HOMILETICS. Ver. 23.-Death com{)S at last, even t-0 the proudest monarch. Il~moses II. left behind him the reputation of being the greatest of the Egyptian kings. He was confounded with the mythical Sesostris, and regarded as the conqueror of all W estcrn Asia, of Ethiopia, and of a large tract in Europe. His buildings and other great works did, in fact, probably excel those of any other Pharaoh. His reign was the longest, if we except one, of any upon record. He was victorious, by land or sea, over all who resisted his arms. Yet a time came when he too "went the way of all flesh." "It is appointed unto all men once to die, and after that the judgment." After eighty years of life and sixty-seven of regal power, the Great Rameses was gathered to his fathers. Of what avail then was all his glory, all bis wealth, all his magnificence, all bis architectural display, all bis long series of vict.ories ? Could he plead them before the judgment-seat 'bf, an all- righteous God? He could not even, according to his own belief, have pleaded them before the tribunal of his own Osiris. A modern writer says that every stone in the edifices which he raised was cemented with the blood of a human victim (Lenormant, 'Manuel d'Histoire Ancienne,' vol. i. p. 423). Thousands of wretches toiled incessantly to add to his glory, and cover Egypt with buildings, obelisks, and colossi, which still show forth his greatness. But what is the result of all, what advantage has he gained by it? On earth, he is certainly not forgotten; but History gibbets him as a tyrant and oppressor-one of the scourges of the human race. In the intermediate region where he dwells, what can be his thoughts of the past? what his expectations of the future ? Must he not mourn continually over his misspent life, and unavailingly regret his cruelties ? The meanest of his victims is now happier than he, and would refuse to change lots with him. Vers. 24, 25.-God is never deaf to earnest prayer for deliverance. It was eighty years since the cruel edict went forth, " Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river" (eh. i. 22)-ninety, or perhaps a hundred, since the severe oppression began (ib. 11-14). Israel had sighed and groaned during the whole of this long period, and no doubt addressed many a prayer to God, which seemed unheard. But no earnest faithful prayer during the whole of the long space was unheard. God treasured them all up in his memory. He was "not slack, a.s men count slackness." He had to wean his people from their attachment to Egypt-he had to discipline them, to form their character-to prepare them to endure the hardships of the desert, and to face the fierce tribes of Canaan. When this was done-when they were fit-he gave effect to their prayers-" heard their groaning"-and just as they were on the point of despairing, delivered them. The lesson to us here is, that we never despair; never grow weary and listless, never cease our prayers, strive to make them more and more fervent. We can never know how near we are to the time when God will show forth his power-grant and accom- plish our prayers.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 23--25.-The 7/.0t/,r of liilp. 1. It was long delayed. (1) Till tyranny had done its worst. (2) Till the last hope of help from man had disappeared. Improve- ment may have been looked for at death of king. 2. It came at last. (1) When the bondaae had served its ends. (2) When the people, in despair of man, were crying to God. '"s. When it did come-(1) '!'he man was found ready who was to bring it. (2) God was found faithful to his promise.-J. 0. Vers. 1-25.-Mo61l8 and (Jl,,ri,st. Compare in circumstances of early life. 1. Obscu- rity of birth. 2. Peril in infancy. 3. Protection in Egypt. 4. Rejected by brethren. 5. Humble toil The carpenter's shop-keeping sheep. 6. Long period of silent prepa.ra.tion. See F. W. Robertson's striking sermon on "The Early Development of Jesus" (' Sermons,' vol. ii.). The period was not so long in Christ's case as in tho case of Moses, but had a like significance-preparation for future work.-J. 0. Vere. 23-25.-.A groaning Israel, and an observant God. I. THERE WAB BIGIIING AND CRYING, YET No REAL PRAYER. There was no supplication for help, no expression of confiience in a helper; seeing there was no real sense of trust in One who ,a. II, 23-26.] THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 63