[No nation under heaven were ever so distinguished by the Divine favour as they. The wonders that were wrought for them in Egypt — their passage through the Red Sea, in which the enemies who followed them were drowned — their being guided by a cloud which afforded them shade by day, and light by night — their being nourished for forty years by bread from heaven, and by water, which, issuing from a rock, followed them in all their way — their having the Law written by the finger of God himself given them, together with laws and ordinances for the political and religious government of their nation — their having the river Jordan open a passage for them as the sea had formerly done— the seven nations, greater and mightier than they, all subdued before them — the promised land in due time put into their possession ; and the worship of God, with all its attendant privileges and blessings, established amongst them — these were favours peculiar to that nation, and elevated them above all other people upon the face of the earth. Respecting their superior obligations to love and serve God on account of these things, Moses made an appeal to their forefathers, which appeal may still be made to their descendants
at the present day a
Now, I ask, what might reasonably be expected of a people so favoured ? Might it not be supposed, that they would love their God supremely, and cleave to him steadfastly, and trust in him confidently, and serve him with their whole hearts? One would think it impossible that they should do otherwise, if we did not know that]
The very reverse of % this characterized their whole deportment —
[Their whole history from the beginning records one con- tinued series of murmurings and rebellions. In Egypt itself^ and within a few days after their passage through the Red Sea — but how shall I recite all their provocations? I must recite their whole history, if I would bring before you the full extent of their wickedness. Now and then they seemed to manifest a better spirit. When they saw all their enemies dead upon the sea-shore, they began to sing praise to their almighty Deliverer : and on some occasions, when he punished them for their rebellions, they manifested some contrition, and promised
to amend b But they soon returned to their former
habits, and " turned aside like a deceitful bow," which, when promising to carry the arrow to the mark, causes it to drop at your very feetc. At no time did they evince any real desire " to set their heart aright ;" and, when they professed any such purpose, they soon forgat their engagements, and shewed, that " their spirit was not steadfast with their God."]
'■'Deut. iv. 32—35. " ver. 34 — 37. c ver. 57.