The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
The words Opened; Six Doctrines raiſed.
HAVING finiſhed Moſes his Choyce, namely what he did chooſe, the excellency of his ſpirit in making ſuch a choice, and the principle of faith that enabled him thereunto, from this Chapter verſ. 25.26. I now proceed to ſpeak of another excellent fruit of the faith of this Worthy of the Lord, as it is ſet forth in verſ. 27. and here we are to obſerve two things.
1. The act of his Faith.
2. The Argument by which it was ſtrengthened to act.
Firſt, In the act we are to obſerve, two things.
1. That notable work of his going from Egypt notwithſtanding the wrath of the King.
2. His conſtancy, he endured in all that he did.
Secondly, The argument by which his faith was ſtrengthened, was that ſight he had of the Inviſible God.
The opening of the words with the ſeveral Doctrines in the Text.
By faith he forſook Egypt] By this forſaking of Egypt the faith of Moſes was much ſet out: for him to undertake ſuch a work as that was, to carry ſo many thouſands out of Egypt into a wilderneſs, not knowing what might become of them, they being unable to reſiſt their enemies, and not knowing what proviſion they ſhould have, this was very much.
Not fearing the wrath of the King] He could not but think he was in danger of Pharaoh, and his company to bee purſued by them: for howſoever Pharaoh ſeemed willing at laſt to give them leave to be gone▪ yet ſuch was the diſpoſition of Pharaoh (which Moſes was not ignorant of) that he might quickly change his mind, and follow them with all his power to cut them off, as it appeares he did. Yet Moſes feared no ſuch matter, but he went on his way for he endured, as ſeeing him who is inviſible.
Object. But it ſeems Moſes did forſake Egypt for fear of the wrath of the King.
Anſw. It is true, Time was that in forſaking Egypt he did fear the wrath of the King. in Exod. 2.14. it is ſaid, Moſes ſeeing two Hebrews ſmiting one another, he ſaid to him that did the wrong, Why ſmiteſt thou thy fellow? And he ſaid, Who made thee a Prince and a Judge over us, Intendeſt thou to kil me as thou didſt the Egyptian? And then Moſes feared, and upon that he fled.
And if we underſtand the Text of this his firſt forſaking Egypt, we may thus reconcile the Apoſtle with that place. Firſt he fled not fearing ſo much the King as that he ſhould offend God; if he offered himſelf to the danger, and did not make an eſcape, he ſhould have tempted God by preſuming: Thus Oſiander.
Or thus, He fled not for fear in reſpect of himſelf, but leaſt his calling ſhould be hindred if he ſtaied: So Simler.
But theſe words are rather to be underſtood of his ſecond forſaking of Egypt. The firſt time he forſook Egypt out of fear; but the ſecond time he forſook Egypt out of Faith, and he did not fear: after he had ſlain the Egyptian he was afaid, but when he came to take al the People of Iſrael with him, then he forſook Egypt and did not fear the wrath of the King.
From whence we have theſe Obſervations.
Doct. 1. Firſt, That wicked men (eſpecially when they have power) are very fierce and outragious in their wrath when any thing croſſeth them.
Certainly, Moſes apprehended this wrath of Pharaoh great, in that the Holy Ghoſt makes it a notable fruit of his Faith not to fear the wrath of the King. It appeared his wrath was great, in regard of the power he raiſed againſt them, had it not been for Moſes. Faith he would have feared.
Doct. 2. Secondly, Faith wil keep a gracious heart from immoderate fear of all the men in the world, let them be never ſo great, and have never ſo much power.
Doct. 3. Thirdly, There is a great deal of difference between the ſpirits of Gods People at ſomtimes and other times.
There was a time when Moſes was afraid, now he goes on and is not afraid
Doct. 4. Fourthly, Faith wil carry a man through very hard ſervices, and difficult works that God cals him unto.
Doct 5. Fifthly, That it is the honor of the People of God to endure in the waies of God, notwithſtanding all the hardſhips they meet withall.
Doct. 6. Sixthly, The ſight of an inviſible God is a ſtrong means to carry one on in the waies of God, notwithſtanding al oppoſitions and difficulties they meet withall.
Theſe are the Doctrinal Concluſions we have in verſe 27.