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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Exodus, Chapter XIII].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E X O D U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. The commands God gave to Israel,
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1. To sanctify all their firstborn to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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2. To be sure to remember their deliverance out of Egypt
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:3,4">v. 3, 4</A>),
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and, in remembrance of it, to keep the feast of unleavened bread,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:5-7">ver. 5-7</A>.
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3. To transmit the knowledge of it with all possible care to their
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children,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:8-10">ver. 8-10</A>.
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4. To set apart unto God the firstlings of their cattle,
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:11-13">ver. 11-13</A>),
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and to explain that also to their children,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:14-16">ver. 14-16</A>.
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II. The care God took of Israel, when he had brought them out
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of Egypt.
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1. Choosing their way for them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:17,18">ver. 17, 18</A>.
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2. Guiding them in the way,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:20-22">ver. 20-22</A>.
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And
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III. Their care of Joseph's bones,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:19">ver. 19</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ex13_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Sanctification of the Firstborn.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the
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womb among the children of Israel, <I>both</I> of man and of beast: it
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<I>is</I> mine.
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3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which
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ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by
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strength of hand the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> brought you out from this <I>place:</I>
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there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
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4 This day came ye out in the month Abib.
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5 And it shall be when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall bring thee into the land
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of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the
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Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to
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give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt
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keep this service in this month.
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6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the
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seventh day <I>shall be</I> a feast to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall
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no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be
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leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.
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8 And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, <I>This is
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done</I> because of that <I>which</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> did unto me when I came
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forth out of Egypt.
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9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for
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a memorial between thine eyes, that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s law may be in thy
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mouth: for with a strong hand hath the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> brought thee out of
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Egypt.
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10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from
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year to year.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Care is here taken to perpetuate the remembrance,</P>
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<P>
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I. Of the preservation of Israel's firstborn, when the firstborn of the
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Egyptians were slain. In memory of that distinguishing favour, and in
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gratitude for it, the firstborn, in all ages, were to be consecrated to
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God, as his peculiars
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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and to be redeemed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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God, who by the right of creation is proprietor and sovereign of all
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the creatures, here lays claim in particular to the firstborn of the
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Israelites, by right of protection: <I>Sanctify to me all the
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firstborn.</I> The parents were not to look upon themselves as
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interested in their firstborn, till they had first solemnly presented
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them to God, recognized his title to them, and received them back, at a
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certain rate, from him again. Note,
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1. That which is by special distinguishing mercy spared to us should be
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in a peculiar manner dedicated to God's honour; at least some grateful
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acknowledgment, in works of piety and charity, should be made, when our
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lives, or the lives of our children, have been given us for a prey.
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2. God, who is the first and best, should have the first and best, and
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to him we should resign that which is most dear to us, and most
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valuable. The firstborn were the joy and hope of their families.
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Therefore <I>they shall be mine,</I> says God. By this is will appear
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that we love God best (as we ought) if we are willing to part with that
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to him which we love best in this world.
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3. It is the <I>church of the firstborn</I> that is sanctified to God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+12:23">Heb. xii. 23</A>.
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Christ it the <I>firstborn among many brethren</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:29">Rom. viii. 29</A>),
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and, by virtue of their union with him, all that are born again, and
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born from above, are accounted as firstborn. There is an <I>excellency
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of dignity and power</I> belonging to them; and, <I>if children, then
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heirs.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The remembrance of their coming out of Egypt must also be
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perpetuated: "<I>Remember this day,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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Remember it by a good token, as the most remarkable day of your lives,
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the birthday of your nation, or the day of its coming of age, to be no
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longer under the rod." Thus the day of Christ's resurrection is to be
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remembered, for in it we were raised up with Christ out of death's
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<I>house of bondage.</I> The scripture tells us not expressly what day
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of the <I>year</I> Christ rose (as Moses told the Israelites what day
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of the year they were brought out of Egypt, that they might remember it
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yearly), but very particularly what day of the <I>week</I> it was,
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plainly intimating that, as the more valuable deliverance, and of
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greater importance, it should be remembered <I>weekly.</I> Remember it,
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for <I>by strength of hand the Lord brought you out.</I> Note, The more
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of God and his power appears in any deliverance, the more memorable it
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is. Now, that it might be remembered,</P>
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<P>
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1. They must be sure to <I>keep the feast of unleavened bread,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:5-7"><I>v.</I> 5-7</A>.
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It was not enough that they remembered it, but they must celebrate the
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memorial of it in that way which God had appointed, and use the
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instituted means of preserving the remembrance of it. So, under the
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gospel, we must not only remember Christ, but <I>do this in
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remembrance</I> of him. Observe, How strict the prohibition of leaven
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is
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>);
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not only no leaven must be eaten, but none must be seen, no, not in all
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their quarters. Accordingly, the Jews' usage was, before the feast of
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the passover, to cast all the leavened bread out of their houses: they
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burnt it, or buried it, or broke it small and scattered it in the wind;
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they searched diligently with lighted candles in all the corners of
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their houses, lest any leaven should remain. The care and strictness
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enjoined in this matter were designed,
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(1.) To make the feast the more solemn, and consequently the more taken
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notice of by their children, who would ask, "Why is so much ado made?"
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(2.) To teach us how solicitous we should be to put away from us all
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sin,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+5:7">1 Cor. v. 7</A>.</P>
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<P>
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2. They must instruct their children in the meaning of it, and relate
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to them the story of their deliverance out of Egypt,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Note,
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(1.) Care must be taken betimes to instruct children in the knowledge
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of God. Here is an ancient law for catechising.
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(2.) It is particularly of great use to acquaint children betimes with
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the stories of the scripture, and to make them familiar to them.
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(3.) It is a debt we owe to the honour of God, and to the benefit of
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our children's souls, to tell them of the great works God has done for
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his church, both those which we have seen with our eyes done in our day
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and which we have heard with our ears and our fathers have told us:
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<I>Thou shalt show thy son in that day</I> (the day of the feast) these
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things. When they were celebrating the ordinance, they must explain
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it. <I>Every thing is beautiful in its season.</I> The passover is
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appointed <I>for a sign, and for a memorial,</I> that <I>the Lord's law
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may be in thy mouth.</I> Note, We must retain the remembrance of God's
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works, that we may remain under the influence of God's law. And those
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that have God's law in their heart should have it in their mouth, and
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be often speaking of it, the more to affect themselves and to instruct
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others.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex13_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God's Claim upon the Firstborn.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 And it shall be when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall bring thee into the land
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of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and
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shall give it thee,
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12 That thou shalt set apart unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> all that openeth the
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matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou
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hast; the males <I>shall be</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s.
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13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb;
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and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck:
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and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou
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redeem.
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14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come,
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saying, What <I>is</I> this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength
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of hand the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> brought us out from Egypt, from the house of
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bondage:
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15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go,
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that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both
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the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I
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sacrifice to the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> all that openeth the matrix, being males;
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but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
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16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for
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frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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brought us forth out of Egypt.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. Further directions concerning the dedicating of their firstborn to
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God.
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1. The firstlings of their cattle were to be dedicated to God, as part
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of their possessions. Those of clean beasts--calves, lambs, and
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kids--if males, were to be sacrificed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+22:30,Nu+18:17,18">
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Exod. xxii. 30; Num. xviii. 17, 18</A>.
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Those of unclean beasts, as colts, were to be redeemed with a lamb, or
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knocked on the head. For whatsoever is unclean (as we all are by
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nature), if it be not redeemed, will be destroyed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:11,13"><I>v.</I> 11, 13</A>.
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2. The firstborn of their children were to be redeemed, and by no means
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sacrificed, as the Gentiles sacrificed their children to Moloch. The
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price of the redemption of the firstborn was fixed by the law
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:16">Num. xviii. 16</A>)
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at <I>five shekels.</I> We were all obnoxious to the wrath and curse
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of God; by the blood of Christ we are redeemed, that we may be joined
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to the <I>church of the firstborn.</I> They were to redeem their
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children, as well as the firstlings of the unclean beasts, for our
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children are by nature polluted. <I>Who can bring a clean thing out of
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an unclean?</I></P>
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<P>
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II. Further directions concerning the catechising of their children,
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and all those of the rising generation, from time to time, in this
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matter. It is supposed that, when they saw all the firstlings thus
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devoted, they would ask the meaning of it, and their parents and
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teachers must tell them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:14-16"><I>v.</I> 14-16</A>)
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that God's special propriety in their firstborn, and all their
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firstlings, was founded in his special preservation of them from the
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sword of the destroying angel. Being thus delivered, they must serve
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him. Note,
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1. Children should be directed and encouraged to ask their parents
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questions concerning the things of God, a practice which would be
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perhaps of all others the most profitable way of catechising; and
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parents must furnish themselves with useful knowledge, that they may be
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ready always to give an answer to their enquiries. If ever the
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<I>knowledge of God cover the earth,</I> as the waters do the sea, the
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fountains of family-instruction must first be broken up.
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2. We should all be able to show cause for what we do in religion. As
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sacraments are sanctified by the word, so they must be explained and
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understood by it. God's service is reasonable, and it is then
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acceptable when we perform it intelligently, knowing what we do and why
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we do it.
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3. It must be observed how often it is said in this chapter that <I>by
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strength of hand</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:3,14,16"><I>v.</I> 3, 14, 16</A>),
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<I>with a strong hand</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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the Lord brought them out of Egypt. The more opposition is given to
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the accomplishment of God's purposes the more is his power magnified
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therein. It is a strong hand that conquers hard hearts. Sometimes God
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is said to work deliverance <I>not by might nor power</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+4:6">Zech. iv. 6</A>),
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not by such visible displays of his power as that recorded here.
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4. Their posterity that should be born in Canaan are directed to say,
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<I>The Lord brought us out of Egypt,</I>
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:14,16"><I>v.</I> 14, 16</A>.
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Mercies to our fathers are mercies to us; we reap the benefit of them,
|
|
and therefore must keep up a grateful remembrance of them. We stand
|
|
upon the bottom of former deliverances, and were in the loins of our
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ancestors when they were delivered. Much more reason have we to say
|
|
that in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we were
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|
redeemed.</P>
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<A NAME="Ex13_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ex13_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Pillar of Fire and Fire.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1491.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go,
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that God led them not <I>through</I> the way of the land of the
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Philistines, although that <I>was</I> near; for God said, Lest
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peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return
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to Egypt:
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18 But God led the people about, <I>through</I> the way of the
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wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up
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harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
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19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had
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straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely
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visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
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20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in
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Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
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21 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud,
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to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give
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them light; to go by day and night:
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22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the
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pillar of fire by night, <I>from</I> before the people.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The choice God made of their way,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:17,18"><I>v.</I> 17, 18</A>.
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He was their guide. Moses gave them direction but as he received it
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from the Lord. Note, The way of man is not in himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+10:23">Jer. x. 23</A>.
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He may <I>devise his way,</I> and design it; but, after all, it is God
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that <I>directs his steps,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:9">Prov. xvi. 9</A>.
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Man proposes, but God disposes, and in his disposal we must acquiesce,
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and set ourselves to follow providence. There were two ways from Egypt
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to Canaan. One was a short cut from the north of Egypt to the south of
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Canaan, perhaps about four or five days' journey; the other was much
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further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which
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God chose to lead his people Israel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
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1. There were many reasons why God led them <I>through the way of the
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wilderness of the Red Sea.</I> The Egyptians were to be drowned in the
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Red Sea. The Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the
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wilderness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+8:2">Deut. viii. 2</A>.
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God had given it to Moses for a sign
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+3:12"><I>ch.</I> iii. 12</A>),
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<I>You shall serve God in this mountain.</I> They had again and again
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told Pharaoh that they must go <I>three days' journey into the
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wilderness to do sacrifice,</I> and therefore it was requisite that
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they should bend their march that way, else they would justly have been
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exclaimed against as notorious dissemblers. Before they entered the
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lists with their enemies, matters must be settled between them and
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their God, laws must be given, ordinances instituted, covenants sealed,
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and the original contract ratified, for the doing of which it was
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necessary that they should retire into the solitudes of a wilderness,
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the only closet for such a crowd; the high road would be no proper
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place for these transactions. It is said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:10">Deut. xxxii. 10</A>),
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<I>He led them about,</I> some hundreds of miles about, and yet
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+107:7">Ps. cvii. 7</A>),
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<I>He led them forth by the right way.</I> God's way is the right way,
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though it seem <I>about.</I> If we think he leads not his people the
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nearest way, yet we may be sure he leads them the best way, and so it
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will appear when we come to our journey's end. <I>Judge nothing before
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the time.</I>
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2. There was one reason why God did not lead them the nearest way,
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which would have brought them after a few days' march to <I>the land of
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the Philistines</I> (for it was that part of Canaan that lay next to
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Egypt), namely, because they were not as yet fit for war, much less for
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war with the Philistines,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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Their spirits were broken with slavery; it was not easy for them to
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turn their hands of a sudden from the trowel to the sword. The
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Philistines were formidable enemies, too fierce to be encountered by
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raw recruits; it was more suitable that they should begin with the
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Amalekites, and be prepared for the wars of Canaan by experiencing the
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difficulties of the wilderness. Note, God proportions his people's
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trials to their strength, and will <I>not suffer them to be tempted
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above what they are able,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:13">1 Cor. x. 13</A>.
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That promise, if compared with the foregoing verses, will seem to refer
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to this event, as an instance of it. <I>God knows our frame,</I> and
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considers our weakness and faintheartedness, and by less trials will
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prepare us for greater. God is said to bring Israel out of Egypt as
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the eagle <I>brings up her young ones</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:11">Deut. xxxii. 11</A>),
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teaching them by degrees to fly. Orders being thus given which way they
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should go, we are told,
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(1.) That they went up themselves, not as a confused rout, but in good
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order, rank and file: they <I>went up harnessed,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
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They went up by <I>five in a rank</I> (so some), in <I>five
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squadrons,</I> so others. They marched like an army with banners, which
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added much to their strength and honour.
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(2.) That they took the <I>bones of Joseph</I> along with them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
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and probably the bones of the rest of Jacob's sons, unless (as some
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think) they had been privately carried to Canaan
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+7:16">Acts vii. 16</A>),
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severally as they died. Joseph had particularly appointed that his
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bones should be carried up when God should visit the
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+50:25,26">Gen. l. 25, 26</A>),
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so that their carrying up his bones was not only a performance of the
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oath their fathers had sworn to Joseph, but an acknowledgment of the
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performance of God's promise to them by Joseph that he would visit them
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and bring them out of the land of Egypt, and an encouragement to their
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faith and hope that he would fulfil the other part of the promise,
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which was to bring them to Canaan, in expectation of which they carried
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these bones with them while they wandered in the desert. They might
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think, "Joseph's bones must rest at last, and then we shall." Moses is
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said to take these bones with him. Moses was now a very great man; so
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had Joseph been in his day, yet he was now but a box full of dry bones;
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this was all that remained of him in this world, which might serve for
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a monitor to Moses to remember his mortality. <I>I have said, You are
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gods;</I> it was said so to Moses expressly
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+7:1"><I>ch.</I> vii. 1</A>);
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<I>but you shall die like men.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. Here is the guidance they were blessed with in the way: <I>The Lord
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went before them in a pillar,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:21,22"><I>v.</I> 21, 22</A>.
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In the first two stages it was enough that God directed Moses whither
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to march: he knew the country and the road well enough; but now that
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they had come <I>to the edge of the wilderness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>)
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they would have occasion for a guide; and a very good guide they had,
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one that was infinitely wise, kind, and faithful: <I>The Lord went
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before them,</I> the <I>shechinah</I> (or appearance of the divine
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Majesty, which was typical of Christ) or a previous manifestation of
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the eternal Word, which, in the fulness of time, was to be <I>made
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flesh,</I> and <I>dwell among us.</I> Christ was with the church in the
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wilderness,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:9">1 Cor. x. 9</A>.
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Now <I>their King passed before them, even the Lord on the head of
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them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+2:13">Mic. ii. 13</A>.
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Note, Those whom God brings into a wilderness he will not leave nor
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lose there, but will take care to lead them through it; we may well
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think it was a very great satisfaction to Moses and the pious
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Israelites to be sure that they were under divine guidance. Those
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needed not to fear missing their way who were thus led, nor being lost
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who were thus directed; those needed not to fear being benighted who
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were thus illuminated, nor being robbed who were thus protected. Those
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who make the glory of God their end, and the word of God their rule,
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the Spirit of God the guide of their affections, and the providence of
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God the guide of their affairs, may be confident that <I>the Lord goes
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before them,</I> as truly as he went before Israel in the wilderness,
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though not so sensibly; we must live by faith.
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1. They had sensible evidences of God's going before them. They all
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saw an appearance from heaven of a pillar, which in the bright day
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appeared cloudy, and in the dark night appeared fiery. We commonly see
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that that which is a flame in the night is a smoke in the day; so was
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this. God gave them this ocular demonstration of his presence, in
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compassion to the infirmity of their faith, and in compliance with that
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infant state of the church, which needed to be thus lisped to in their
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own language; but blessed are <I>those that have not seen and yet have
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believed</I> God's gracious presence with them, according to his
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promise.
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2. They had sensible effects of God's going before them in this pillar.
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For,
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(1.) It led the way in that vast howling wilderness, in which there was
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no road, no track, no way-mark, of which they had no maps, through
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which they had no guides. When they marched, this pillar went before
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them, at the rate that they could follow, and appointed the place of
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their encampment, as Infinite Wisdom saw fit, which both eased them
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from care, and secured them from danger, both in moving and in resting.
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(2.) It sheltered them by day from the heat, which, at some times of
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the year, was extreme.
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(3.) It gave them light by night when they had occasion for it, and at
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all times made their camp pleasant and the wilderness they were in less
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frightful.</P>
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<P>
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III. These were constant standing miracles
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
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He <I>took not away the pillar of cloud;</I> no, not when they seemed
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to have less occasion for it, travelling through inhabited countries,
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no, not when they murmured and were provoking; it never left them, till
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it brought them to the borders of Canaan. It was a cloud which the wind
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could not scatter. This favour is acknowledged with thankfulness long
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afterwards,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ne+9:19,Ps+78:14">Neh. ix. 19; Ps. lxxviii. 14</A>.
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There was something spiritual in this pillar of cloud and fire.
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1. The children of Israel were baptized unto Moses in this cloud,
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which, some think, distilled dew upon them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:2">1 Cor. x. 2</A>.
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By coming under this cloud, they signified their putting themselves
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under the divine guidance and command by the ministry of Moses.
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Protection draws allegiance; this cloud was the badge of God's
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protection, and so became the bond of their allegiance. Thus they were
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initiated, and admitted under that government, now when they were
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entering upon the wilderness.
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2. Some make this cloud a type of Christ. The cloud of his human
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nature was a veil to the light and fire of his divine nature; we find
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him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+10:1">Rev. x. 1</A>)
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<I>clothed with a cloud, and his feet as pillars of fire.</I> Christ is
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our way, the light of our way and the guide of it.
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3. It signified the special guidance and protection which the church of
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Christ is under in this world. God himself is the keeper of Israel, and
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he <I>neither slumbers nor sleeps,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+121:4,Isa+27:3">Ps. cxxi. 4; Isa. xxvii. 3</A>.
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There is a defence created, not only on Sion's assemblies, but on every
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dwelling-place in Sion. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+4:5,6">Isa. iv. 5, 6</A>.
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Nay, every Israelite indeed is hidden under the shadow of God's wings
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+17:8">Ps. xvii. 8</A>);
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angels, whose ministry was made use of in this cloud, are employed for
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their good, and pitch their tents about them. <I>Happy art thou, O
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Israel! who is like unto thee, O people?</I></P>
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