ing
there good; and it had not been before fed upon, because of the opinion
men had that God dwelt there, the shepherds not daring to ascend up to
it; and here it was that a wonderful prodigy happened to Moses; for a
fire fed upon a thorn bush, yet did the green leaves and the flowers
continue untouched, and the fire did not at all consume the fruit
branches, although the flame was great and fierce. Moses was aftrighted
at this strange sight, as it was to him; but he was still more
astonished when the fire uttered a voice, and called to him by name,
and spake words to him, by which it signified how bold he had been in
venturing to come into a place whither no man had ever come before,
because the place was divine; and advised him to remove a great way off
from the flame, and to be contented with what he had seen; and though
he were himself a good man, and the offspring of great men, yet that he
should not pry any further; and he foretold to him, that he should have
glory and honor among men, by the blessing of God upon him. He also
commanded him to go away thence with confidence to Egypt, in order to
his being the commander and conductor of the body of the Hebrews, and
to his delivering his own people from the injuries they suffered
there: "For," said God, "they shall inhabit this happy land which your
forefather Abraham inhabited, and shall have the enjoyment of all good
things." But still he enjoined them, when he brought the Hebrews out
of the land of Egypt, to come to that place, and to offer sacrifices of
thanksgiving there, Such were the divine oracles which were delivered
out of the fire.

2. But Moses was astonished at what he saw, and much more at what
he heard; and he said, "I think it would be an instance of too great
madness, O Lord, for one of that regard I bear to thee, to distrust thy
power, since I myself adore it, and know that it has been made manifest
to my progenitors: but I am still in doubt how I, who am a private man,
and one of no abilities, should either persuade my own countrymen to
leave the country they now inhabit, and to follow me to a land whither
I lead them; or, if they should be persuaded, how can I force Pharaoh
to permit them to depart, since they augment their own wealth and
prosperity by the labors and works they put upon them?"

3. But God persuaded him to be courageous on all occasions, and promised
to be with him, and to assist him in his words, when he was to persuade
men; and