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journey out of Egypt; so must 【 remember that this life is a journey, and that I am hastening to go out, and be delivered from this land of bondage.

THE QUESTIONS.

Q. What were the children of Israel commanded to do, that they might be saved from the destruction which fell upon the Egyptians?

A. They were commanded to sacrifice the Passover,

Q. What would have happened to them if they had not done this?

A. They would have died as the Egyptians did.

Q. What did they do with the blood of it?

A. They sprinkled it upon the doorposts of their houses,

Q. Who is your Passover?

A. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, Q. Where was his blood sprinkled? A. Upon the wood of his Cross. Q. And what is the effect of it? A. The wrath of God, which abideth upon this wicked world, is turned away from Christians.

Q. Why

Q. Why was the Lamb to be perfect, and without blemish?

A. Because Christ was to be without sin.

Q. Why were they ordered not to break a bone of it?

A. Because the bones of Christ should not be broken on the Cross, with those of the two malefactors.

Q. After they had offered the blood of the Passover, what did they do? A. They did eat the flesh of it. Q. And what are we to do?

A. Christ our Passover being sacrificed for us, we are to keep the feast. Q. How are we to keep it?

A. We are to keep it in truth, as the Hebrews kept it in figure.

Q. With what ceremonies did they keep it?

A. With eating unleavened bread, and bitter herbs; and having their shoes on their feet, and their staves in their hands. Q. What are you taught by these things?

A. That I am to put away malice, and wickedness, and mortify the deeds of the body, and celebrate the Lord's Supper in sincerity and truth.

Q. What

Q. What else?

A. I am to remember, that life is a journey, and that I am a pilgrim and a stranger, hastening to be delivered from this house of bondage.

THE TEXTS.

1 Cor. v. 7. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast. Not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Exod, xii. 3-30.

John xix. 36. These things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

XI. THE

XI. THE CHAPTER OF THE
VINEYARD.

THE prophet Isaiah describes the favour of God to his church, and his judgment upon its disobedience, under the parable of a Vineyard, well planted and cultivated, but bringing forth sour grapes, and therefore given up to be devoured and trodden down by evil beasts.

The fruitful hill, on which this vineyard was planted, is the Hill of Zion, to which all the blessings of eternal life were promised. As a vineyard is fenced, so was the church of God separated from the Gentiles; who were cast out of Canaan to make way for the people of God, as the stones are cast out of the ground where a vine is to be planted. The choice vine signifies the children of Abraham, of the most godly stock, brought out of Egypt and settled in Canaan. The tower of the Vineyard is the church; the wine-prcss is made to receive the fruits of good works: but as wild and sour grapes are not accepted by

the

the husbandman to make wine of: so evil works are hateful to God, and occasion the destruction of his Church. When Jerusalem had sinned, the fence of the Vineyard was taken away, and the heathens were let in upon it. The first temple was destroyed, and the Jews were carried captive to Babylon: as the second temple was afterwards destroyed by the Romans: and Jerusalem is trodden down of the Gentiles to this day. Briars and thorns now grow in the Vineyard of God; a wild and unprofitable generation of unbelievers have possession of the country. As the showers of heaven fall to no purpose on a barren land; so God withholds his grace from a wicked people.

Every Christian Church must expect to be visited as Jerusalem was, when it is no longer worthy of the grace of God; and I must expect that he will deal with me, and with every one of his children singly, as with the Church at large; for his ways are just and equal to all. If I am fruitful as a good vine, I shall continue to be a branch in Jesus Christ; and being planted on earth, I shall flourish in

the

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