HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ven:. 19, 20.-Uglit to the frtend, d,a,rkness to tke foe, We l\re told that as the Ismelites were Rbout to cross the Red Sea, the fiery-cloudy pillar changed its position and CRID:e between them a1;1d the Egyptians. It was the self-same pillar, but it wor~ 11 very different aspect to fnends and foes respectively. "It was," we read, "a. cloud of darkness to the_m (the Egyptians), but it gave light to these (the camp of Israel)." We should notice that the same double aspect belongs to all God's manifestations of himself, in Law and Gospel, in matter and spirit, in the world, and in the Church. I. GoD'I! ATTRIBUTES have this double aspect. Not one of his Rttributes but hRs a. bri~ht side turned to the believer, and a dark side to the wicked. This is true even of Ruch attributes as holiness e.nd justice, from which the believer, as a. sinner, miaht seem to have most to fear. "Faithful and.fust to forgive us our sins, and to cleans; us from nil unrighteousness" (1 John i. 9). So God's omnipotence, which is hostile to the transgressor, is pledgecl. to defend, bless, and save the saint (1 Pet. i. 6; Jude 24). God's eternity, in like manner, is given to the believer for a dwelling-place (Deut. xxxiii. 27; Ps. xc. 1), but how terrible an aspect it has to the evil-doer! The dark side of love is wrath. "If God be for us, who can be e.,,aainst us?" (Rom. viii. 31). But on the other hand, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heh. x. 31). II. Gon's LAWS have this double aspect. 1. Physical laws. The constitution of nature is favourable to virtue, hostile to vice (See Butler's Analogy). 2. Moral law, for this, while awarding life to the obedient, is a ministry of condemnation to the sinner. 3. Mental, and spiritual laws. Take e.g. the law of habit. "The law of habit, which applies alike to all our physical, mental, and moral actions, must be regarded in its de.sign as a truly benevolent one. But the law of habit, when the soul yields to sin, works death to the sinner :-like the pillar of cloud which made day to Israel, and was darkness to the Egyptians, so the law, which is bright to -the well-doer, sheds night upon the path of the sinner, until he is plunged into the sea of death" ('l'heodore D. Woolsey). ill. Goo's WORD has this double aspect. To the prayerful, believing, docile mind, it is a source of unfailing light. It is e. lamp to the feet and a light to the path (Ps. cxix. 105). But to the proud, the unbelieving, and the presumptuous, it is .only darkness. These can see nothing in it but difficulties, incredibilities, contradictions, moral monstrosities. It is full of stumbling-blocks. '.l.'he more they read it, the more are they blinded by it. They read only to discover some new fault or error. IV. GoD's VERY GosPEL has this double aspect. "The preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us who are saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. i 1~24). It repels the one class, and attracts the other. To the one, it is a savour of life; to the other, a savour of death (2 Cor. ii. 16).-J. 0. Vers. 19-31.-The goodness and severity of God. I. WHAT GoD IS TO BIB OWN 1N THE DAy oF TROO'llLE. 1. He comes between them and their foes. God's presence is between us and our enemies, and they can do no more against ns than his love permits. 2. He is light to them in the time of peril 3. The waters are divided before them, However much our way may seem hedged in, God's arm will open up a path for us. 4. The way wa.s not only a path of escape, but one of perfect safety; the waters were a wall 1.-0 them upon the right hand and the left. II. WHAT GoD IS TO HIS PEOPLE'S FOES. 1. Their path is wrapped in darkness, They cannot lay hold of the weakest of those who but a_ moment before seemed whollY: in their power. '.1.'hey are perplexed and baffled. 2. Danng to follow they are filled with horror by the revelation that their contest is ~th the mig~ty God: they are face to fa~e not with the servant, but the master. 3. Their progress lS arrested (25). 4. They 111 vain attempt to flee. Men may flee to God; they cannot flee from God. 5. They are overwhelmed with destruction. ID. THE RESULT OF THE CONFLICT (31). L The people are filled with holy aw?· "They feared Jehovah. God's judgments deepen in his people's hearts the sense of hJ.8 1erriblene11& and majesty." 2. It mengthened their faith; they believed the Lord. a. otl. ltlV, l!J-31.) 'l'fIE BOOK OF EXODUS. 343
H produced e. spirit of obedience: they "believed his servant Moses." They were b11ptizcd unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. The outcome of fear and truRt must be full obedience to him who lea.ds us into the promised rest-the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.-U.