[329]
But Moses, though the multitude looked fiercely at him, did not,
however, give over the care of them, but despised all dangers, out of his
trust in God, who, as he had afforded them the several steps already taken
for the recovery of their liberty, which he had foretold them, would not
now suffer them to be subdued by their enemies, to be either made slaves
or be slain by them; and, standing in midst of them, he said, "It
is not just of us to distrust even men, when they have hitherto well managed
our affairs, as if they would not be the same hereafter; but it is no better
than madness, at this time to despair of the providence of God, by whose
power all those things have been performed he promised, when you expected
no such things: I mean all that I have been concerned in for deliverance
and escape from slavery. Nay, when we are in the utmost distress, as you
see we ought rather to hope that God will succor us, by whose operation
it is that we are now this narrow place, that he may out of such difficulties
as are otherwise insurmountable and out of which neither you nor your enemies
expect you can be delivered, and may at once demonstrate his own power
and his providence over us. Nor does God use to give his help in small
difficulties to those whom he favors, but in such cases where no one can
see how any hope in man can better their condition. Depend, therefore,
upon such a Protector as is able to make small things great, and to show
that this mighty force against you is nothing but weakness, and be not
affrighted at the Egyptian army, nor do you despair of being preserved,
because the sea before, and the mountains behind, afford you no opportunity
for flying, for even these mountains, if God so please, may be made plain
ground for you, and the sea become dry land."
1
1 HOW THE SEA WAS DIVIDED ASUNDER FOR THE HEBREWS, WHEN THEY WERE PURSUED BY THE EGYPTIANS, AND SO GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY OF ESCAPING FROM THEM.
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