hood of the apostasy, and sentence as with the authority of heaven? Must we not calculate on the grievous displeasure of God, that God whose anger is kindled against all who depart from his ways, and whose curse, wherever it falls, smites with the infliction of inexpressible and eternal woe? If there be present one in whose heart is the desire of returning to the scenes he has avowedly abandoned, let him specially recur to the warnings of the divine word, which are pointed to those "who after having escaped the pollutions of the world, are again entangled and overcome." Let him think of her who looked back, when the fire of heaven descended on the cities of the plain, and was turned into a pillar of salt; and let him "remember Lot's wife."* Let him remember the solemn announcement of the Saviour, -" No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."† Let him remember the direct proclamation of God himself, -" If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." In the knowledge of an exposure to the mournful and overwhelming results, arising from condemnation by that Almighty Power which decides the eternal destinies of the universe, surely there is presented a commanding excitement to "go forward!" 2. Let us reflect on the sufficiency of the divine protection. It is a principle on which the confidence of the heart ought firmly and gratefully to be placed, that when God is present to afford his protection on behalf of his people, their course must be one of security, triumph, and rejoicing. The children of Israel might now have relied implicitly on Him, who, in Egypt, had, by a succession of wonders, vindicated the unparalleled might of his arm. At the time of their departure from the land of their bondage, he gave them a visible emblem of his glory, and pledge of his protecting grace. "The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light: to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."*. Surely in such a fact as this, there was enough to embolden and to inspire; and they might justly conclude that, dire as their extremity was, when they stood by the sea hemmed in by the armies of the infuriated foe, He who had made his covenant with them, and ratified it by sublime signs of his sovereignty, would yet be magnified in their deliverance. And the command to "go forward" was followed by a miraculous event of rescue, one of the most surprising recorded in the annals of the world, and constituting a delightful encouragement for every succeeding period in the history of the church. The waters of the sea were divided, and the children of Israel were led through as on dry ground, while the pursuing host were overwhelmed and ingulfed so that not one of them remained. "The right hand of the Lord dashed in pieces the enemy, and in the greatness of his excellency he overthrew them that rose up against him." * Gen. xix. 26. † Luke ix. 62. † Heb. x. 38. We must never forget, that the presence and protection of Jehovah are the allotted portion of his spiritual people in every age. Their Christian course is guarded by the same Being, who wrought the signs and wonders of ancient days, and who has promised to his church-" I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Throughout all our journey to the heavenly Zion, he will be at our right hand, so that we shall not be greatly moved ;-not indeed appearing in outward and visible signs of majesty, but operating by his Holy Spirit, to guide by his counsel, until we are received into glory. Let us call to mind the many and distinct assurances he has given, of his gracious purpose to carry on and complete the work he has begun, -assurances which we grievously dishonour when we mistrust or tremble. Let us meditate on what he has performed already, in conducting our predecessors in the faith and hope of the gospel; how he imparted to them a principle, which enabled them to " subdue kingdoms, to work righteousness, to receive promises, to stop the mouths of lions, to quench the violence of fire, to be made strong out of weakness, to wax valiant in fight, and put to flight the armies of the aliens;" and how millions of souls have been brought triumphantly to the inheritance of the saints in light. We may be confident, and that on security which cannot be disputed, that the power which granted salvation to them, is sufficient to secure and accomplish it for us; and that, by whatever adversaries we may be opposed, we shall be made at last more than conquerors through him that loved us. " If God be for us, who can be against us?" God is our refuge, and is our strength:who can know it, and not be impelled to forward?" 66 go 3. Let us reflect on the value of the possessions, by the enjoyment of which our progress is to be closed. The country towards which the people of Israel were now bending their way, was one, the hope of which was adapted to inspire eager and pleasing aspirations. It was endeared to them by the remembrance, that there their ancestors had sojourned, and seen the visions of God when he established his covenant; and by the anticipation, that there their posterity would dwell, in the possession of unparalleled indi vidual blessing, and national renown. It was called " a good land-a land where they were to lack nothing-a land where their flocks, and silver, and gold, and all they had was to be multiplied-a land which the Lord their God cared for;" it was destined to become the scene of conquest, privilege, and empire, a theatre of wonders to be admired through eternity; and cold must have been the heart, which could ever think of the enjoyment, without being inspired with fervent desire to obtain it. -How far better is that inheritance, which is placed in prospect for the spiritual children of the Most High, beyond the wilderness of time! Faintly indeed did that earthly rest, fair and attractive as it was, shadow forth the felicities of the rest which yet remaineth for the people of God! In the region where Christian pilgrimage is to terminate, the home of the innumerable faithful, all vicissitude and insecurity will be past; trial and temptation will be unknown; warfare will be ended in perfect victory; toil will be ended in perfect repose; sin will be ended in perfect holiness; sorrow will be ended in perfect bliss. The glory of the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb, will shine forth, the source of pure and perennial joy; every being will be crowned with exalted honours; immortality will stamp its high attribute on all pleasures; for we are to "reign for ever and ever," we are to have an inheritance " incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." We traverse the wilderness, and shall cross the stream of death, to have an entrance ministered to us abundantly into this splendid possession-a possession yet inconceivable in its grandeur; for this are endured every conflict, and every sorrow of earth; and each step of the desert is leading on to the |