Exod. xix. 3—6. And Moses went tip unto God : and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus sh alt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel ; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles wings, and brought you unto myself Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my cove- nant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people : for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shall speak unto the children of Israel.
WE cannot but admire God's condescension in noticing our fallen race. When we see him renewing
91.] MOSES' MESSAGE TO THE ISRAELITES. Aol
to them his acts of kindness after repeated instances of ingratitude, we are yet more amazed : but when we behold him entering into covenant with the most rebellious of his creatures, and binding himself by promises and oaths to load them with his richest benefits, we are altogether lost in wonder. Since the time that Israel were liberated from their bondage in Egypt, about six weeks had now elapsed ; during which time every successive trial had evinced, that they were a rebellious and stiff-necked people. But, instead of casting them off, God commissioned Moses to propose to them a covenant, wherein they should engage to be obedient to his will, and he would en- gage to make them truly prosperous and happy. The same condescension does God manifest to us; as will appear if we consider,
I. The mercies God has already vouchsafed us —
Those enumerated in the text were distinguishing mercies —
[God had inflicted the heaviest judgments on the Egyp- tians ; but had brought out his people safely and triumphantly a to the mountain, which he had long before marked as the place where they should worship him and enjoy Iris presence b. This "they saw;" and therefore could not cmestion the goodness of God towards them ]
And have we no distinguishing mercies to call forth our gratitude?
[What though we have never experienced such miraculous interpositions ; have we not, both individually and collectively, unbounded reason for thankfulness on account of the peculiar favours conferred on us?
Think how many millions of the human race are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, without the smallest know- ledge of a Saviour, or even of the one true God! But we are favoured with the light of revelation, and, we hope we may say
too, a faithful ministration of the word of life Reflect
further, how many, under distress of mind, or body, or estate, are sinking under the insupportable load of their afflictions, whilst we have experienced but little trouble, perhaps so much only as to display more clearly the goodness of God in our
a The eagle, to rescue her young from impending danger, will hear them upon her pinions to a place of safety. Compare Dent, xxxii. 11. b Exod. hi. 12.