ly admonished from Heaven, or following the dictates of human prudence, he fends them all back to his father-in-law, as likely to prove either a burden or a hindrance to himself, in the discharge of his great truft. For true piety, while it repofes entire confi dence in God, will never prefumptuously load Providence with what is the proper work and business of man. Diligence and forefight, as well as faith and hope, are its genuine offspring. But the tempeft being now blown over, and Mofes, of a meffenger and a fuppliant unto Pharaoh, being now become the head and leader of a great nation, it was natural for him and for his family mutually to defire to be restored to each other. Jethro, therefore, having received information where Ifrael was, and what the Lord had done for them, takes his daughter and grand-children, and carries them with him to the camp of Ifrael.

The innocent endearments of natural affection, and the honest communications of private friendship, are graciously intended to alleviate the cares of public life, and to ftrengthen the mind by diverting it from inceffant and intense application to ferious bufinefs. No man can always be a general, a statesman or a king. And happy it is for those who occupy these exalted but troublesome ftations, that they are frequently permitted to fink the public in the private character, and to drop the hero, the fenator, the judge, the fovereign, in the man.

Distance has not alienated affection between the man of God and his family. A flighter affection is effaced and destroyed by abfence; a stronger love is confirmed and inflamed by it. Good old Jethro fatisfies not himself with fending by the mouth of another a compliment of congratulation to his fon-inlaw; neither will he permit Zipporah and her fons to go unaccompanied, unprotected, through the wildernefs; but, aged and infirm as he was, chooses himself to be their companion and their protector.

Mofes

Mofes feems to take delight in delivering to us this paffage of his life. He is amiably minute and circumstantial in the detail of it. He dwells upon the tender and affecting recollections of forrows and of joys that are past. His heart is in it. He ftops in his narration to tell us the names of his two fons, and his reafon for giving them thofe names. The name of the one was Gerfhom: for he faid, I have been an alien in a strange land: and the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my fathers, faid he, was mine help, and delivered me from the fword of Pharaoh." Is this beneath the dignity of hiftory, of facred history? No, it is the most honourable province of history, to exhibit the honest, unfophisticated feelings of nature, the genuine workings of the human heart, the real, though humbler fcenes of human life. What fignifies to us the meeting of two old men three thousand three hundred years ago? Much every way. One of them is a Mofes, and that Mofes is defcribing his own fentiments, unveiling his own heart. He can ferve as an inftructor and an example to none, in respect of the prophetic dignity, as the bearer of the potent rod, as the man whose face fhone, by forty days intimate communion with God. He can inftruct but a few, by his wisdom and fagacity as a prince and a law-giver. But as a fon, a husband and a father, he is a pattern to myriads, and fhall continue to teach to the end of the world.

How pleasant it is to find this great man the fame in retirement and privacy that he is upon the great theatre; and delineating a battle, a triumph, and a family-meeting, with the fame fimplicity and godly fincerity Public men have too often two different characters. Plaufible and fpecious, humble, modest and infinuating before the world, they are felf-willed and tyrannical, confident, affuming and brutal in private; they often fawn where they fear, and domineer where they have power. Not fo the meek and gentle prophet and judge of Ifrael. He waits not in ftate

till

till his relations are admitted to pay their homage. He reckons it nothing derogatory to his high dignity to go forth to pay the respect due to age; and to humble the fon, however high in place, at the feet of the parent. "And Mofes went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeifance, and kiffed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent." Were it after the feparation of but a day, friends have a thousand queftions to afk, a thoufand little incidents to relate; about their health, their entertainment, their dangers, their deliverances; about the obfervations which they have made, the projects they may have formed. What must it then have been for two fuch friends, for fuch a father and son, after a feparation of many months, during which, events of fuch high moment to both had taken place, to meet together again in health and comfort, to communicate mutually the full foul, to retire into the tent, to fhut out the world, and give vent to the overflowings of tenderness and affection!

And with what a fubject of converfation are they furnished; " And Mofes told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Egyptians, for Ifrael's fake, and all the travel that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them." The moft trifling incidents which befal a brother, a friend, a child, are interefting and important. What must then have been the emotions of Jethro to hear the wonders of Egypt; to learn the great things of God, aftonishing in themfelves, and acquiring an additional weight, creating a new intereft, from the perfon who related them, and who was himself fo deeply concerned in the event?

But the good man is elevated, as he wondering liftens to the wonderful tale, above all perfonal and Yelfish regards, above the partiality of private friendfhip, above the tendernefs of natural affection. His heart dilates at the thought of a whole nation delivered, of a tyrant trampled in the duft, of the power,

"And Jethro

wisdom and mercy of God magnified. rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Ifrael; whom he had delivered out of the hands of the Egyptians. And Jethro faid, Bleffed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods; for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them."

This friendly interview iffues in a folemn religious fervice, in which Aaron and all the elders of Ifrael are called to affift. What a bleffed influence has true religion, in conciliating kindness and confirming friendfhip! When men cordially agree in the fame glorious object of worship, the little peculiarities of form will not obftruct the mutual attraction of brotherly love. Prejudice will droop and die, and charity will draw a veil over its neighbour's fingularities and imperfections. Happy the family whofe union is cemented by piety; the family whofe happiness and peace are built upon the love of God; whofe employments, communications and pursuits are improved and fanctified by prayer!

Due attention having been paid to the calls of hofpitality, the dictates of private friendship, and the demands of filial duty, Mofes reverts next day betimes to the discharge of the duties of his public ftation. The time, the talents of the minister of God, are not his own, they belong to mankind. Superficial obfervers who confider but the eminence of the place which a magiftrate fills, the robe which he wears, the refpect with which he is attended, look up to him with envy, and call him bleffed. They think not of the thousand facrifices which he is conftrained to make of his ease, of his inclination, of his health, of his natural propenfities, of his private attachments. They talk of the honours and emoluments of his office, but they overlook his anxious days, his painful toils, his fleepless nights, the caufelefs hatred

which

which he incurs, the unprovoked infults which he muft bear, and must not refent, the furrender which he must make of solid and substantial felicity, and the exchange of real and certain tranquillity, for uncertain usefulness or precarious reputation. Who would not be Mofes, to fit on high and judge the people? But who would be Mofes to have the people ftand by him for judgment, "from the morning to the evening!"

The obfcure part of mankind are little fenfible what they owe to Providence for their obfcurity. They can go out and come in unnoticed. They can go to reft when they will, and continue it as long as they please. They have no vigilant, jealous, envious eye over them. They are free from the dreadful conflict of inclination. and duty, of interest and confcience, of reverence for God and refpect for man. They can enjoy their families and friends. What they have, however little, they can call their own. What, compared to these, and fuch advantages as thefe, is the ermine cloak, the ivory fceptre, the gem-encircled crown? Rejoice, O man, that the world knows thee not, cares not for thee, condefcends not to trouble thy repofe. Creep thy way filently, I beseech thee, to heaven; unafraid of being overlooked, neglected and forgotten in the multitude of the redeemed, who there live, and reign, andrejoice, with joy unfpeakable and full of glory."

Obferve how even a Mofes may err in an excefs of zeal, through ignorance, inexperience or inattention. Defirous of doing good by adminiftering juftice impartially, he cares not what trouble and labour it may coft himfelf. The fervice of fear or of neceffity is flow, reluctant, partial and imperfect; the labour of love is cheerful, active and perfevering, Mofes is in the way of his duty early and late. If the public be ferved faithfully, if equity be difpenfed, if God be glorified, he is willing to spend and to be spent in fuch a cause. "And Mofes faid unto his father-in

law,