they were in Egypt insomuch that the Egyptians grew to be afraid of their numerousness least they should be able in time to over-master them in their own land which fear turned into enmity against them 25 Insomuch that as well as at first they were received amongst the Egyptians and for all the good offices Joseph had done to that nation yet the Lord so ordered it according to his predictions that Egypt soon after grew ungratefull and unmindfull of all that was past and so hated Israel as they laid plots to suppress them and keep them so at an under that they should not multiply after that sort and to imbase and enervate their spirits that so by base drudgeries imposed upon them they should never have the courage to attempt their liberty and departure thence but should serve the Egyptians everlastingly for slaves and labourers 26 Which they were a long time till the appointed period came and that they cried to the Lord by reason of their insupportable pressures And then did the Lord miraculously preserve Moses and sent him as his great Embassabour to Pharaoh he and Aaron these two onely he chose to carry on and perfect that great work of Israels deliverance out of Egypt the one of them his extraordinary Prophet and servant and the other afterwards his High-Priest 27 Which deliverance was marvellously compassed by strange and miraculous wonders wrought by these men through the power of the Almighty to let those Egyptians the posterity of Cham that cursed progenitour see what a God of power the God of Israel was 28 The Lord therefore at Moses his stretching forth his hand towards heaven when Pharaoh would not let Israel go sent strange and extraordinary darkness both for its nature and continuance upon the whole land of Egypt Yea what ever the Lord commanded those two faithfull servants of his to do or say in the whole transaction of this great business betwixt Pharaoh and him for the deliverance of his people they failed not either in their messages or commands but though with never so much perill to themselves did whatsoever they were appointed of God continually and all creatures obeyed as readily 29 By their Ministery when Pharaoh would not yet let Israel go God also turned the waters into bloud throughout all the land of Egypt every where both in their rivers pooles and houshold-cisternes so that neither they could drink it nor the fish live in it but were killed 30 Also by Aarons stretching out his hand over the waters of Egypt upon Pharaohs further hardening God brought infinite of frogs upon the land like grass that grows upon the ground which dispersed themselves into all places so that Pharaoh and his Princes even their very bed-chambers were full of those crawling creatures no place free 31 Furthermore Aaron stretched out his rod upon the dust of Egypt and the dust became lice all the land over which crept upon man and beast also God commanded and there was likewise grievous swarms of severall sorts of uncouth flies in all the land thus with base vermin did the Lord plague the proud Egyptians for lording it over his people 32 There where useth to be no hail nor rain the Lord at Pharaohs refusall to let his people go sent by the hand of Moses stretched forth to heaven a grievous storm of hail mixt with fire and accompanied with terrible thunder-claps which fell as thick as rain from the clouds the hail and fire killing and consuming all without doores that was in the field 33 Yea so forcible was the storm and so extraordinary the hail that it spoiled their vines fig-trees and brake all other sorts of trees also throughout the coasts and quarters of Egypt 34 35 After this the Lord commanded an East-wind to blow which brought strange kinds of locusts and cater-pillars in such an infinite number that they darkened the land which every where throughout all Egypt devoured every thing that was green hearb or tree which the hail had not consumed 36 When nothing else would do he smote all the first-born in Egypt both of men and beast King and people so that in one night the flour of all Egypt perished because of Pharaohs hardened heart that would not let Israel go 37 38 Whereupon according as God had foretold Pharaoh let Israel go and glad he and his people were to be rid of them for whose sake God had so destroied his countrey and by the conduct of Moses the Lord led them thence when first he had given them favour in the sight of the Egyptians to depart to them their Jewels of silver and gold and raiment all which they carried away with them to the spoil of the Egyptians and their own exceeding enriching and though they were so many hundred thousands yet of all that number in none of all the twelve Tribes was there any one that for all the plagues that had befallen the Egyptians amongst whom they lived was a hair the worse nor that either by their cruell usage hard burdens old age or sickness was creepled or enfeebled unfit for travel but every man woman and child was lusty and strong to undertake their journey 39 Nor did God leave them when he had thus delivered them but provided for them in and along their journey through the wilderness ordained supernaturally a cool refreshing cloud in the day-time to wait upon them and travell along with them which like a Canopie covered them from the scorchings of the Sun in that hot desart as also in the night-time for light to travell by he gave them a pillar of fire in both which he himself conducted them 40 41 And as he provided for them light and shade for their well-being and better travelling so did he above the course of nature which could not then and there supply them give them livelihood and things necessary for their strength and being as meat and drink and both by extraordinary and miraculous means Manna that memorable bread and dew-fall of heaven they had it in abundance enough to serve that huge Host during all the time of their travell in the wilderness besides which when they asked though not in that manner they ought he gave them further provision and by a wind which he caused to blow brought Quails that fell round about the Camp enow to serve that numerous people also when they were thirstie he caused the rock of Horeb upon Moses his smiting it to open and the waters to flow forth of it which ran in that desart wilderness along as they travelled as it had been a river that there had its naturall course for the sustenance of them and their cattell 42 For though our fathers in that their journey did often sin grievously against God and tempted him to have destroied them rather than thus miraculously to provide for them yet was he still mindfull of
the Lord and his strength seek his face evermore 5 Remember his marvelous works that he hath done his wonders and the judgements of his mouth 6 O ye seed of Abraham his Servant ye children of Jacob his chosen 7 He is the Lord our God his judgements are in all the earth 8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever the word which he commanded to a thousand generations 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham and his oath unto Isaac 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law and â—o Israel for aâ— everlasting covenant 11 Saying unto thee will I give the land of Canaan the lot of your inheritance 12 When they were but a few men in number yea very few and strangers in it 13 When they went from one nation to another from one Kingdom to another people 14 He suffered no man to do them wrong yea he reproved Kings for their sakeâ— 15 Saying Touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harm 16 Moreover he called for a famin upon the land he brake the whole staff of bread 17 He sent a man before them evâ—n Joseph who was sold for a servant 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters he was laid in Iron 19 Until the time that his word came the word of the Lord tryed him 20 The King sent and loosed him even the ruler of the people and let him go free 21 He made â—im Lord of his house and ruler of all his substance 22 To bind his Princes at his pleasure and teach his senatours wisdom 23 Israel also came into Egypt and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24 And he increased his people greatly made them stronger than their enemies 25 He turned their heart to hate his people to deal subtilly with his servants 26 He sent Moses his servant and Aaron whom he had chosen 27 They shewed his signs among them and wonders in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness and made it dark and they rebelled not against his word 29 He turned their waters in o bloud and slew their fish 30 The land brought forth frogs in abundance in the chambers of their Kings 31 He spake and there came diverse sorts of flies and lice in all their coasts 32 He gave them hail for rain and flaming fire in their land 33 He smote their vines also and their fig-trees and brake the trees of their coasts 34 He spake the locusts came and cater-pillars and that without number 35 And did eat up all the hearbs in the land and devoured the fruit of their ground 36 He smote also all the first-born in their land the chief of all their strength 37 He brought them sorth also with silver and gold and there was not one feeble person among their Tribes 38 Egypt was glad when they departed for the fear of them fell upon them 39 He spread a cloud for a covering and a fire to give light in the night 40 The people asked and he broughâ— quailes and satisfied them with the breaâ— of heaven 41 He opened the rock and the waters gushed out they ran in the dry places like a river 42 For he remembred his holy promise and Abraham his servant 43 And he brought forth his people with joy and his chosen with gladness 44 And gave them the lands of the heathen and they inherited the labour of the people 45 That they might observe his statutes keep his laws Praise ye the Lord. PRaise ye the Lord O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord who can shew forth all his praise 3 Blessed are they that keep judgement and he that doth righteousness at all times 4 Remember me O Lord with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people O visit me with thy salvation 5 That I may see the good of thy chosen that I may rejoyce in the gladness of thy nation that I may glory with thine inheritance 6 We have sinned with our fathers we have committed iniquity we have done wickedly 7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies but provoked him at the sea even at the red sea 8 Nevertheless he saved them for his names sake that he might make his mighty power to be known 9 He rebuked the red sea also and it was dried up so he led them through the depths as through the wilderness 10 And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy 11 And the waters covered their enemies there was not one of them left 12 Then believed they his words they sang his praise 13 They soon forgat his works they waited not for his counsell 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted God in the desert 15 And he gave them their request but sent leanness into their soul. 16 They envied Moses also in the 17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram 18 And a fire was kindled in their company the flame burnt up the wicked 19 They made a calfâ— in Horeb and worshipped the molten image 20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass 21 They forgat God their saviour which had done great things in Egypt 22 Wonderous works in the land of Ham and terrible things by the red sea 23 Therefore he said that he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath least he should destroy them 24 Yea they despised the pleasant land they believed not his word 25 But murmured in their tents and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. 26 Therefore he lifted up his hand against them to overthrow them in the wilderness 27 To overthrow their seed also among the nations and to scatterâ— them in the lands 28 They joyned themselves also unto Baal-peor and ate the sacrifices of the dead 29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions and the plague brake in upon them 30 Then stood up Phinehas and exe uted judgement and so the plague was stayed 31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore 32 They angred him also at the waters of strife so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes 33 Because they provoked his spirit so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips 34 They did not destroy the nations concerning whom the Lord commanded them 35 But were mingled among the heathen and learned their works 36 And they served their idols which were a snare unto them 37 Yea they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils 38 And shed innocent bloud even the bloud of their sons and their daughters whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan and the land was
under his hand and come to nought even in a moment if he took that course he should destitute himself for ever of a Church and people upon earth and quite overthrow the design of his grace for of them Christ was to come which must not be frustrated 40 There is evident testimony of Gods long-suffering for how oft did they provoke him murmuring and quarrelling time after time in the wilderness where God did miracle after miracle for their sakes and still they were the same men persisting to sin against God and by their ungratefull unbelief and stubbornness to grieve his patience and irritate his anger even there where they were so at his mercy having nothing supplied to them by art and nature but were at his immediate finding who notwithstanding all their provocations there did either provide them food and raiment for which they neither digged nor span 41 Yea they appostatiz'd many and many a time breaking all ingagements and committing old sins upon new occasions never wanting any thing but presently fall a murmuring yea they threatened God to go back into Egypt again if they might not have their wills in the wilderness and thus provoked and tempted him to destroy them that would fain have saved them every foot questioning and mis-believing his power faithfulness and good-will towards them notwithstanding his gracious promises and wonderfull performances if they had not all things they had a mind to 42 And the cause of this was because they were a sinfull ungratefull people never heeding mercies longer than God wrought them nor valuing them for any other end than self-pleasing and preservation never regarding them as to God or the bettering of their faith and obedience unto him but so soon as they had suck'd the honey they despised the flower all mercies though miracles were transient things perished in the deed done even that great one when with such an out-streched arm he brought them out of Egypt and set them free from Pharaoh the very day and hour whereof they ought never to have forgotten 43 Yea every jot of that wonderfull deliverance ought to have been treasured up in everlasting rememberance which yet was quite forgotten what clusters of miracles there grew upon the stem of that one onely deliverance what clear tokens of his omnipotent power and goodness he made to appear then and there in his peoples behalf by those ten plagues brought successively for their sakes upon the King and kingdom of Egypt in Court and countrey The story is well known but not so well remembered 44 How miraculously he turned all the waters of Egypt into bloud by the stroke of Moses his rod the famous over-flowing river of that countrey with all their lesser streams yea their ponds and cisterns also all the land over was turned into bloud so that the fish died the river stunck and the Egyptians could not drink of the water no not of Nilus whose streams could not purge it 45 Also when that would not do to get Israels release he multiplied more plagues upon them sent grievous swarms of several sorts of promiscuous venemous flies and noisom worms into the house of Pharaoh and of his servants and into all the land of Egypt so that the land was corrupted with them and many of the Egyptians destroyed by them Aaron also brought frogs out of the waters of Egypt so abundantly that they covered the whole land went up into Pharaohs house his bed-chamber and bed and into the house of his servants and people their ovens and kneading-troughs yea crept upon the person and persons of the King and people and destroyed many 46 He also utterly destroyed the fruits of the earth to the loss both of their husbandry harvest by sending upon Moses his streching out his rod over the land of Egypt an East-wind over all the land which brought into and scattered all over Egypt such infinite of caterpillars and locusts exceeding grievous never was there any such nor shall be covering the face of the whole earth darkening the land devouring every green thing both upon the ground and growing on trees hearbs and fruits 47 48. He furthermore sent so terrible a hail and great quantities of hard frozen ice as brake the trees vines and sycomores destroyed the hearbs yea the very men and beasts that were in the field for it came tempestuously accompanied with thunder and fire that ran along upon the ground so that there was hail and fire mingled with the hail very grievous terribly tormenting and destroying all it light on 49 God did infinite of waies magnifie and manifest the power and terrour of his wrath indignation and anger and the ardencie of it also against those enemies of his people to be as an everlasting monument to his Church of his love and care over them and to their enemies of his fearfull displeasure for in the fierceness of his wrath he gave them into the power of the Prince of the air and his emissarie evil angels by whose means and operation many of those judgements which were inflicted upon Egypt were wrought and terribly executed 50 51. These plagues and more than these he sent upon the Egyptians which yet were all but fore-runners of the last which was worst and most capital of all the rest wherein his anger did most appear when as he sent a plague amongst them that at midnight destroyed the first-born in every house and caused such lamentation in Egypt as never was nor shall be the like for each father and mother there lost the first-begotten their dearest child the staff of their age the flower of Egypt throughout all the families of that cursed people who were the posteritie of Mizraim second son to Ham cruel oppressours and mortal enemies to the Church and Israel of God 52 The posteritie of Sem whom God chose to be a people to him peculiarly related his own both by choise and covenant and these in despight of their enmitie to them and empire over them he conducted by the guidance of Moses and Aaron himself especially being present out of Egypt from under their burthens and from amongst their cruel task-masters even every man woman and child of them as loth as Pharaoh was to part with them into the wilderness through the red sea where he had most tender care of them to protect them and provide for them as a sheepheard over his sheep 53 And for all that Pharaoh with his power and malice could do God preserved them as he could not keep them in Egypt so nor overtake them when they went thence though in eager pursuit after them to do them any hurt for God made them a passage through the sea it self where they went safely and without fear of drowning but Pharaoh and his whole host were over-whelmed in those waters 54 After that he had led them from station to station provided for them time