"his word, or cause, 127, came" before the king, and was "known," according to our old translation; or, " until his word," or prediction concerning the chief butler's promotion "came to pass;" for this was the means of Joseph's enlargement and justification; since a person, guilty of the crime with which he stood charged, would not have been inspired to foretel future events. "Can we find," said Pharaoh, "such an one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of "God is?" Gen. xli. 38. In the mean time, the

word," commandment, or decree, n," of the "LORD tried him" in the furnace of affliction, there refining and preparing him for his approaching exaltation to glory and honour. Thus was there a time appointed for the abode of Jesus in the grave, at the expiration of which, all his promises and predictions were fulfilled: he came forth, "made per"fect through sufferings," and ready to "enter into his glory."

20. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. 21. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance; 22. To bind his princes at his pleasure, and teach his senators wisdom.

The circumstances of Joseph's advancement, here alluded to, are related, Gen. xli. &c. Those of our Lord's resurrection and glorification afford a marvellous parallel. At the determined hour, "The

king" of heaven "sent" his angel," and loosed "him" from the bands of death; "the Ruler of the "world let him go free" from the penalty which he had undertaken to pay, and had now fully paid

"He made him Lord of his house, the church, and "Ruler of all his substance" in heaven and in earth, that he might, by his holy discipline, " bind princes "at his pleasure," and by his Gospel "teach" true "wisdom" to the "senators" and politicians of the world; he was clothed with the robes of majesty, he was adorned with all the ensigns of royalty, and to him it was ordained that " every knee should "bow." The storehouses of grace and salvation were opened; the nations came to be supplied by him with the bread of life; and we look for that happy day when the Jews shall do the same, and "Joseph shall be made known to his brethren."

23. Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. 24. And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies. 25. He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilely with his servants.

The Psalmist now exhibiteth to our view a fresh scene of tribulation and affliction, which occasioned repeated mercies, and a new deliverance. Israel, by means of Joseph, obtained an establishment in Egypt. But in process of time, the increase and prosperity of Israel, excited the envy and jealousy of Egypt, and brought on a persecution. The kindness and love of God to his people "turned the hearts" of the Egyptians against them, and caused animosity to take place of friendship. A king arose who knew not Joseph, and measures were concerted to keep the Hebrews under; a royal edict was issued to prevent their increase, by putting the males to death; and the generation then in being was reduced to a

state of the most abject servitude and cruel bondage. Such usage the people of God have often experienced from the world, at the instigation of him, who in Scripture is styled, "the prince of this " world."

26. He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen. 27. They showed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.

When the tyranny and oppression of Pharaoh were at the highest, and Israel cried unto Jehovah because of the bondage, he remembered his promise to Abraham, and sent Moses, with Aaron, to effect that mighty deliverance, which was to be the grand pledge and figure of our salvation by Jesus Christ. Of him Moses prophesied, when he said, "A pro"phet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you "of your brethren, LIKE UNTO ME." Deut. xviii. 15. cited and applied Acts iii. 22. He came to rescue mankind from a spiritual bondage, and to deliver all who were " oppressed by the devil :" Acts x. 38. he came at a time when that oppression was most grievous among Jews and Gentiles: his birth was signalized by an order from another Pharaoh, to slay the infants; and Egypt afforded him a refuge from the tyrant's fury: he wrought innumerable" signs and wonders;" but they were all signs of mercy, and wonders of love. Those of terror and vengeance were reserved for a future advent, foreshowed in the destruction of Jerusalem.

28. He sent darkness, and made it dark: and they rebelled not against the word: or, and did they not still rebel against his word? 29. He turned their

waters into blood, and slew their fish. 30. Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings. 31. He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, Heb. a mixture came, and lice in all their coasts. 32. He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land. 33. He smote their vines also, and fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts. 34. He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillars, and that without number; 35. And did eat up all the herbs in their land; and devoured the fruit of their ground. 36. He smote also the first-born in their land, the chief of all their strength.

Who can behold this army of divine judgements thus passing in dreadful array before him, without trembling very exceedingly at that power, which is able to send them, singly, or in conjunction, upon a sinful land? Who can reflect upon their number and variety, without adoring that goodness, patience, and long suffering, which tried so many different methods, and wanted so long, to lead the offenders to repentance? For more particulars see the comment on Ps. lxxviii. 43-51.

37. He brought them, i. e. the people of Israel, forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. 38. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.

The Israelites not only came forth from Egypt, but came forth laden with the spoils of their enemies, which they were commanded to take, by him who is the absolute Lord of all property, and who,

as a righteous judge, did thus award to his people, the wages due to their incredible labours, the Egyptians being now willing and ready to furnish them with any thing required, in order to dismiss them. "The Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste: for they said, We be all dead men." Exod. xii. 33. And what was very extraordinary, among such a number of men, women, children, and cattle, nothing was weak and "feeble," nothing unable to perform the journey. The order was, that "not a "hoof should be left behind;" Exod. x. 26. and he who commanded gave strength to obey. Thou hast also enjoined us, thy servants, O Lord, to quit Egypt, and march for Canaan; let thy grace invogorate us, from time to time, that so we faint not by the way.

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39. He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. 40. The people asked, and he brought quails; and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. 41. He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out: they ran in the dry places like a river. Brethren, I would not that ye should be ig66 norant how that all our fathers were under the "cloud; and were all baptized unto Moses in the "cloud; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; "and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for

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they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed "them; and that Rock was CHRIST." 1 Cor. x. 1-4. In our passage through this wilderness of life, over barren sands, and amidst fiery serpents, be thou, blessed Lord, our guide and our guard; pro