioned, "Thus shall ye eat it, with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staves in your hands and ye shall eat it in haste, for it is the Lord's Passover."-We cannot quit the subject without reminding our readers that this was not only instituted as a memorial of Israel's deliverance from Egypt, but as a glorious type of the expiatory sufferings of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, in whose blood alone mankind have remission of sins, and who is emphatically called the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.

lamentations of the survivors. In this dreadful exigence, the affiighted monarch-sent hastily for Moses and Aaron, and urged them to quit the kingdom immediately, together with their people, cattle, and all that they had. The Egyptians likewise hastened their departure, and willingly lent them their most valuable jewels and orna◄ ments, in hopes of stopping the dreadful plague which had already made a victim in every house. Hereupon Moses settled the best order which the present confusion would allow among the Hebrews, and, a considerable time before day-break, began his march toward the wilderness, at the head of six-hundred thousand men able to carry arms, besides a prodigious multitude of old men, women, children, and strangers who joined and followed them in their journey.

As soon as they arrived at Succoth, Moses directed them to form a regular encampment according to their respective tribes and families; and here the Deity was pleased to command that the first-born both of man and beast should be henceforth consecrated to him, and that the first-born of men should be redeemed at the price of five shekels of the sanctuary-thus reminding the Hebrews of their late extraordinary deliverance, and shadowing forth our redemption by a Saviour.

Moses, instead of taking the nearest road to Canaan through the country of the Philistines, led the Israelitish host along the coasts of the Red Sea to Etham, on the borders of Arabia Deserta, which, in Holy Writ, is designated by the name of the Wilderness. But they soon removed, and turned toward Pihahiroth, in compliance with the injunction of their Creator, who now vouchsafed to guide them by a miraculous appearance, which in the day time resembled a column of smoke,

and at night exhibited the radiance of a pillar of fire. And we are expressly told that this phenomenon never forsook them during their wanderings in the desert; but directed and regulated all their marches and evolu tions through forty-two encampments.

Pharaoh had no sooner obtained a respite from the vengeance of his offended Maker, and shaken off the first impressions of terror, than he began to repent of dis missing so numerous a body of slaves, and, thinking it easy to surprise them among the mountains, he resolved immediately to pursue and bring them back into Egypt. With this determination he assembled a formidable army and advanced, by rapid marches, to Pihahiroth, where he encamped in full view of the sacred people; whilst they were so violently alarmed at his approach, that instead of preparing to defend their newly acquired liberty, or relying for protection on the God who had already wrought such miracles in their behalf, they assembled in a tumultuous manner round the tent of their pious conductor, and ungratefully accused him as the author of all their calamities, insultingly demanding "Were there no graves in Egypt, that thou hast taken us away to die in the wilderness?" Moses, however, readily pardoned their ingratitude, and endeavoured toinspire them with more becoming sentiments. "Fear ye not," said he "but stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to-day for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

Having thus attempted to revive the spirits of his pusillanimous followers, Moses addressed himself in earnest prayer to God, who ordered him to advance im

mediately toward the Red Sea, assuring him, that on a motion of his rod, the waters should divide, and make way for the Hebrews to pass through; and that Pharaoh and his idolatrous army should be certainly overwhelmed if they attempted to pursue them. The divine injunction was immediately executed; a strong east wind divided the waters of the sea so that they arose in heaps and stood as a wall on either side; and the miraculous pillar of fire, by removing from the front to the rear of the army, served not only to guide. the Hebrews, but to confound and delay the motions of the Egyptians, to whom it is said to have been a cloud. and darkness.

The Israelites now advanced into the sea, and continued their march with the same speed and facility as on dry land; but the Egyptians, who eagerly pursued them, were both retarded in their progress,, and thrown into such confusion by the angel who conducted the fiery cloudy pillar, that they soon perceived the madness of their undertaking, and exclaimed with one voice "Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fighteth for them!" Retreat, however, was now impracticable; for the Hebrews having reached the opposite shore in safety, and Moses having waved his rod in obedience to God's command, the suspended waves rushed impetuously into their natural bed, and the proud monarch of Egypt, with all his chosen troops, was instantly overwhelmed.

Whilst the sons of Israel contemplated, with mingled awe and gratitude, the floating spoils and carcases of their enemies, Moses composed a solemn hymn of thanksgiving, and, dividing the assembly into two great choirs, caused it to be immediately performed, with timbrels and other musical accompaniments.

Notwithstanding the spirit of devotion which seemed to inspire the people whilst they chanted the high praises of their Almighty Deliverer, they soon began to exhibit that stubborn and discontented temper, for which many of them were cut off previously to their arrival at the Land of Promise: for they had scarcely travelled three days in the desert of Shur, before the bitterness of the waters of Marah caused them to murmur a second time against their conductor. God, however, condescended to silence their complaints by sweetening the source of the waters, and gave them some new statutes, together with a promise of rewarding their obedience with the most ample blessings. The fiery pillar then conducted them to Elim, where they formed an encampment on a spot that was rendered peculiarly delightful by twelve salubrious fountains and seventy palm trees.

Having spent three weeks in this pleasant situation, they resumed their march toward the wilderness of Sin, where, their provisions being nearly exhausted, they began to murmur more violently than ever, and even expressed the deepest regret at having suffered Moses to decoy them from the flesh-pots, and abundance of provision, which they enjoyed in Egypt, into a wilder ness where they expected shortly to perish by famine. Yet, notwithstanding this insolent deportment, which was in reality levelled at God himself, they were gra ciously forgiven, and assured that they should receive à miraculous supply. This promise was partly fulfilled. on the same evening, by a prodigions flight of quails, which came pouring down from Egypt and alighted on every part of the Israelitish camp: and on the next morning the face of the ground, toward the wilderness, was covered with a kind of white dew, resembling a