As surely as ever Moses was sent to the oppressed Israelites to deliver them, so surely are the tidings of salvation now sent to us : and though our tyrannical master may use his utmost efforts to keep us in subjection, he shall not prevail. The Lord Jesus Christ is come to deliver us ; and " if the Son make us free, we shall be free indeed0."]
2. The mercy which he exercises towards his re- deemed—
[There was a direction given to Moses, that the people at their departure from Egypt should " borrow of their neighbours jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and that they should spoil the Egyptians ;" " When ye go," said God to them, " ye shall not go empty d." In like manner this injunction was given to the Hebrew master, at the time when he should be required to liberate his slave ; " Thou shalt not let him go away empty : thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy wine-press : of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, thou shalt give unto him." And is it not thus that God deals with his redeemed people ? " Does he require any man to go a warfare at his own charges ? " True it is, he does not set up his people with a stock of grace, that they may afterwards live independent of him; but "he will supply all their need" out of the fulness which he has treasured up for them in Christ Jesus ; and " out of that fulness they shall all receive, even grace for grace e." Yes assuredly, this picture shall be realized in all who assert their liberty : for " they that fear the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good."]
But besides this emblematical representation, there is in the text, II. An instructive lesson —
The Hebrew masters were bidden to " remember, that they themselves were once bond-men in the land of Egypt," and that on that very account God had given them this command in relation to their bond- slaves. From hence it appears, that we are to regard God's mercies,
1. As a pattern for our imitation —
[When Israel were groaning under their burthens in Egypt, God said, " I have surely seen the affliction of my people ; I know their sorrows :" and on another occasion we
c Johnviii. 36. (i Exod. iii. 21, 22.
c Col. i. 19. with John i. 16. B b2