they carried these spoils with them as men whose own they were, and who for so long had been defrauded of their rightful due. Thus provided for their exodus, they went up with all their armies out of "the land of Egypt, the house of bondage." Pharaoh, in sending the people forth with their herds and flocks, was acting under the influence of terror, for Egypt had become as a valley of death, and the hearts of the people were shaken under the presence of God's fearful judgments. But there might be a reaction from this alarm, as there had been before; and Pharaoh might again harden his heart, and follow with horses and chariots, his heart thirsting for vengeance, and his purpose steadfast to recover the fugitives to a harder and more bitter bondage. In such a case what was Moses to do? He was at the head of a multitude of men, women, and children without discipline, and in no sense a match for the powerful and well-trained armies of Egypt. Moses, might, therefore, even at the last moment, and though God had interfered visibly on the behalf of His chosen, well "fear the wrath of the King." And what was to re-assure his mind and keep him steadfast to his task? What was

to lift him above all sense of danger, and urge him to pursue the path before him with active and unconquerable determination? "Faith." "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible."

Brethren, it is only they who have such "faith" that can "endure." It is the sense of God's presence that gives us strength to rise above the fear of man, and to hold on our way through good report and evil report, through honour and dishonour, and which makes us more than conquerors over the enemies that oppose our path. Amid the perils which duty calls us to brave, the sacrifices which God calls us to make, the trials through which our heavenward path may lead us, it is the belief that God is near that keeps us calm and sends us on our way rejoicing. Through all the storms and clouds of this lower world, through its mists and darknesses, we look upward; and there, in the midst of the glow of brightness which surrounds the throne, we see the glory of God, and Jesus standing at His right hand. Whence the boldness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, which prompted them to encounter the sevenfold

heated furnace, rather than "bow down before. the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar the King had set up?" They "endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." What was the secret of Daniel's strength when threatened to be thrown into the den of hungry lions ready to tear him limb from limb? "He endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." What supported Paul as he stood unarmed and helpless before Kings, and in the face of scourge, and sword, and axe, witnessed a good confession, and bore faithful testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ? "He endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." What, in later days, strengthened Martin Luther, as he stood up before Princes, and Prelates, and a host of enemies in arms, boldly upholding the truth at the imminent hazard of his life: "Here I stand I cannot do otherwise; God help me! Amen"? "He endured, as seeing Him who is invisible."

It is only thus that we can endure." Brethren, pray for and strive after the faith which sees the invisible. It will cause light to arise amid the darkness, and illumine the dreariest night with the bright star of hope. Such faith sheds a calm over the moaning

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surges of life's stormy sea; it gives peace in the midst of battle; for it shows us "the Captain of the Lord's hosts" standing at our right hand, covering us with His shield, and protecting us from the onslaught of the foe. This faith gives the believer power to say in life, "Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident;" and in death to exclaim, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."

Living by this faith and dying in this faith the believer shall live and die unto the Lord. In life he shall glorify God, and in death he shall pass into the unveiled splendour of the eternal light, where he shall "see face to face, and know even as he is known:" faith exchanged for sight; hope fruition.

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Such shall be the exceeding blessedness which shall crown the portion of all those who now "endure, as seeing Him who is invisible."

XIV.

The Passover.

"Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them." -HEBREWS xi. 28.

WE

E have in these words another instance of the triumphs of faith, of its true nature, and its genuine fruits. Moses takes God's Word as evidence of an approaching catastrophe of which there was no visible sign. He believed that the destroying angel would pass through the land of Egypt, and smite all the firstborn, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat upon his throne even unto the firstborn of the maid servant that was behind the mill, and all the firstborn of beasts. He believed that the blood of the lamb sprinkled on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelites, would preserve them from destruction. He placed credit in the warnings and the promises of God, and obeyed