one another, or in a foreign land; and to tranfmit the fatal inheritance to their children from generation to generation. While the nations of Europe, and thofe in America which originated from them, have, from age to age, under the peculiar fmiles of heaven, attained to pre-eminence above the other nations, in that knowledge, which is calculated to embellish fociety, to elevate the human character, and to lead to the most substantial enjoyments. things more perfect, than the one. which actually exifts for this purpofe. Be it fo, that the fufferings involved in this fyftem are great, yet they are an effential part of that plan of difcipline which is neceffary, effectually, to teach men a truth, most important to their own well being, and to the honor of God; and fo they are as neceffary, as that the truth fhould be known, or fully known, or they are as neceffary, as that God fhould be glorified, and that man fhould be happy in the knowledge and en joyment of him. OMICRON. (To be continued.) Practical Remarks on Exodus xiv. 13, 14, 15. "And Mofes faid unto the people, fear ye not; ftand ftill, and fee the falvation of the LORD, for, the Egyptians whom' ye have which he will fhew to you to-day : feen to-day, ye shall see them again no more forever.- -The LORD fhall fight for you, and ye fhall Now it is evident to every reflecting mind, that the ftate of things which has been defcribed, is wifely calculated to teach men, that God is fovereign in the distribution of good and evil—that he is under no obligation to creatures in point of justice-that he has a right to give and take at pleasurethat all which men enjoy from the hand of God is mere bounty or grace-that they are wholly dependent on God that they have no power of themselves to procure, or to retain any enjoyment-that God is the fountain of all good, and has a right to demand and to receive our homage, gratitude and praife; nay more, to require us to give up ourselves unto him, as a living facrifice, holy, acceptable in his fight, which is our reasonable ARIOUS are the methods fervice that we ought to look to of illuftrating the nature him, in the way which he has ap- and manner of the falvation of pointed, for all needed good; and God, and of meeting the objectifrom a fenfe of the infufficiency ons raifed by carnal, unbelieving and uncertainty of prefent enjoy-hearts, against the fovereignty of ments, to feek a portion in God, which fhall never fail. hold V divine grace, in the deliverance of finners, and leading them to glory. Among thefe, the conduct of Jehovah in the redemption of Ifrael from Egyptian bondage, and leading them to the land of promife is eminently one method, improved by the infpired writers of the New Teftament, for this pur pose. The bondage of those naLII Were we to affume the point, that God defigned, by the events of his common providence, to engrave thefe interesting truths upon the minds of men, all which may be fummed up in this-That there is none good but one, that is God; we cannot conceive of any state of Vol. II. No. 12. and going in between two ranges of high, craggy and impaffible mountains, between Migdol, a garrifoned city of Egypt and the red fea, over against Baal-Zephon, another place on an eminence, with a garrifon. Pharaoh, who refembled the grand adversary, had a malicious, perfevering defign to op tural children of Abraham, their deliverance and earthly Canaan, were all typical of our fpiritual bondage in fin, deliverance from it, journey to, and rest in heaven. The paffage before us leads the contemplative mind to a remarkable era of God's ancient church, and to one of the most remarkable events of providence, ever record-pofe God, and ruin Ifrael; Jeho ed either in facred or profane hiftory. This memorable paffage of facred writ, may, at firft view, feem to be inconfiftent and felfcontradictory; but on candid enquiry, be found to be harmonious and full of inftruction. To make thefe manifeft for general inftruction and improvement, is the pre-of Satan and all his legions; and fent defign. vah defigned to triumph gloriously in his utter ruin, and in the falvation of his people, in a method that fhould still further manifest their entire dependence on him, and fignalize his fpecial providence and grace in Ifrael's deliverance. All this was typical of the deftruction For these purposes, let us firft view the circumstances, and the Divine intention. The whole numerous multitude of Ifrael were now flocking out from Egyptian bondage-were collected in a body, with their women, children and substance, and with Mofes for their leader, under the immediate direction and conduct of Ifrael's God. In the preceding chapter, we read of their taking their journey, and encamping in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness; to human reason, their best way, but infinite wifdom faw better. God had yet the moft glorious purposes to anfwer, for the manifeftation of his great name, to the end of time, and to all eternity, in the deftruction of his enemies, and falvation of his chofen. Therefore the Divine order, at firft full of mystery, and foon after full of glory, was, to vary from this courfe to the ftraits of Hiroth. This from Etham to Pihahiroth, was turning fhort off to the right hand, from a direct courfe through the wilderness, without any fea intervening, to the land of Canaan; of the great deliverance of the redeemed church and people, under the captain of our falvation. Sinners, who are under the bondage of fin and Satan, muft, in their own view, and agreeable to what is real, be brought into great ftraits, out of which, neither they themselves, nor any other creature can extricate them, in order to the illuftrious difplay of the power and riches of fovereign grace in their falvation. God's thoughts and ways are immeafurably above ours, as the heavens are above the earth. Pharaoh confidered the cafe of Mofes and the Ifraelites as that of a lost people, who in their bewildered ftate, had brought themfelves into that embarraffed fituation, which he determined to improve to their ruin. So would the God of Ifrael have it, that he might take the wife in their own craftiness. See the context. With thefe circumftances and defigns in view, we proceed to fome remarks on the paffage of facred history before us. I would obferve, our fubject divides itself into three parts. peo 1. And Mofes faid unto the ple, fear ye not stand ftill, and fee the falvation of the Lord, which he will fhew to you to-day.' 2. And the Lord faid unto Mofes, wherefore crieft thou unto me? 3. Speak unto the children of Ifrael, that they go forward. How is this to be reconciled with the first order to stand still ? Under the first part of our fubject thus divided, it may be proper to remark, that there are two important things intended. 1. To quiet all heart-rifings against God and his government, and all the tumultuous paffions of unbelief, in times of trouble and darkness. It is natural to fay to a child, when paffionate and tumultuous, ftop; be ftill. May not God fpeak thus to his finful, unworthy children? Surely, he may; for his own honor and their good. Their fear was not filial, Godly fear; had it been, they would not have conducted as they did, and have justified themselves in it; nor would they have been commanded to ceafe from fear, and be ftill. How grofs are the absurdities of ingratitude and unbelief? Crying to God in diftrefs is a reasonable duty, and most precious privilege; but crying to God, and murmuring against him, and with a wicked bafenefs, quarreling with his pravidence, and justifying ourselves in it, is inconfiftent, and very finful. How often is this the cafe in the time of trial with God's own children, and always the cafe with the unfanctified, even under ftrong convictions? God by Mofes would have the people know, that they had no great struggle but with themselves. Were they right with him, he would foon end the contest— Therefore, 2. There is a standing ftill, when, having followed the Divine direction, we leave it all with God, willing that he should have all the glory, and in the way of duty, wait on him alone for his falvation. As if Mofes fhould fay, "the mountains fwell and are impaffible on the right hand, and on the left; the fea is on our front, and the chariots and armies of Egypt trained for war, on our rear. What then? More is for us than against us. By the Divine order we are here, and let us not rebel. It plainly appears that falvation is not, even in part in us, but wholly in Ifrael's God. Now then quiet the tumultuous fears of unbelief, your murmurings against the bleffed God. This is not your peace and fafety. Bring your mind and will entirely to the mind and will of Jehovah; give over your whole falvation into his hand, be willing that he fhould accomplish it in his own way, and for his own glory. Thus ftand still, for in this you have nothing to do, and wait for the falvation of the Lord; and fee how he will, this day, bring it to pass." Is not this an illustrious example of temporal falvation, familiarly inftructive in things spiritual and eternal? Is not every finner reduced to this in true converfion? Does not the church of the living God thus come up, out of bondage, leaning on her beloved? Sinful rebels, in true conversion, are thus forced to a stop-all their confidences are taken away—fin revives, and they die, as to all vain helps, and they are shut up to the faith. In a fpiritual fenfe, they are brought to Pihahiroth, to impaffible mountains on the right and left, the fea is before them, and dreadful armies behind them. What shall they do? What oan they do? Shall Prayer is a duty inexpreffibly precious; but it is not all our duty, nor if we truly practise this, may we be excufed in the neglect of others. There is an uniformity in religion; thro' the whole Christian journey, every duty is to be attended agreeable to the directions of God's word, and the calls of his Providence. "Then fhall I not be afhamed, when I have refpect to all thy commandments.” III. Speak unto the children of Ifrael, that they go forward. How is this to be reconciled with the first order to fland fill? Had not the man of God, with a divine warrant, just before said to the people, fear not, ftand fill and fee the falvation of God? Now the order is, fpeak to them that they go forward. How is it that we stand ftill, and yet go forward? I would illuftrate this by a fimilitude. Thus when any light thing is borne up on the bofom of a river; it has no feparate or contrary motion of its own, but is uniformly carried on by the gentle current. So the perfon, who in heart and conduct is refigned to God, having no feparate intereft from his will and glory, having given over all its falva. they here ftand to difpute their Maker? Set up their wills against his will? Shall they attempt to run away from God, and turn back to Egypt, and die there? Shall they leave the word of God, the gofpel of the only Saviour, for human projects, and the oracle of reafon ? Vain projects all, and broken reeds! With refpect to all thefe, give them up; hold thy peace, and be still. There is no going back, or forward, to the right or left but in God; he, and he only, against whom you have finned, is your help; if this fails, all muft fail, and you forever fink. Stand at the foot of the crofs; with a confenting heart fay, let the fovereign Lord alone be exalted; let him, of whom, to whom, and thro' whom are all things, have all the glory, and thou fhalt this day fee the falvation of the Lord. II. And the Lord faid unto Mofes, wherefore crieft thou unto me! Query, was God difpleafed with Mofes for praying? I anfwer, by no means. The defign of this peculiar expreffion, as I humbly conceive, was to fatisfy his faith. "I have heard and anfwered thee, wherefore doft thou, at this time, ery any longer to me." The Chal-tron into his hand, and in the way dea paraphrafe is, "I have accepted thy prayer; wherefore shouldft thou prefs thy petition any further, when it is already granted; Again, this peculiar expreffion was to quicken his diligence to other urgent duties. "Thou, under-cap-tracting fears; all vain confidence, tain of my people, turn thy pray- quarreling with God. In cheerer into action; the prefent impor- ful obedience to all his will, go tant business requires hafte. You forward, giving up thy falvation muft now be at you poft, and re- into his hand, and wait the issue ceive, and give orders from me, in their deliverance, and the defas properly as if the victories and truction of thine enemies. glories of the day depended on it." Thus it pleafed the fovereign God of falvation; and in his own way, will he be honored and glorified. of duty, taking all its directions from him, does, as to itself, reft, and is ftill; yet moves forward in, and with God, as the cork on the flowing ftream. Thus, O Ifrael, be ftill, as to all diftrusting, dif The work of falvation in refpe&t to purchase is done without our help. All human merit is exclu in this we have no part. ded E ARLY in the autumn of 1799, a work of divine grace began in this fettlement. A fpirit of prayer appeared first to be given. Thofe ftirred up to pray er, foon felt difpofed to affociate for this fpecial duty, and began to This is not inconfiftent with the moft vigorous exertions till we arrive at the heavenly rest. We are to pray for the peace of Jerufalem, and endeavor to advance it. If the Lord fay, go forward, and lift up thy hand over the waters, do all he commands; yet remem-fpeak with freedom to one another ber, the effect is all of divine pow. er and grace, as truly, as when the fea divided to the rod of Mofes, ftretched over it. The means are of divine appointment; to fucceed them is all of God. In times of darkness and trouble be calm and fubmiffive; in patience poffefs your fouls. Make the munition of rocks your ftrength; bring all, fubmit all to God, and wait for him. He that bringeth his people into trouble, will bring them out, and be honored in their falvation; and on all the glory create a defence. concerning the interefts of Chrift's TO aid the work in which you are engaged, and to furnish to the friends of Zion, a faithful account of the work of divine grace we have experienced in this town, I herewith fend you a statement of what God has recently done for us.ings had, for a few weeks previous |