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bitterness beyond what was absolutely needed。
Faith was a telescope to Moses。 It made him see the goodly land afar
offrest； peace； and victory； when dim…sighted reason could only see
trial and barrenness； storm and tempest； weariness and pain；
Faith was an interpreter to Moses。 It made him pick out a fortable
meaning in the dark mands of God's handwriting； while ignorant sense
could see nothing in it but mystery and foolishness。
Faith told Moses that all this rank and greatness was of the earth；
earthy； a poor； vain； empty thing； frail； fleeting； and passing away；
and that there was no true greatness like that of serving God。 He was
the king； he the true nobleman who belonged to the family of God。 It
was better to be last in heaven than first in hell。
Faith told Moses that worldly pleasures were 〃pleasures of sin。〃 They
were mingled with sin； they led on to sin； they were ruinous to the
soul； and displeasing to God。 It would be small fort to have
pleasure while God was against him。 Better suffer and obey God； than be
at ease and sin。
Faith told Moses that these pleasures after all were only for a
〃season。〃 They could not last； they were all short…lived； they would
weary him soon； he must leave them all in a few years。
Faith told him that there was a reward in heaven for the believer far
richer than the treasures in Egypt； durable riches； where rust could
not corrupt； nor thieves break through and steal。 The crown there would
be incorruptible； the weight of glory would be exceeding and
eternal；and faith bade him look away to an unseen heaven if his eyes
were dazzled with Egyptian gold。
Faith told Moses that affliction and suffering were not real
evils。They were the school of God； in which He trains the children of
grace for glorythe medicines which are needful to purify our corrupt
willsthe furnace which must burn away our drossthe knife which must
cut the ties that bind us to the world。
Faith told Moses that the despised Israelites were the chosen people of
God。 He believed that to them belonged the adoption； and the covenant；
and the promises； and the glory； that of them the seed of the woman was
one day to be born； who should bruise the serpent's head； that the
special blessing of God was upon them； that they were lovely and
beautiful in His eyesand that it was better to be a doorkeeper among
the people of God than to reign in the palaces of wickedness。
Faith told Moses that all the reproach and scorn poured out on him was
〃the reproach of Christ〃；that it was honourable to be mocked and
despised for Christ's sakethat whoso persecuted Christ's people was
persecuting Christ Himselfand that the day must e when His enemies
would bow before Him and lick the dust。 All this； and much more； of
which I cannot speak particularly； Moses saw by faith。 These were the
things he believed； and believing； did what he did。 He was persuaded of
them； and embraced themhe reckoned them as certaintieshe regarded
them as substantial veritieshe counted them as sure as if he had seen
them with his own eyeshe acted on them as realitiesand this made
him the man that he was。 He had faith。 He believed。
Marvel not that he refused greatness； riches； and pleasure。He looked
far forward。 He saw with the eye of faith kingdoms crumbling into
dustriches taking to themselves wings and fleeing awaypleasures
leading on to death and judgmentand Christ only and His little flock
enduring for ever。
Wonder not that he chose affliction； a despised people； and
reproach。He beheld things below the surface。 He saw with the eye of
faith affliction lasting but for a momentreproach rolled away； and
ending in everlasting honourand the despised people of God reigning
as kings with Christ in glory。
And was he not right？ Does he not speak to us； though dead； this very
day？ The name of Pharaoh's daughter has perished； or at any rate is
extremely doubtful。The city where Pharaoh reigned is not known。The
treasures in Egypt are gone。But the name of Moses is known wherever
the Bible is read； and is still a standing witness that 〃whoso liveth
by faith； happy is he。〃
IV。 And now let me wind up all by trying to set forth in order some
practical lessons； which appear to me to follow； as legitimate
consequences； from this history of Moses。
What has all this to do with us？ some men will say。 We do not live in
Egyptwe have seen no miracleswe are not Israeliteswe are weary of
the subject。
Stay a little； if this be the thought of your heart； and by God's help
I will show you that all may learn here； and all may be instructed。 He
that would live a Christian life； and be a really holy man； let him
mark the history of Moses and get wisdom。
（1） For one thing； if you would ever be saved； you must make the choice
that Moses madeyou must choose God before the world。
Mark well what I say。 Do not overlook this； though all the rest be
forgotten。 I do not say that the statesman must throw up his office；
and the rich man forsake his property。 Let no one fancy that I mean
this。 But I say； if a man would be saved； whatever be his rank in life；
he must be prepared for tribulation。 He must make up his mind to choose
much which seems evil； and to give up and refuse much which seems good。
I dare say this sounds strange language to some who read these pages。 I
know well you may have a certain form of religion； and find no trouble
in your way。 There is a mon； worldly kind of Christianity in this
day； which many have； and think they have enougha cheap Christianity
which offends nobody； and is worth nothing。 I am not speaking of
religion of this kind。
But if you really are in earnest about your soulif your religion is
something more than a mere fashionable Sunday cloakif you are
determined to live by the Bibleif you are resolved to be a New
Testament Christian； then； I repeat； you will soon find you must carry
a