upon them, in the route through which they had just passed. God had made known to Moses his design, in bringing the Israelites into this perilous situation. All his late dealings with Pharaoh would but harden his heart the more. He and his people would reproach themselves for permitting their bondsmen to depart, and thus losing their valuable services. He would pursue them, with a mighty host, and feel sure of subduing and reclaiming them; especially when he should hear of their being so completely hedged up, and unable to flee or extricate themselves from his grasp. The relentless tyrant was to be on the very point of accomplishing his purpose, when the arm of the Almighty would be revealed for the rescue of his people, and the complete overthrow of their oppressors. "I will be honored," said he to his faithful servant, "upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am Jehovah." Intelligence had been conveyed to Pharaoh, of the peculiar circumstances attending the flight of the Israelites from Egypt. He soon perceived that something more than a three days' journey into the wilderness was intended. The amount and value of the articles which they received from his people; their carrying off with them the whole of their flocks and herds, leaving none behind; and the preparations at Rameses for marshalling their host, with the orders given by Moses, and the course they had taken; all convinced him that the Israelites had, as they hoped, made a final escape from his dominions. His selfish and vindictive passions were kindled into a rage. His great men, and the people at large, participated in his feelings. All burned with resentment against their late bondsmen. They resolved to bring them back again to servitude; and immediate preparations were made for the pursuit. Six hundred chosen chariots of the king, with commanders over each, manned and equipped for battle, were immediately put in readiness. His other chariots, and horsemen, and whole army were added to accompany them. The collected force was speedily in motion. No time was lost. All was urgency and despatch. Proud in their numbers and strength, and sure of an easy triumph over the defenceless Israelites, Pharaoh and his host overtook them in their encampment by the sea, and situated as we have seen. The approach of such an army was visible at some distance. The Israelites knew full well of whom it was composed, and what must be their design. They were unarmed, and had no means of resistance. Flight was hopeless. Hemmed in by the sea, the mountains, and the desert, with the Egyptians bearing down upon them on the only side where escape was possible, they gave themselves up to despondency. Every moment brought the cruel tyrant and their late oppressors nearer. The sound of the trumpets, the rattling of the chariots, the trampling of the horses, and soon the voices of the commanders, were heard. Fear spread from breast to breast. It increased as it went. It became consternation and terror. It rose to the agony of despair. It broke out in the hopeless cry of anguish, which ascended, on all sides, to heaven, and then rushed, in bitter complaints, upon the ears of Moses. "Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness ? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." "Fear ye not," was the reply of their intrepid leader, whose faith in God sustained him in this trying hour. "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." The arm of Jehovah shall rescue you, without any effort of your own; while, your clamors being silenced, ye shall witness, in quiet amaze ment, the divine interposition in your behalf. Moses had been praying for this deliverance, in his heart surely, and, perhaps, audibly with his voice. His fervent desires, and sighs, were still ascending to heaven, for the aid of that almighty Being who had bade him engage in this momentous enterprise, and had brought him and his countrymen into their present perilous condition. His supplications are heard. The voice of Jehovah meets his ear. "Wherefore criest thou unto me?" Thou needest no longer urge thy petitions. They are about to be answered. Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it; and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, and upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen." The Israelites were still in their encampment, waiting with trembling solicitude the crisis of their fate. What must have been their astonishment, to see, all at once, the pillar of the cloud, which was in front of them, move round in silent majesty through the air, and take its place in their rear! The angel of God, we are told, did it; the heavenly and mysterious messenger, who was appointed by the Almighty, thus to be the guide and safeguard of his people, in the pillar of a cloud by day, and of fire by night. It was to them a sublime and cheering spectacle. It showed that God was mindful of them; and that he was about to interpose, in their extremity, between them and their enemies. It was a bright omen of the further aid which, in some way, he would speedily afford them. Their drooping spirits were revived; and new hopes, animating their breasts, prepared them for that prompt and expeditious movement which they would, in a short time, be called upon to make. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." In seasons of perplexity and danger, where can we look for support and succor but unto God. All other help will fail, or disappoint us. For we should never forget, that if we ourselves are able to make any efforts for deliverance, or to succeed in procuring the assistance of our fellow-men, such ability and assistance are under the direction of God. His unceasing Providence controls and manages it all. He holds our destinies in his hands, and sends help in our extremities, or withholds it, just as he pleases. Make God your refuge, my young friend, at all times; a refuge not only from threatening and |