sin and to save the believer, who by faith is separated both from the world and from his sin; so it sinks, and he is saved. Leighton. Consider the history of the Flood, which was a figure, a baptism. Speaking by the Spirit in the prophet Noah, while the ark was a preparing, our Lord preached to the spirits in prison; even to the disobedient generation which despised His warnings, and so was swept away by the flood. Yet even in that sweeping judgment, the righteous, however few,—only eight souls, were not confounded with the wicked, but were saved by water. The same element which destroyed the wicked was the means of preserving the righteous, by safely bearing up the ark; in which, as in a sepulchre, they were inclosed. This was a lively symptom of holy baptism, by which we are now saved from the wrath to come. The baptism, however, which thus saves us, is not a mere outward washing of the body, not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but an inward grace, effectually cleansing us from the power as well as the guilt of sin. Trower. As for forty days the flood descended, and on the fortieth day, "the self-same day," Noah entered into the ark: so for forty days Christ continued upon the earth after His resurrection; and on the fortieth day, "in the self-same day,” Christ entered into heaven, and the ark of His Church was let loose upon the waters of baptism, to find rest in that new heaven and new earth. Leighton. There was joy in heaven! Anon. In the virtuous voyage of thy life, hull not about like the ark, without the use of rudder, mast, or sail, and bound for no port. Let not disappointment cause despondency, nor difficulty despair. Think not that you are sailing from Lima to Manilla, when you may fasten up the rudder, and sleep before the wind: but expect rough seas, flows, and contrary blasts: and it is well if by many crossings and veerings you arrive at the port; for we sleep in lion's skins in our progress unto virtue; and we slide not, but climb, unto it. Sir Thomas Browne. Scripture Texts ON THE RED SEA DELIVERANCE. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon : before it shall ye encamp by the sea. And they did so. Exodus xiv. 1, 2, 5. But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. 9, 10. And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 15, 16. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, And took off their chariot wheels that they drave them heavily so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. : And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come down upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharoah that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and all Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. Exodus xiv. 21-30. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is His name. |