before that throne from which the earth and heaven shall flee away? A single ray of glory, from that burning throne, shining into your heart, would discover such hidden iniquity and vile pollution there, that would call to the mountains and the rocks to fall

you

on you, and hide you from the face of Him that sitteth upon the throne. However good or amiable you may appear to yourself now, you will then see your need of a days-man, to stand between you and God. Hear what God himself says to you: "Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the day that I shall deal with you?" If you come up before God without a Mediator, God will deal with YOU; but, if you go there in the name of Christ, with him as your Mediator, God will not deal with you, but with Christ; who will take your place, and answer for you, as the advocate answers before the court for the criminal, or the surety for the debtor.

4. We learn from this subject why it is so difficult for impenitent sinners to understand the way of salvation. All impenitent persons are in a similar state to that of the unbelieving Jews, who rejected Christ. However much they may assent to the truths of Christianity, they do continue in their hearts to reject the Saviour, and seek justification by the works of the law. Is it not so, impenitent reader? Do you not feel in your heart, that, after all, you are about as good as the generality of Christians, and, therefore, you will stand as good a chance as they? This might, perhaps, to some extent be true, as to outward conduct, if they relied upon this for salvation. But they have long since renounced all dependence

upon their own works, and fled for refuge to Jesus Christ; and now, their 'good works are performed with far different motives from yours. Now it is true of you, as it was of the unbelieving Jews, that this veil is upon your heart. Your minds are blinded. You perceive not the things of the Spirit, because your hearts are carnal, and they are spiritually discerned. You are looking at the ministration of death, which was written and graven in stone; and you cannot perceive the glory of the ministration of the Spirit. But that speaks nothing but condemnation and death; while the ministration of the Spirit reveals life and peace, through faith in Jesus Christ; which is infinitely more glorious than the ministration of death.

5. We learn from this subject the condition of sinners. It is here represented in a figure, by the hard bondage of the Israelites. Sinners are represented in the Bible as being under the power of Satan, carried captive by him at his will; and as being the servants of sin, yielding themselves to its dominion. This is a hard service. The way of transgressors is hard. The yoke of Satan is a galling yoke; and, like Egyptian bondage, it is growing worse and worse, the longer they continue in it. The demands of sin are greater and greater, while its promises of reward are all delusive, and continually receding, like the promises of liberty, which Pharaoh held out to his bondmen. Nor will Satan any more easily render up his dominion over sinners, than Pharoah did over his. Indeed, the whole history of the dealings of God with the children of Israel in Egypt, furnishes a striking illustration of the dealings of God with the awakened

sinner; and their conduct, and that of Pharaoh, illustrate the feelings of sinners under the awakenings of God's spirit, and the schemes of Satan, for retaining them in his service. When Moses and Aaron came to the people, and told them that God had come to deliver them from their bondage, they were glad, and bowed their heads and worshipped. But all this was selfish,—they had no regard to God in it, but only desired to be freed from bondage; and so when Pharaoh increased the rigor of their bondage, and they saw difficulties in their way, they began to be vexed, and to murmur against God, and to be angry with his servants. So it is with sinners. When first awakened, they think they are willing to serve God, and are pleased with the idea of having the consolations of religion, and of being saved. But as soon as Satan discovers that they are beginning to think of leaving his service, he rages and storms as Pharaoh did, and increases their burdens,-stirring up all the evil dispositions and malevolent feelings of their hearts, so that they are overwhelmed with sore distress; and their hearts often rise in opposition to God, and to those who have been instrumental of awakening them. But when the power of their convictions is strong upon them, Satan changes his course, as Pharaoh did, and allows them to promise that they will go and serve the Lord; but this he only makes a pretext for keeping them in his service. And so he goes on, putting one excuse after another into their mouths. One plague after another came upon Pharaoh, and every time he would promise to let the people go; but then, every time, there was a holding back of something.

At first, he would let them go, only they must not go very far away; then he would let them go, but they must not take their little ones; and again they might go with their little ones, but they must leave their cattle behind. All these things were devices to retain the people in his service; but God would make no compromise. He must have their whole service. So with sinners. Satan would retain them in his service, and so he persuades them to reserve this thing or that, which they are not willing to give up; and to resort to this or that expedient for delay. One would be willing to serve the Lord, if this or that young companion would go; but he has more regard for his associates in the hard bondage of sin and Satan, than he has for God. He would rather go down to hell and serve Satan forever, along with his companions, than to break away from them and serve God alone. Others are not ready. God has called too soon. They have this or that pleasure to seek first; or there is something, they imagine, in their circumstances, which, in their view, renders it inconvenient or impossible for them to go yet. Some young people think they have not yet had their fill of pleasure; or they are ambitious of accomplishing something which they regard as essential to their future distinction in society; or they find some other expedient for delay. They are in love with the pleasures of Egypt; and they have not yet made up their minds whether they will leave the service of Satan; yet while they linger, God may seal them over to eternal condemnation. Others, in the prime of life, have yet something to accomplish for themselves, before they are ready to

go out of Egypt. They would get a competence,they have a farm to pay for,-or this or that object to accomplish, before they are, ready. They would delay a little longer; and so it will presently come to pass that, when they cry out of their hard bondage, with bitter tears, God will say to them, "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you; then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me." It is a fearful thing to trifle with the strivings of the Holy Spirit. If you now choose your own ways, then God will choose your delusions, because, when he called to you, none did answer, and when he spake, none did hear.

6. This subject furnishes a very striking illustration of Christian experience. When the children of Israel had escaped from Egypt, and passed the Red Sea, they were full of joy, and lifted up their united voice in a song of praise to God. But they knew nothing of the way that was before them. They probably anticipated a speedy entrance into the promised land. So the young convert, when he has just escaped from the bondage of Satan, is full of joy and wonder, and lifts up his voice in praise. And this is well. God gives him a foretaste of heavenly joys, to prepare him to encounter the conflict that is before