September 18

Exodus xv. -1. 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. 2. 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. 3. The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. 4. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea; his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6. Thy right hand, O Lord! is become glorious in power; thy right hand, O Lord! hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou scutest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 8. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them: I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.

It is added, that Miriam, the sister of Moses, and all the women, led this song with timbrels and dances. The old Egyptian pictures represent women thus participating in public festivities, with dancing and various instruments of music. Chariots, also are always prominent in battle scenes. This song, like most of the Hebrew psalms, was made for responsive singing, — the same idea, for substance, being repeated in two successive sentences. There are fine examples of this parallelism from ver. 4 to ver. 10. It opens grandly with the ascription of all glory to the Lord: his relations to the past are recognized, — my father's God; his strength, renown, and victory are celebrated under the figure of "a man of war." Then follows a vivid picture of the conflict, — the fury and

10. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11. Who is like unto thee, O Lord! among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12. Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed; thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14. The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 16. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord! till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord! which thou hast made for thee to dwell in; in the sanctuary, O Lord! which thy hands have established. 18. The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. 19. For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

bloody rage of the enemy, the swift and terrible vengeance of Jehovah. The physical agencies are next introduced, — the winds and the floods in their double work of protection and of destruction. In the midst of these awful judgments is heard the refrain of the mercy of the Lord for his redeemed. Yet, because he has redeemed and chosen Israel, fear shall fall upon all the nations who lie in their path; their hearts shall be still as a stone for very dread: for the purpose of Jehovah shall be accomplished, and his people shall come at last in peace to the seat of his majesty and glory. This song of triumph associates the name of Moses with "the Lamb" in the final victory of the Church.

APPROPRIATE ITEMS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 161, 170, 185.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High! to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. O God our Preserver! we thank thee for the refreshment of sleep and the renewal of strength; for the light of the morning, and for the promises and hopes that shine upon us from thy holy Word. We devote to thee our powers of reason, of affection, and of active service, praying that we may have grace to glorify thee in our bodies and our spirits which are thine. We thank thee for our home, our friends, the pleasant things that surround us, and all the beautiful and serviceable things of the world which

thou hast made. Teach us, O Lord! to use this world as not abusing it, and, in and through all that we receive, to chiefly desire and love thee, the Giver. We give thanks to thee, O Lord! for the kingdom of thy Son, and for all its triumphs over the powers of evil. May each member of this family, and all who are dear to us, belong to the family of thy redeemed! and, oh, may the redemption of Christ our Lord be applied unto all men by the saving grace of thy Holy Spirit! Heal all sorrows, supply all needs, restrain all iniquity, and save the world through Him who died for all; to whom, with the Father and the Spirit, be glory everlasting. Amen.