It has shewn us the danger of fighting against Godk. " Fools make a mock at sin," and "puff at the threatened judgments" of God. But let any one see in Pharaoh the danger of being given over to a reprobate mind : let any one see in what our hardness of heart may issue: and he will tremble lest God should say respecting him, " He is joined to idols; let him alone."
It has shewn us the obligations we lie under to God for the long-suffering he has already exercised towards us. We read the history of Pharaoh : happy is it for us, that we have not been left, like him, to be a warning to others. No tongue can utter the thanks that are due to him on this account. If we know any thing of our own hearts, we shall be ready to think ourselves the greatest monuments of mercy that ever were rescued from perdition.
Now these lessons are invaluable : and every one that reads the history of this unhappy monarch, must see them written in it as with the pen of a diamond.]
Address —
[We are told to " remember Lot's wife:" and it will be well also to remember Pharaoh. Let none of us trifle with our convictions, or follow carnal policy in preference to the com- mands of God — Let the messages of God be received
with reverence, and obeyed with cheerfulness ■ Let us
be afraid of hardening our own hearts, lest God should give us over to final obduracy1. If God withdraw from us, Satan will quickly comem: and if we are left to Satan's agency, better were
it for us that we had never been born. Seek of God the
influences of the Holy Ghost, who will " take away the heart of stone, and give you an heart of flesh."]
' Rom. viii. 7. k Isai. xlv. 9. ' Job ix. 4. m 1 Sam. xvi. 14.