their rear, "the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them," to prevent the hostile intentions of their inveterate foes.

Let us survey the two camps; consider the pillar of the cloud between the camps; and make a few general observations on this miraculous interposition.

I. SURVEY THE CAMPS.

When we survey the camp of the Egyptians, we see mighty men of war well armed, and commanded by chosen captains. They had horses and chariots, swords and spears, with other destructive implements of war. It is said by Josephus, the Jewish historian, that this army consisted of six hundred chariots, fifty thousand cavalry, and two hundred thousand infantry. At their head was impious Pharaoh, full of anger, wrath, and fury; a foul idolater, a merciless tyrant, and a hardened sinner. His friends were idolaters, magicians, and evil workers. They had seen, but had not regarded, the miracles and the judgments of the Lord. Their camp was without the living and true God; under the influence of the devil, and full of the most horrid abominations. As men of war, they might be bold and daring, self-confident, and ready for any desperate enterprise; but it is highly probable that there was not an enlightened mind, a humbled sinner, or a renewed heart, in all the host. They were in a state of awful moral darkness, opposed to the God of heaven, and on the brink of ruin. The sun was set to rise no more on that wicked camp; and no eye in that mighty army was to see another day! Their mortal life was coming to a close; death was at hand, and the Judge was at the door. They had been reproved and warned, had seen the signs and wonders which had been wrought in Egypt; and space had been given to repent, but they repented not Their situation was frightful, but they were not afraid; their ruin was inevitable, but they were stupid and insensible. This is the case with all who are "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin:" they cry 'peace and safety " in the hour of destruction; and are not aware that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Heb. x. 31.

Wicked men in every nation, like those in the camp of Pharoah, are under the dominion of Satan. He is "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." Eph. ii, 2. They do his work, they fight his battles, and promote his cause; but they are opposed to God and his church, and to all that is wise and good. They may be men of learning, wealth, and power; or they may be ignorant, poor, and impotent; but whatever their outward condition may be, if they remain in this state of sin and rebellion against God, they will perish in their folly; "for the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Ps. ix, 17. But who lays this to heart? The wicked forget the threatenings of Almighty God; fill up the measure of their iniquity; "and treasure up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath." Ere long, having run their race of folly, they will see their danger, and be seized, like the Egyptians in the Red Sea, with consternation and terror; but then it will be too late to repent: Divine wisdom, which often called on them in vain, "will laugh at their calami

ties, and mock when their fear cometh upon them." Prov. i, 26. In this state of things, the Ministers of Jesus, knowing the terror of the Lord, should sound an alarm: deeply impressed with the frightful danger of impenitent sinners, they should warn them to "flee from the wrath to come." These warnings may be disregarded by many; but if one sinner be turned from the error of his ways, a soul is saved from death. That salvation is worth ten thousand worlds. Those who are the honoured instruments in this work are the best friends of man; and their reward will be great in a future world: for "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Dan. xii, 3.

But let us now survey the camp of Israel. It was large, but not powerful: There was a vast multitude of men, women, and children in the camp; but they were unarmed, undisciplined, and faint-hearted; fear seized them, and their hearts failed them, when Pharaoh overtook them with his mighty army. This does not excite our surprise; for the sea was before them, the Egyptians were close behind, and they had no military bands to fight their battles. But why should they despair? Moses and Aaron were in the camp. They were men of faith and prayer, greatly beloved in heaven, and long accustomed to triumph. over the enemies of the Lord. Such men are mighty bulwarks to a camp and to a nation. Not that they could do any thing of themselves; for the best of men are weak and feeble: but the power of Almighty God was with them; and, clothed with that power, they had wrought those stupendous miracles in Egypt which had made the whole land tremble. And besides them, there were many other men of prayer and faith in the camp of God; men that adored Jehovah, and that, in the hour of danger, were calling on him with humble confidence; knowing by past events, and by many gracious promises, that he was both able and willing to save. If there had been ten persons in Sodom like those pious and devout Israelites, that city would have been spared: and could that camp perish, where there were so many righteous and holy men deeply engaged in ardent prayer? It was utterly impossible. But the most cheering circumstance to the abject Israelites was the presence of the Lord. The beams of his love shone upon their camp from the pillar of the cloud; and while they beheld that glorious appearance, they could cry aloud with pious exultation, "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." Ps. xlvi, 11. But who is the Lord of hosts? The God that "delivereth and rescueth," and who "worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth." Dan. vi, 27. Who then could stand before him? Under his watchful care the camp of Israel was safe; for he was the "shield" of their "help," and "the sword of their excellency." Deut. xxxiii, 29.

The church of God has been placed in critical and trying circumstances on many occasions. Her enemies, like the idolaters of Egypt, nave endeavoured to destroy her; but she has been preserved and delivered by her omnipotent Saviour; and he still "preserveth the soul of his saints: he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked." Ps. xcvii, 10. They are armed with his armour; they are led on to battle

by his Spirit; they fight under his banner; and they conquer in his name. His presence to support and deliver is secured to the church by promise: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and when through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." Isai. xliii, 2, 3. This promise continues in full force from age to age. Let every believer claim it as his own; and let him trust in the Lord, who is mighty to save. Whatever the church suffers in the cause of truth and holiness, all will end well. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Ps. xxx, 5.

All the enemies of the church must either submit to Jesus, and be converted, or perish in their sins. Pharaoh sought the destruction of the Jewish church; but he perished in the attempt. The Roman emperors sought the destruction of the Christian church by long-continued and cruel persecutions, but they were visited by awful judgments, which brought down their strength to the earth. This is recorded in the prophetic book of Revelation, where it is stated, that, after the opening of the sixth seal, the kings of the earth and their chief captains, who had persecuted the church, called on the mountains and rocks to fall on them, that they might be hid from the wrath of the Lamb. Rev. vi, 16. Then the conquering Messiah accomplished that prophecy of David respecting the kings of the earth who opposed him: "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel." Ps. ii, 9.

We shall examine the second part of this important subject in our next discourse. But let us carefully look into our own state. Do we belong to the camp of God; or to the camp of the wicked one? Are we on the Lord's side; or are we fighting with the rebellious against Christ and his church? May we be found with the saints of the Most High; and may we share all their privileges both in this world and in that which is to come! Amen.

SERMON LXXXIV.

THE PILLAR OF THE CLOUD BETWEEN THE CAMPS.

And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. EXODUS Xiv, 19, 20.

In a former discourse on this passage of holy Writ, we surveyed the camps of Pharaoh and Israel when they were separated by the pillar of

he cloud. We now proceed to consider the design of this wonderful appearance.

II. THE PILLAR OF CLOUD BETWEEN THE CAMPS.

The pillar of the cloud was a visible symbol of Christ, whose Divine presence was with the Jewish church in the wilderness, from the time they left Egypt, till they reached the promised land. In allusion to this, the apostle Paul gave the following caution to the Christian church. at Corinth: "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them tempted,* and were destroyed of serpents." 1 Cor. x, 9. The angel of God that dwelt in the pillar of the cloud, and directed all its motions, is called the Messenger of the covenant; or, as it might be read, the Angel of the covenant. "The Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts." Mal. iii, 1. But he had been with his people in the days of old. "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Isai. lxiii, 9. This glorious person, who is THE EVERLASTING SON OF THE FATHER, appeared to Moses in the bush. Exod. iii, 2. In the record of that supernatural appearance, he is called The angel of the Lord, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and that his real character might be known, he said to Moses, I AM THAT I AM, the self-existent Being, who was, who is, and who will be. And in the fulness of time, when he appeared in our nature, "God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim. iii, 16.

By this angel, in the pillar of the cloud, Israel was conducted through the wilderness to the promised land. They knew not which way to go, or how to escape danger; but the cloud led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. After the tabernacle was set up, it was covered with the cloud, and was filled with the Divine glory. Exod. xl, 34. From that time all the journeys of the people were regulated by its motions, and it was their constant and unerring guide. For "when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not, till the day that it was taken up, Ibid. 36, 37. Thus the Lord, in his manifold and great mercy, dwelt among them in the desert; and "the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go." Neh ix, 19.

The sacred presence of the Lord, though invisible, now leads and guides the true Israel in the right way to the heavenly Canaan; and while they follow his directions with meek and lowly hearts, they are graciously preserved from error, sin, and danger. A wise man prays that the Lord would guide him by his counsel, and keep him in the right

"Though the word him be not in the original, it seems plainly to be implied; and this is a considerable text in proof of his residence with the church in the wilderness, as the angel of God's presence."-DODDridge in loc.

way; but we may say of a foolish man, that, "In the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." Prov. v, 23.

Israel was protected by the Lord their God, who dwelt in the pillar of the cloud; and while they were obedient, the pillar of the cloud was a pledge of safety. They were strongly opposed by powerful and warlike nations on their way to Canaan; but the Lord went before them, and the God of Israel was their rear-ward. Isai. lii, 12. He spread a cloud for their covering, and that cloud was a defence and a place of refuge. Ps. CV, 39; Isai. iv, 5. In all their marches their king passed "before them, and the Lord on the head of them." Mich. ii, 13. Before they engaged in battle with mighty armies, the priest approached them, and said, "Let not your hearts faint; fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them: For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies." Deut. xx, 3, 4.

Under the guardian care of the same Almighty Being, we now pursue our way to the new Jerusalem; and while we put our trust in him and obey his voice, we are "as mount Zion, which cannot be removed." Ps. cxxv, 1. The angel of the Lord that went up with the camp of Israel is the captain of our salvation; and while we follow him, no weapon formed against us can prosper. He protected and delivered Israel, and he will protect and deliver us. He conducted them safely to Canaan through dangers seen and unseen; and he will conduct us safely to his eternal kingdom and glory through all the dangers of our spiritual warfare.

It is worthy of remark, that, wherever the pillar of the cloud was most wanted to comfort and encourage the people of God, there it always appeared. When they had to march forward, it went before them; when the burning sun shone upon their heads in the sandy desert, it overspread them as a shadow; and when an enemy was pursuing, it stood behind them in the rear of the army. In the memorable night when Israel was threatened with immediate and complete destruction by the frightful host of Pharaoh, the cloud took its station between the camps, and assumed an aspect peculiarly suited to the awful occasion. It appeared bright and luminous to the camp of Israel; but dark and dismal to the Egyptian camp. The bright side was an indication of Divine approbation, and an assurance of protection and support; but the dark side was an indication of wrath and of immediate destruction. It was a light to the Lord's people that resembled the mid-day sun; but to their enemies a darkness that might be felt. What a striking emblem of eternity, where the light of the Lord ever shines upon celestial spirits; while apostate men and angels are plunged into the blackness of darkness for ever!

In the dreadful darkness which fell upon the Egyptians they were confused, and knew not how to proceed in their diabolical enterprise; but when they heard the camp of Israel marching forward, they rushed after them into the channel of the sea without any apprehension of danger. If they had known that the sea was divided, and that a way of escape was opened for the people of God, it is probable they would not have followed them into the mighty waters. But they were in darkness, and neither knew what the Lord had done, nor what would befall them