HOMILETICS. Vers. 15-18.-The reward of faith. God rewarded the faith and trust of Moses by a revelation of the manner of that deliverance which he so confidently expected. Hitherto the manner had been involved in mystery; and it is scarcely likely that any one had even conjectured it as a possible thing. There was no precedent fer such an interference with the laws of nature; and the thought could scarcely occur to the imagination of any one. But, to reward his faithful servant, to quiet his anxiety, and give definiteness to his expectations of deliverance, God now plainly revealed the mode in which he would save his people. God is ever "a. rewarder of them that diligently seek him," and especially rewards faith. The faith of Abraham, which made him trust God's promise to create of him a. great nation, when as yet he had no child, obtained for him the gift of Cana.an and the covenant of circumcision. The faith of Noah, who believed God's threat of a. deluge, which all the rest of the world scorned, sand him and his family from perishing by water. The faith of Enoch, by which he "walked with God "-though he could not see him--ca.used God to "take him." Faith brings us, to a. cerj;a.inty,-1. The present blessing of an assw-ed trust which nothing can imperil; 2. Quietness and confide;ice-the feeling that we may "stand still and see the sa.lvatioa of God;" 3. Freedom from panic fears and unworthy apprehensions; 4. Cheerfulness e.nd hopefulness-a conviction that God will give us what is best for w;, Faith may also, by God's mercy, obtain for us further gifts in the future-blessings not naturally a.rising out of it, but added to it as rewards by God, and signs of his approval. The faith of Moses was ultimately rewarded, 1. By success in the great object of hls life-the liberation of his people and their safe-conduct through all the perils of the wilderness to the verge of Canaan; 2. By God's approval of him as "Mcses, the servant of the Lord ' (Deut. x.xxiv. 5); and 3. By the vision of Cana.an from Pisga.h.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 15.-" Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward!" I. FoRwABD ! -Goo's coNSTA.NT INJUNCTION TO HIS CmnicH. The law of Christian life is advance. God never brings his Church or people into positions from which retreat is necessary, or in which advance is impossible. We may bring ourselves into false positions of this kind, but God never leads us into them. In proportion as we surrender ourselves to his guidance, we may depend on being conducted always "forward." There is no instance in the whole history of the Old or New 'l'esta.ment Church in which, while God's guidance was followed, retreat had to be made. Forward l (1) In Christian attainments. (2) In holy living. (3) In labcurs for the advancement of Christ's kingdom. (4) In missionary enterprise. (5) In doing good to our fellow-men. 38G 'l'HE BOOK OF EXODUS. [ en. XIV. 13---31,