From this most instructive subject we may observe —
L How plain is the way of salvation ! —
[Ask of every one that was saved that night, To what he was indebted for his preservation ? Would there be two opinions throughout the whole nation of Israel ? Would there be so much as one that would ascribe it to his own wisdom, or power, or goodness ? No, not one. All without exception would say, I owe it to the blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled upon my door-posts. That was God's ordinance : and by the observance of that alone I was kept from the sword of the destroying angel, who was constrained to pass over every house where that blood was seen. Let us then see ourselves doomed to perish on account of our sins ; but, through the application of the blood of Christ to our souls, preserved from death : and we have a perfect view of the Gospel salvation. Nothing can be conceived more simple or more intelligible even to the meanest capacity.]
2. How beautiful is the Christian life ! —
[It is one continued feast ; a feast upon the body and blood of our great Sacrifice^. True, it must be eaten " with bitter herbs." But who is there amongst us who does not need
^ Exod. xii. 15, 19. « John vi. 53—57.
to have his joys tempered with penitential sorrow ? It must be eaten too *' with unleavened bread :" for if there be in us any allowed guile, we can never hope to escape the wrath of God*^. We must eat it also with our loins girt, and our staff in our hands, ready every moment to proceed on our journey to the promised land. Compare this state with that of those who were to be left behind in Egypt, wholly ignorant of these high privileges, and altogether destitute of these exalted hopes : truly of the Christian, whoever he be, it may well be said, " Happy art thou, O Israel ; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord^?"]
3. How certain and glorious is the effect of faith ! — [The whole that was prescribed to Israel was one act of faith. The killing of the sacrifice, the sprinkling of its blood, the feeding on its flesh, the uniting with it the bitter herbs of penitence, and the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, and the habitual readiness to depart, were all, I say, one act of faith. And of its success we are fully informed. Of the whole nation not so much as one was lost. If any one had refused to comply with the appointed ordinance, he would have perished : but in all Israel not so much as one was slain. So, beloved, it shall be with you, if you live by faith upon the Son of God. Sooner shall heaven and earth pass away, than the least or meanest of true believers shall perish. Be assured of this ; and you shall have even now a foretaste of the blessed- ness that awaits you in the worlds above.]
*■ Ps. xxxii. 2. g Dent, xxxiii. 29.