* Rom. xii. 20, 21. e Matt. v. 23, 24. f Matt, xviii. 21, 22. e Matt, xviii. 35. h Eph. iv. 32.
Exod. iii. 2, 3. The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in aflame of fire out of the midst of a bush : and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned tvith fire, and the bush was not con- sumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
IF God have on some occasions revealed himself to persons, when, like Saul, they have been in the very act of committing the most heinous sinsa, he has more generally favoured them when they have been occupied, like the shepherds, in their proper calling1*. Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, when God appeared to him in a burning bush, and gave him a commission to deliver Israel from their bondage in Egypt. By this extraordinary appearance God not merely awakened the curiosity of Moses, but conveyed to him some very important instruction; to elucidate which we shall,
I. Shew what was intended by the burning bush —
It was intended to represent the state and con- dition—
1. Of the Israelites in Egypt —
[They were cruelly oppressed, and every effort was made to destroy themc. Nor had they in themselves any more ability to withstand their enemies, than a thorny bush has to resist the action of fire. Yet not only were they preserved from destruction, but they even multiplied in proportion as means were used to prevent their increase.]
2. Of the church of God in the world —
[The church, whose state was typified by that of Israel, has at all times suffered by persecution, though it has enjoyed
a Acts ix. 4. i» Luke ii. 8, 9. c Exod. i. 9—22.