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the severest labor and most cruel demands, that their cries ascended to God, and he determined to deliver them.
To this end Moses was raised up as a leader and deliverer of this people. Now the circumstance of Moses being raised up is as singular as it is interesting: a brief sketch of it in this discourse may not be out of place, as there seemingly are some points of it analogous to the life of Mr. Gloucester, the founder of this church.
Moses was of a family of the oppressed, and as far as human estimate considers it, was of humble origin: still he was chosen by the Almighty as the future instrument to bring about a deliverance for these bondmen. The miraculous manner of his preservation from the cruel and heartless order of Pharaoh is a peculiarity worthy of notice: his being placed in an ark of bulrushes—a very fragile vessel—and then set upon the margin of the river among the flags, and there found by Pharaoh's daughter. His preservation and education by the princess is also worthy of thought, and will show that God chooses instruments, ways and means to bring about his purposes which to human speculation is the most improbable: yet is it true, simple and improbable as it may appear; but they are sure in their results, and fail not.
So it appears in the case under consideration. Israel was to be delivered from bondage; a leader was wanting; that leader was, and must be a man possessing peculiar traits of character—a peculiar man, necessary and fitted for the work—every feature of character was to stamp him as the man for the occasion and the business.
And how well did God produce in Moses these peculiar traits; how completely did he regulate, direct, and control every event in order to accomplish the end;—brought up in Pharaoh's house, under the parental
