Contemplations. THE F I FTH B ooKE. c 'lherwers of Jvfarab. S RAEL was not moreloth to cometo the Red Sea, then to part frem it. How foone can God turne the horror of any evill into pleafure! One lhore refounded with lhriekesof feare; rhe other with Timbrels and Dances, and Songs ofDeliverance. Every maine affiic1ion is our Red Sea, which while it threats to fwallow, preferves us. At laft, our Songs lhall belouder then our cryes. The Ifraclitilh Dames, rwhen they faw their danger,thought they might have lefi: their Timbrcls behind them ; how unD profitable a burden feemed thofe inftruments of Mufick! yet now they live to renucthat forgotten Minftralfie, and Dancing, which their bondage had fo long difcontinued: and well might thofe . tdance upon the fl10re, which had walked thorow the Sea.The Land of Gofbm was not fo boumifull ro them,as thefcWaters. That afforded thema fervile life: This gave them at once freedome, viCtory, riches; bellowing upon them the remainder ofrhar wealth which the £gyptians had bur lent. It was a plcafure to feerhe lloatingcarcalfc:s of their Adverf:tries; and every day offers them new booties: It is no ma.rvcll then iftheir beans were ryed ro rhefe banks. Ilwe.finde bun a lmle pleafure mour hfe,we are ready to dote upon it. Every [mall contentment glues ouraifeetlons to that we like: And if here ourimperfectdtlighrshold us fo f.tft, th:tt ,ve would not be loofed; how forcible lhall E thofe infinite joyes be above, when our foulesare once polfelfed ofrhem! Yet ifthe place had pkafed them more,ir is no11UrveH they werewilling to fol-· low LMofos; that they durftfollow him i,n theWildernelfe, whom they follo\ved· through theSe:i : Iris agreat confirmation to any people,1yhen they have feene the hand ofGod.with their guide<. ,Q Saviour, which haft undertaken to carry me from the fpirituall Algypr to the Land of Pwinife; How fail!lifuH,how powerful! ha'le I found rnee <"How fearleUy fi1ould I truft thee~ How<beerefully tbould I !olww thee through contempt, poverry, death it fdfc! Maftc:r, if it be thou, bid us come umorhre. ' ·. .' Immediatelybefore, they had complained.oftoomuch water: now thc;y goo three dayeswithout. Thus God meanuo punilh tl!eirinfiddity, wirbtbedefea of that, wholeab~ndance ma<le rhem1o difrtuft.Before,rh~y faw all Water,no Land; Cc cc 3 no1y
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