"All other passions change

With changing circumstances; rise or fall
Dependent on their object; claim returns;
Live on reciprocation; and expire

Unfed by hope. A mother's fondness reigns
Without a rival, and without an end."

MRS. HANNAH MORE.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY J. MASON, 14, CITY-ROAD;

SOLD AT 66, PATERNOSTER-ROW.

MOSES.

"Trembling with tenderest alarms,
A mournful mother bore

Her babe, close cradled in her arms,
To Nile's green sloping shore.

Long bending o'er her sleeping child
With prayers and tears she stood:
Then, with a look of sorrow wild,
She launch'd him on the flood."

CAWOOD.

I. THE BONDAGE.

"JOSEPH died, and all his brethren, and all that generation." But the descendants of Jacob still remained in the land of Egypt, and there "multiplied and waxed exceeding mighty, and the land was filled with them." They must have become very numerous indeed; and it is probable that Goshen, in which they dwelt,

*Exodus i. 6, &c.

became by far the most populous part of the country. Very remarkable must their position in the land have been. They erected houses, they cultivated the soil, they reared large flocks of sheep and other cattle, and for a time they were, no doubt, a most prosperous and happy people.

But clouds gathered round them, even in a land where clouds are seldom seen. Had they been permitted to enjoy their prosperity undisturbed, they would have had no desire to leave Egypt, and to go to the country promised to their fathers. Whence, just as the eagle stirs up her nest to induce her young ones to try their wings and soar into the air, so God made the circumstances of the Israelites in Egypt uncomfortable, that they might not place their affections on it, but be willing to leave it, at the time appointed, for the land of Canaan,the land flowing with milk and honey.

A new King ascended the throne of Egypt, of whom it is said, that he "knew not Joseph." It has been supposed by some that he was the first King of a new dynasty; and, by his not knowing Joseph, we are to understand that he

did not consider the obligations under which the Egyptians were laid to him, and therefore did not respect the posterity of Jacob. His predecessors had more or less kept in mind the memory of Joseph, and had acknowledged him as one of the greatest benefactors of the country; but he chose to forget what Joseph had done, and began to treat the Israelites with great cruelty and injustice. "Come," said he to his people, "let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land." He did not wish to lose so many valuable subjects, and yet he was afraid of their becoming too numerous; for wars were prevalent in those days, and he thought that they might take advantage of any conflict with an enemy, assert their independence, and leave the country.

The result was, that great numbers of the Israelites, if not the whole of them, were reduced to slavery. Task-masters were appointed over them to cause them to labour; and they built treasure-cities for Pharaoh, called Pithom