it is the way of holiness,1-God has bid every one walk in it; and he who does not ask for the aids of God's Spirit, that he may do so, will perish in his sins!" Lord, let it not be the case with me!

The pillar of cloud, and of fire, must have given the people great comfort and joy, for they made it evident, that God was very near to them, and at every moment." They had only to lift up their Hence Moses

eyes to see that this was the case.

said to them, "What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh to them, as the Lord our God is, in all things that we call upon him for ?" God is now the same to every one of his praying people. He says to each of them, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest! I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee !” 13

Each day, the pillar of cloud led their way, and shaded them from the fierce beams of the sun; and each night the pillar of fire lit them on their march, or in their tents, and cheered them by its warmth. It would have been very sad for them, if they had been guided only for a season, and then left to find

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their way themselves. God's mercies follow us, like a never-failing stream, through the wilderness; they are not only "new every morning, but they are renewed every evening," and every moment. Well does Philip Henry say, "We were undone, if the end of one mercy were not the beginning of another." 15

And did the pillar of cloud shelter the people from the fierce rays of the sun? How does this remind us of our Saviour," who is, to all who believe in him, as "the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." If he had not stood between us, and received on himself the dreadful wrath of God, so justly due to our sins, it would have fallen upon us, and would have consumed us utterly!"

QUESTIONS.

1. What can God compel the mightiest of his foes to do? 2. Of what are we quite sure?

3. How does the Lord pity his servants?

4. What should we never do, though God may delay to answer the prayers of his people?

5. Of what would the coffin of Joseph constantly remind Israel?

6. What did his bones seem to say?

7. What did Joseph say, when dying, to his brethren?

8. How did the Lord guide his people through the vast desert of Arabia ?

9. What were the people to do, when the cloud arose, and when it rested?

10. Which is the right way to a better world?

11. What will be the end of the man who does not walk in it?

12. What did the pillars of cloud and fire make evident? 13. What does God say to every praying soul?

14. How do God's mercies follow us?

15. What does Philip Henry say of them?

16. Of whom does the shade which the pillar of cloud afforded, remind us?

17. If Christ had not borne the wrath of God due to our sins, what would have become us?

STORY V.

THE GIVING OF THE LAW.

PART I.

AFTER Pharaoh had let the people of Israel go out of his land, God opened a passage for them through the Red Sea, and they took their journey by the wilderness. And, as they had no cornfields, gardens, or vineyards, and could not provide themselves with food, they must all have been starved but for God's great goodness. He gave them showers of bread from heaven, which they called Manna; and they gathered it up every morning and evening. He also spake to the fowls, and bade them come up to the camp of the people in great plenty; and they came at his call. So God spread for them a table, and covered it with choice