THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT; OR, GOD'S PROVIDENCE MAGNIFIED IN THE CARE OF HIS CHOSEN.

When darkness over Egypt reigned, A darkness to be felt, Light sweetly shone round Goshen still, The tents where Israel dwelt. Awestruck, the Egyptians silent lay, They rose not from their place; God’s finger had been o’er their land, And left a fearful trace. The very idols which they served A gloom around them threw, The stream they worshipped turned to blood, The sun his light withdrew. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened still, He let not Israel go Until Jehovah, King of kings, Struck the last fearful blow. The first-born on the kingly throne, The first-born in the hall,— God sent his awful mandate forth, And death passed over all. No house remained in this proud land Which mourned not for its dead, And every street was filled with gloom, And every heart with dread. At midnight was the message sent— It was an awful hour, Proclaiming man’s impotency And God’s eternal power. The mighty monarch, struck with awe, Dismissed the people then; Contending with Omnipotence He felt indeed was vain. And how were Israel employed When light around them shone? They then prepared the paschal lamb, And stood with sandals on; Staves in their hands, loins girded too, They waited the command To throw their loosened shackles off, And seek the promised land. But first they ate the passover, And freely sprinkled round The blood of an unblemished lamb, In whom no spot was found. And the destroying angel passed Harmless o’er every door Whose side-posts and whose lintels, too, Faith’s striking symbol bore. Now let us pause and ask our hearts If we have aught to learn, If very many teaching things We cannot here discern? Is there not “darkness to be felt” In Egypt at this hour? And does she not refuse to bow Before Jehovah’s power? And oh! when God’s own Israel Would break the oppressor’s chain, Does she approach His sacred throne And supplicate in vain? Ah, no! upon the captive still Is poured a flood of light, While he prepares for better worlds To take his joyous flight. His bonds are burst, he only waits The omnipotent command To journey forth,—his armor’s on, His staff within his hand. Not settled down in carnal ease, This world is not his home, A pilgrim and a stranger here, He seeks for one to come. Christ is his holy passover, He has a part in Him; For he applies his blood, in faith, To purify from sin. But oh! with very bitter herbs It must be eaten still; Suffering is yet the lot of those Who do their Master’s will. And let the Christian not forget, Israel was bid to stay Within the shelter of the tent Until the opening day. And God is now his people’s tent, In Him may we abide; Then though the faith will oft be proved, The patience oft be tried, An hour of sweet release will come, And all the pilgrim band, By flame and cloud alternate led, Attain the promised land; And wearing there the crown of joy, And carrying, too, the palm, Eternally ascribe the praise To God and to the Lamb.

The last look is taken, the last word is said— Haste away o’er the waves, then, glad tidings to spread; Thy Master has called thee, no longer delay, His work it is glorious, haste, haste thee away. Come, set the sails, mariner, now we’re off shore, Then weep for the loved ones thou leavest no more; He is faithful who promised, thou heard’st Him declare That all thou intrusts to his fatherly care He will keep in the sheltering fold of his love, Where nothing shall harm them and nothing shall move. He will suffer no plague nigh thy dwelling to come, And His angels shall guard thee wherever thou roam; No weapon shall prosper that’s formed against thee, For the truth thou hast loved, shield and buckler shall be. This the heritage is of the child of the Lord, Of him who confides in his covenant word, And freely forsakes, when his Saviour commands, His brethren, and sisters, and children, and lands. Though the ocean may roar, and earth shake with the swell, His home is in Jesus, and all will be well; Though the mountains depart, and the hills may remove, He quietly rests ’neath the wing of His love. He knows that the work of the righteous is peace, That the blessed effect thereof never shall cease; A gracious assurance of quietude here, And bliss without end in a holier sphere. So, Christian, God speed thee, and should the storm lower, Cast firmly thine anchor, and trust in His power. His voice than the billows is mightier far, And His mercy is o’er thee a safe guiding star. But oh! when the clouds have all vanished away, And life smiles around thee, a bright summer’s day, When the breeze wafts thee onward, and no rocks appear, Then, Christian, thine hour of peril is near; The world may frown on thee, but oh! should it smile, Come apart to the desert, and rest thee awhile.