sanction to his great mission, he departed towards Midian to make suitable preparations for his journey, and to meet his brother Aaron, whom the divine Being was pleased to nominate for his interpreter, both to Pharaoh and the Hebrews.

Having obtained a friendly dismission from Jethro, he set out for Egypt with Zipporah and his two children, but a dispute arising respecting the circumcising of his youngest son upon the road, he sent his companions back, and pursued his journey with Aaron, who now met him, by the divine appointment.

B. C.

On their arrival in the land of Goshen, they imparted their errand to the elders of 1491. Israel, and immediately proceeded to open their commission before the king; but the preamble, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel," sounded so strangely in his ears, that he was much surprised at their presumption, and peremptorily answered, he knew not the Lord, neither would he accede to their request. He then dismissed them with a severe reprimand, and immediately commissioned his task-masters to double the labour of the Hebrews; and instead of giving them straw to dry their bricks as usual, he caused them to be dispersed over the land in search of stubble; though they were strictly enjoined to fulfil their accustomed tasks without the most trifling abatement. This order being rigidly executed, induced the overseers of the Israelites to go in a body to the palace, in order that the king might redress their intolerable grievance; but he only accused them of being idle, and drove them from his presence with the most cruel indifference. In their return they were met by

Moses and Aaron, whom they accused in the bitterest terms, as the authors of these new calamities, which could terminate in nothing but despair and death.

Moses, knowing it would be in vain to attempt his own justification, or to offer consolation to the sufferers, in the present posture of affairs, applied to the Almighty, and expostulated with him, in the most humble terms, upon the ill success of his first message. The divine Being vouchsafed to repeat his former assurances of love and compassion towards the descendants of Jacob; affirming that he would soon cause the Egyptians to acknowledge his incomparable power; and promising to deliver the groaning Hebrews with a high hand and an outstretched arm. Moses was, however, so disheartened at his ill success, that he expressed a strong reluctancy to return to court to renew his demand in the name of the Most High; till he found himself compelled to obey the heavenly command by such miraculous gifts, reiterated assurances, and unequivocal declarations, as might justly have tinged his cheek with the deep vermeil of shame for his ill-timed doubt and timidity.

He now ventured, the second time, into the royal presence, accompanied by Aaron, and confirmed the truth of his assertions respecting his mission, by throwing down his rod, which was instantaneously changed into a serpent. Pharaoh regarded this miracle as the effect of magic, and accordingly sent for his most learned magicians, who likewise turned their rods into serpents, so that all the superiority Moses exhibited at this time was, that his rod swallowed up those of the Egyptians; a circumstance which Pharaoh might, probably,

probably, attribute to the skill or learning of their antagonist.

This miracle having made no impression on the Egyptian monarch, Moses stretched out his rod over the running and standing waters, which were immediately converted into blood. This metamorphosis was also imitated by the magicians, and Pharaoh's heart continued hard, and insensible to the divine reproof.

In consequence of the king's obstinacy, a third miracle was wrought, that of bringing upon the land such a vast multitude of frogs, that even the ovens, beds, and tables, of the Egyptians swarmed with these animals. The magicians found means to bring a fresh multitude of frogs into the country; but Pharaoh was sufficiently incommoded, to induce him to promise Moses, that the Israelites should receive their liberty when this annoyance was removed. Accordingly the frogs were all destroyed by the next morning; but whilst the people were employed in gathering them up in heaps for removal, lest they should breed an infection, the dishonourable prince was contriving how to elude the fulfilment of his solemn promise.

Moses, on discovering Pharaoh's duplicity, touched the ground with his miraculous rod, upon which the dust was transformed into innumerable swarms of lice. These odious vermin infested man and beast so severely, that the king sent once more for his magicians, that the exertion of their skill might remove his apprehensions. But their art was now exercised in vain, and they were compelled to acknowledge this miracle was wrought by the finger of God.

This calamity proving ineffectual, the air was,

on the next day, literally filled with swarms of flies, whose bite was so venomous and painful, that the mischief they did to Egypt became intolerable, though none were found in the habitations of the Hebrews. Pharaoh was now alarmed for his personal safety, and sent for the two Hebrew chiefs, whom he first desired to sacrifice in the land; and then assured that Israel should depart, on certain conditions, to obey the command of their God. Moses immediately obtained a reprieve for the kingdom, but the incorrigible monarch still retained his obstinacy, and again refused to accede to the promised liberation.

The sixth judgment was a grievous murrain, by which the greater part of the cattle, belonging to the Egyptians, died; whilst those of the Hebrews remained unhurt. But this not touching the king's person, another followed, which was more affecting, viz. a violent and painful boil, breaking out upon man and beast. The magicians were, according to custom, commanded to display the power of their enchantments; but they were themselves involved in the general calamity, and, therefore, durst not appear in the presence of Moses.

The king remaining inflexible, was now told that the voice of Israel's God should be heard in thunder, and his anger felt in such tremendous storms, as had not been known since the foundation of Egypt, unless he consented, before the next morning, to the departure of the chosen people. Moses accordingly lifted up his rod towards Heaven at the appointed time, and the awful prediction was immediately accomplished. The most terrific peals of thunder began to roll

along

along the sky; the vivid lightning flashed incessantly from the clouds; and a miraculous shower of hail, mingled with fire, descended with such amazing force, that men and beasts were struck lifeless to the ground, shrubs and trees were torn from the roots, the flax and barley were utterly destroyed, and nothing escaped the common ruin, but the wheat and rye, which were not sufficiently grown.

This extraordinary visitation alarmed the proud monarch, who sent hastily for Moses and Aaron, and addressed them in such language as seemed to flow from a truly penitent heart: he earnestly intreated those dreadful thunders might cease, and the destroying shower be restrained; and solemnly promised, that Israel should instantly depart in return for so great a favour. Moses soon obtained a cessation of the plague, and many of the Egyptians, on examining the mischief occasioned by the hail, were inspired with sentiments of awe and veneration towards the God of the Hebrews. But Pharaoh persisted in his obstinacy and deceit, and consequently incurred other calamities.

A ninth curse was now predicted against the Egyptians, which should prove more fatal than the former; namely, such an infinite number of locusts as should literally cover the face of the country, and devour every vegetable substance which had escaped from the hail. Upon this declaration, some of the courtiers took the liberty to represent to their sovereign the inconceivable damage his kingdom had already received; and observed, it was indispensably necessary the Israelites should be sent away in obedience to the command of their God. Pharaoh seemed to acknowledge