sacred jubilee. She led a choir of female singers; and, uniting with them in a joyous yet solemn dance, appropriate to the occasion, with instruments of music in their hands, on which they played, they responded at intervals, (while a general pause on the part of the others took place,) in this chorus of triumphant praise :

Sing ye to the Lord,

For he hath triumphed gloriously,
The horse and the rider hath he thrown
Into the depths of the sea.

From her title of prophetess, we may conclude that Miriam, at times, received divine communications, and was probably directed to make known to the females among the Israelites some of their peculiar duties in the service of the Lord. She was their appropriate leader and instructress; and seems to have acted in that capacity on the occasion which has just been described.

After this solemn public act of thanksgiving to God for his merciful interposition in their behalf, the Israelites were commanded by Moses again to proceed on their journey. Being ready to move, with the pillar of the cloud before them, to lead the way, they went out from the borders of the Red Sea, into the wilderness of Shur. This extensive desert was probably the one which lay south of Canaan, and eastward from the northern part of the

Red Sea. Burckhardt, a modern traveller, describes it as, in part, a barren, sandy, gravelly plain, with some thorny trees growing in it, but no herbs for pasture; and, in part, sand-hills and mountains, the intermediate valleys being equally unfruitful.

In traversing such deserts, at the present day, even with all the arrangements which a vigilant precaution can make, it is well known how much intense suffering is often endured. No public roads, or places of convenient accommodation, are to be met with. A tree, or small spot of verdure, is a rare sight. Springs of water are scarce, and often four, six, or eight days' journey from each other; and not unfrequently they have such a salt or bitter taste, as to increase the thirst of those who attempt to allay it by using them.

Sometimes the camels become so exhausted by thirst, that no means can be used to compel them to travel any farther. Many men and beasts, under such circumstances, can procure no relief, and perish. Sand-storms, too, at certain seasons of the year, prevail. A violent wind sweeping over the desert, raises thick clouds of dust and sand, which entering the eyes, nostrils, and mouth of travellers, almost suffocate them, or, at times, overwhelm them with instant destruction. Whole caravans have thus been buried beneath the sand, and no vestige of them left.

Through such a wilderness, one which the Scriptures call waste and howling, the Israelites travelled three days, without finding any water. This alone, considering their numbers, their flocks and herds, and how many young persons and children were among them, who could not endure this privation as the older persons could, must have caused a great deal of suffering. How unlike the country of Goshen and of Egypt, which they had left; where, among other comforts, they had had an abundance of pure and delicious water. The entire failure of this, for themselves and cattle, with their other privations and fatigues, and the desolate aspect of the whole desert around them, were, indeed, well adapted to produce great discouragement, and to make them dread the still more appalling scenes through which they might yet have to pass.

But it was by passing through such scenes, that God meant to discipline and to try them. They needed the chastisement. They were an unbelieving and obstinate people, of which we shall have abundant proof, as we advance in their history. Judgments as well as mercies went to make up the course of God's dealings with them, that they thus might be led to be humbled before him for their sinfulness, and forsake it; to feel their dependance on his mercy; and to exercise a stronger confidence in the wisdom, righteousness, and goodness of his government over them.

Judgments and mercies, my young friend, will make up the course of God's dealings with you, as you pass on through your earthly pilgrimage. Which of them will exceed the other, we cannot, indeed, tell. You may be called to great trials. You may have to receive a severe discipline. If so, you will deserve it. You will need it. Do not murmur and repine under it. Better, vastly better, thus to be afflicted, that you may feel the emptiness of the world and the evil of sin, than to be permitted of God to go on, prosperous and unrebuked, in a course of forgetfulness of his authority, or rebellion against it.

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Be submissive to his rod. Consider why he afflicts you. Pray that it may lead you to a cordial repentance for sin; to deep humility of spirit; to an affectionate faith in Christ; and to a holy and benevolent life.

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CHAPTER XXV.

Marah. Its bitter waters sweetened. Elim. Encampment near the Red Sea.

At the end of three days, still keeping on through the desert—as we suppose in a south-easterly direction-and verging farther and farther from the shores of the Red Sea, the Israelites soon came to a place where they found water. Their joy at the discovery, however, was soon abated, and their discouragement greatly increased, when they found it so bitter to the taste that they could not drink it. To do so would only have aggravated their sufferings.

They called the place Marah, which means bitterness; and, in the distress of their disappointment, murmured against Moses. Their cries met his ears on all sides. "What shall we drink? what shall we drink?" We shall soon perish with thirst, we and our little ones, our flocks and our herds, unless some immediate relief is found.

Such an outbreaking of complaint was alike ungrateful and wicked. The late miraculous interposition of the Almighty, in rescuing them from the grasp of their enemies, ought to have taught thern