would not go 1:mck fl'\lm it. They should l'eACh Oitn11an, l\nd e.n e.ngel should lead them; but the rest we.s e.11 more or Iese uncertain. If they indeed obeyed God, l\nd did M he commn.nded, then he would be l\n enemy to their enemies, l\nd give them full possession of the land of promise. If they truly eerved Jehovah, n.nd not idols, then he would grant them health e.nd long life, and other temporal blessings. And so it is with Christin.ns. God gives-absolutely certain blessings to all whom he accepts into covene.nt with him; but the greater ymrt of the blessings which he he.s promised a.re contingent on their behaviour. I. BLEBBINGB PRO'Mll!ED TO CHRISTIANS ADBOLUTELY, 1. A Divine guide Is promised to all. The Holy Spirit, speaking in men's hearts, directing and enlightening their conscience, tells them continue.lly how they ought to we.lk, points cut the we.y, offers his guide.nee, nay, presses it on them, and seeks to lee.d them to heaven. 'l'he guide is more than an angel-God's holy name is in him. Nor does he guide only. He supports the footstep,;, strengthens, s11Btains, comforts men. 2. Membership in Christ is promi~ed. "I am the vine; ye are the branches." "Abide in me." We are as branches cut out of a wild olive, which have been grafted, contrary to nature, into a good olive-tree, to par- take of its root and fatness (Rom. xi. 17-24). We are "made members of Christ," for the most part, in our infancy, without effort or merit of our own, by God's great mercy. n: BLEBSINGS WHICH ARE 001!,'TINGENT ON OUR OBEDmNCE. 1. The e.nswer of a ;:ood conscience towards God-a great blessing.-:an only, by the very nature of the c,ase, belong to those who have striven Always to be obedient, and have served the Lord from their youth. 2. Growth in grace is granted only to such as cherish and follow the grace already vouchsafed them. 3. Spiritue.l wisdom and understanding are attained b)' none but those who, having "done the will of God, know of the doctrine" (John \'ii. 17). 4. Assistance against spiritue.l enemies is contingent on our doing our best to resist them. 5. Length of days is attached as a special blessing to obedience to parents (Eph. vi. 2, 3). Finally, and above all---6. The erernal bliss which is promised us in another world is conditional upon our "pa.tient continuance in well-doing" in this. \Ve must" so run that we may obtain." Most of those to whom the promises of Ex. x.x:iii. were addressed, forfeited them by their misconduct, and did not ent.er Canaan. They " lusted," they became "idolaters," they "tempted God," they "co=itted fornication," they "murmured "-and the result was that they "were overthrown in the wilderness." And "all these things happened unto them for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinkcth he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. L 11, 12).
HO:MILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vcrs. 20--33.-Promises and WQ/fflings. These conclude the Book of the Covenant. I. l'RoMISES. 1. .An angel, guide (vers. 20---23). But this angel was no ordinary or created angel. He is repeatedly identified with Jehovah himself. God's "name "-his essential nature-was in him. He is one with Jehovah, yet distinct from him-no mere personification, but a real hyposta.sis. See the careful treatment of " the doctrine of the Ao"cl of the Lord," in Oehler's "Old Testament Theology," vol. i. pp. 188---196 (Eng. tra~. ). We view the "angel" as the pr&-inca.rna~ J:ogos-Christ in ~he Old 'l'estam~nt. Israel's guide was the Son of God-the same D1vme Person who lS now conducting "many sons Ullt'J glory," and who is become" the aut~or of et,e~a.l salvation to all them tlwt obey him" (Heb. ii. 10; v. 9). 2. Defence against enemies (ver. 22). If Israel :,bcyed God's voice, and did all that God spa.ke, their enemies wouid be reckoned his r,oemies, and their adversaries hi,s a.dversanes. And" if God be for llB, who can be a;!"ainst tIB ·t" (Rom. viii. 31). 3. AU in the conqU&t of Oa=n (vers. 23, 27-31). A]>ply thruu"Lout to the spiritue.l warfare of the individue.l and of the Church. (1) The way for the ~nquest would be prepared. God would send b.is/ear before the Israelite" (ver. 27)--wouJd, as stated in Deuteronomy, put the dree.d of t~em, and_ the fear of them, up,,o tl,e nations that were under the whole heaven (Deut. u. 25; x1. 25; cf. eh. xv. IS, IC). There is a presentiment of defeat in the hearts of the enemicsofGod,especially wli~11 tL~ CLurcl, i, energetic and fearless in her work, which goes far to ~ecurc the CII. XXIII. 20-33.] THE IlOOK OF EXUDUS.