betrayal of the succours that reason offereth"
(xvii. 11, 12). Therefore it is concluded that their own hearts were
their worst tormentors, alarmed by whistling winds, or melodious song of
birds, or pleasing fall of waters, "for the whole world shined with
clear light, and none were hindered in their labour: over them only was
spread a heavy night, an image of that darkness which should afterward
receive them: yet were they unto themselves more grievous than the
darkness" (vers. 20, 21).

Isaiah, too, who is full of allusions to the early history of his
people, finds in this plague of darkness an image of all mental distress
and spiritual gloom. "We look for light, but behold darkness; for
brightness, but we walk in obscurity: we grope for the wall like the
blind, yea, we grope as those that have no eyes: we stumble at noonday
as in the twilight" (lix. 10). Here the sinful nation is reduced to the
misery of Egypt. But if she were obedient she would enjoy all the
immunities of her forefathers amid Egyptian gloom: "Then shall thy light
rise in darkness and thy obscurity as the noonday" (lviii. 10);
"Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, but the
Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee" (lx.
2).

And, indeed, in the spiritual light which is sown for the righteous, and
the obscuration of the judgment of the impure, this miracle is ever
reproduced.

The history of Menephtah is that of a mean and cowardly prince. Dreams
forbade him to share the perils of his army; a prophecy induced him to
submit to exile, until his firstborn was of age to recover his dominions
for him; and all we know of him is admirably suited to the character
represented in this narrative. He will now submit once more, and this
time every one shall go; yet he cannot make a frank concession: the
flocks and herds (most valuable after the ravages of the murrain and the
hail) must remain as a hostage for their return. But Moses is
inflexible: not a hoof shall be left behind; and then the frenzy of a
baffled autocrat breaks out into wild menaces; "Get thee from me; take
heed to thyself; see my face no more; for in the day thou seest my face
thou shalt die." The assent of Moses was grim: the rupture was complete.
And when they once more met, it was the king that had changed his
purpose, and on his face, not that of Moses, was the pallor of impending
death.

In the conduct of the prophet, all through these s