Moses, Isaiah for instance, or Jeremiah, or Ezekiel, or Daniel, or any other of the twelve was a lawgiver, and performed things like unto Moses? Moses first rescued the Jewish nation from the Egyptian superstition and idolatry, and taught them the true theology. Jesus Christ, in like manner, was the first teacher of true religion and virtue to the Gentiles. Moses confirmed his religion by miracles; and so likewise did Christ. Moses delivered the Jewish nation from Egyptian servitude; and Jesus Christ all mankind from the power of evil demons. Moses promised a holy land, and therein a happy life, to those who kept the law; and Jesus Christ a better country, that is a heavenly, to all righteous souls. Moses fasted forty days; and so likewise did Christ. Moses supplied the people with bread in the wilderness; and our Saviour fed five thousand at one time, and four thousand at another, with a few loaves. Moses went himself, and led the people through the midst of the sea; and Jesus Christ walked on the sea, and enabled Peter to walk likewise. Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go backward; and our Saviour rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm. Moses's face shone, when he descended from the mount, and our Saviour's did shine as the sun in his transfiguration. Moses by his prayers cured Miriam of her leprosy, and Christ, with greater

power, by a word healed several lepers. Moses performed wonders by the finger of God; and Jesus Christ by the finger of God did cast out Devils. Moses changed Oshea's name to Joshua; and our Saviour changed Simon's to Peter or Kephas. Moses constituted seventy rulers over the people; and our Saviour appointed seventy disciples. Moses sent forth twelve men to spy out the land; and our Saviour twelve apostles to visit all nations. Moses gave several excellent moral precepts; and our Saviour carried them to the highest perfection.

1

Dr. Jortin has enlarged upon these hints of Eusebius, and made several improvements, and additions to them. Moses in his infancy was wonderfully preserved from the destruction of all the male children-so was Christ. Moses fled from his country to escape the hands of the king-so did Christ, when his parents carried him into Egypt. Afterwards "the Lord said to Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead, which sought thy life;"-so the angel of the Lord said to Joseph in almost the same words, "Arise, and take the young child, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead, which sought the young child's life 3,” pointing Him out as it were for that prophet, who should arise like unto Moses. Moses refused to be

1

Remarks on Ecclesiastical History, vol. i. p. 203–222. 2 Exod. iv. 19.

3

Matt. ii. 20.

1

called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God-Christ refused to be made king, choosing rather to suffer affliction. Moses, says St. Stephen, "was learned (Taideúon) in all the wisdom of the Egyptians;" and Josephus says that he was a very forward and accomplished youth, and had wisdom and knowledge beyond his years; just as St. Luke observes of Christ, that he "increased (betimes) in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man," of which his discourses in the temple with the doctors, when he was twelve years old, were proofs. Moses contended with the magicians, who were forced to acknowledge the Divine power, by which he was assisted-Christ ejected the evil spirits, and received the same acknowledgments from them. Moses was not only a lawgiver, a prophet, and worker of miracles, but as it were a king and a priest-in all these offices the resemblance between Moses and Christ was singular. Moses brought darkness over the landthe sun withdrew his light at Christ's crucifixion: and as the darkness which was spread over Egypt was followed by the destruction of the first-born, and soon by that of Pharaoh and his host; so the darkness at Christ's death was the forerunner of the destruction of the Jews. Moses foretold the calamities, which would befal the nation for their disobedience-so

1 Ant. Jud. ii. 9.

did Christ. The spirit which was in Moses was conferred in some degree upon the seventy elders, and they prophesied; Christ conferred miraculous powers upon his seventy disciples. Moses was victorious over powerful kings and great nations; so was Christ by the effects of his religion, and by the fall of those who persecuted His Church. Moses conquered Amalek by holding up both his hands; Christ overcame his and our enemies when his hands were fastened to the cross. Moses interceded for transgressors, and caused an atonement to be made for them, and stopped the wrath of God; so did Christ. Moses ratified a covenant between God and the people by sprinkling them with blood; Christ with his own blood. Moses desired to die for the people, and prayed that God would forgive them, or blot him out of his book; Christ did more, he died for sinners. Moses instituted the passover, when the Lamb was sacrificed, none of whose bones were to be broken, and whose blood protected the people from destruction; Christ was prefigured in that paschal Lamb. Moses lifted up the serpent, that they who looked upon him might be healed of their mortal wounds; that serpent was a type of Christ. All the affection of Moses towards the people, all his cares and toils on their account, were repaid by them with ingratitude, murmuring, and rebellion; the same returns the Jews made to Christ for all his

T

benefits. Moses was ill used by his own family; his brother and sister rebelled against him; and there was a time, when Christ's own brethren believed not in him. Moses had a very wicked and perverse generation committed to his care and conduct; to enable him to rule them, miraculous powers were given to him, and he used his utmost endeavours to make them obedient to God, and to save them from ruin; but in vain in the space of forty years they all fell in the wilderness, except two. Christ also was given to a generation not less wicked and perverse; his instructions and his miracles were lost upon them, and in about the same space of time, after they had rejected him, they were destroyed. The people could not enter into the land of promise, till Moses was dead; by the death of Christ the kingdom of heaven was opened to believers. the death of Moses and Christ there is also a partial resemblance of circumstances. Moses died, in one sense, for the iniquities of the people; their rebellion occasioned his death, and drew down the displeasure of God both upon them, and upon him. Moses went up, in the sight of the people, to the top of mount Nebo, and there he died, when he was in perfect vigour, when "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." Christ suffered for the sins of men, and was led up, in the presence of the people, to mount Calvary, where He died in the

In