DIALOGUE II. CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF MOSES. Ellen. Mamma, I should be glad if you would now continue the history of the Israelites in Egypt. Mamma. I am quite ready to do so, my dear child. Of whom were we speaking when we last left the history? Ellen. Of Moses, Mamma, who was saved by Pharaoh's daughter, and brought up as her son. Mamma. Was Moses content to live in pleasure at Pharaoh's court, while his brethren the children of Israel, were suffering under the cruel treatment they received from Pharaoh ? Ellen. No-he could not be happy-but chose rather to suffer with his brethren. Mamma. It was not long before Moses ventured to exert himself for the benefit of his brethren; but the time was not yet arrived when God designed him to be their deliverer: and having subjected himself to the anger of Pharaoh by his interference in behalf of an oppressed Israelite, he was obliged to fly from the country, and take refuge in the land of Midian. Ellen. Moses is always in trouble, Mamma. His life was in danger from the moment of his birth. Mamma. But it was still mercifully preserved, you find, by the Almighty Providence of God. This Providence had already saved him from the river, and from Pharaoh; it was now again extended to guide him from the danger which threatened him in Egypt, to a place of safety in the land of Midian. Ellen. What became of Moses in the land of Midian, Mamma? Mamma. His first arrival there was marked by an act of kindness and humanity on his part, which procured for him the hospitality and generous attentions of the prince of that country. For stopping at a well and seeing some shepherds treating with rudeness and incivility the daughters of the priest of the country, he went to their assistance, and not only protected them from the shepherds, but drew their water for them from the well. Ellen. And did Moses go home with the priest's daughters, Mamma ? Mamma. When their father found that they returned so soon from the well, he asked his daughters how it happened; and they told him of the assistance they had met with from Moses. Their father then sent in search of Moses to take some refreshment in his house, and they were so well satisfied with each other as to continue to live together; and in the course of some time after Reuel, or Jethro, which was the name of the prince of Midian, gave Moses his daughter Zipporah for a wife. Ellen. Did Moses forget his poor brethren the Israelites, Mamma, when he was settled in Midian? Mamma. He did not, Ellen; nor did God forget them, which was a thing of more consequence to the Israelites. The time was now approaching when it pleased God to bring about the deliverance of his people from the land of Egypt; and as Moses was the person whom he saw fit to appoint their leader on this occasion, God appeared unto Moses while keeping the flocks of Jethro, his father-in-law, and gave him directions how to proceed. Ellen. Was Moses willing to go back into Egypt to deliver his brethren, Mamma? Mamma. At first he showed some unwillingness, Ellen; but this was more from a humble sense of his own weakness, than from a backwardness to attend to God's directions, or a want of confidence in his protection. And on this account God was pleased to work some miracles: before him, in order to show him that every thing, however wonderful, was possible to him, and to assure him of the Almighty assistance. which accompanied him. Ellen. What do you mean by miracles, Mamma? Mamma. A miracle is the performance of any wonderful act against the common course of nature, and which is impossible to be performed but by the Almighty power of God. The manner of the appearance of God at this time to Moses was in itself a miracle; for he appeared in the midst of a burning bush, which was not consumed, though surrounded by fire. Ellen. Did Moses go near the burning bush, Mamma? Mamma. He was ordered by God not to approach it; he was also ordered to put off his shoes from his feet, for that the ground on which he trod was rendered holy by the presence of God. Ellen. What did God tell Moses to do, Mamma, for the people of Israel? Mamma. He told him to go to Pharaoh, and beg of him that he would let the people go out of the land of Egypt, that they might go to take possession of the land of Canaan promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And God told Moses that he knew Pharaoh would not at first let the people go; but that he would enable him also to perform miracles before Pharaoh, and to bring punishment upon him for his wickedness; and that at last he would let the people go. Ellen. Was Moses then satisfied to go, Mamma? Mamma. He was still fearful that Pharaoh would not listen to him, or let the people go through so humble a means as his. Upon this God told him to put his hand into his bosom, which he did; and on taking it out it appeared leprous, or diseased, and white as snow. He then ordered him to put it in again, and it was restored whole as the other.-And God ordered Moses to throw the rod or stick which was in his hand, on the ground, and when he did so the stick was turned into a serpent. And on putting forth his hand to catch it, as ordered by God, the |