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6 THE CHRISTIAN NATION. Vol. 69.<br />
iding<br />
his work."<br />
food and conveyance for him during<br />
"Behind the popular<br />
rush for everything<br />
new that is likely to take place, there is in the<br />
minds of the leading men in Wuchang a decided<br />
leaning towards Christianity. Striking<br />
evidence of this was given by the meeting of<br />
two hundred delegates held in Wuchang on<br />
January i8th, to. discuss the formation of the<br />
'Army of Heavenly Salvation,' under the auspices<br />
of the Republican Government, presided<br />
over by a Christian, representing General<br />
Li, and at which many of the non-Christians<br />
were as strongly pro-Christian as any of the<br />
Christians whb formed nearly half the meeting.<br />
The main idea of this proposed <strong>org</strong>anization<br />
seems to be the adoption of Christianity<br />
as the national religion, with complete<br />
freedom of religious belief."<br />
"The outlook for the spread of Christian<br />
teaching and the wider influence of Christian<br />
truth, is most ho.peful. As already mentioned<br />
above, there is a feeling abroad among the<br />
people that with the change of Government<br />
there must necessar'ily be a chaage of religion.<br />
Ohe result of this wide-spread belief is already<br />
seen in the large increase in hearers<br />
in churches and street chapels, everywhere.<br />
The people are coming in almoist overwhelming<br />
numbers to hear the Gospel, and hundreds<br />
are being enrolled as inquirers. Indeed, the<br />
missionaries in many places find themselves<br />
unable to cope with the large numbers that<br />
are applying for dhurch membership. .Bibles<br />
and Scripture portions and other Christian<br />
books and tracts are being sold in large quantities.<br />
In one city near Shanghai the Bible<br />
colporteurs have found that many are buying<br />
Bibles and Scripture portions in order<br />
to learn how they must act as citizens of<br />
a Repubhc! What opportunities such a condition<br />
of things affords for the spread of<br />
Christian truth, may be imagined. What.a<br />
clarion call this is to the home churches for<br />
a large increase in the number of workers<br />
in this field that is already so white unto<br />
the harvest!"<br />
"The influence of the missionary and the<br />
Chinese pastor will be greatly increased under<br />
the new regime. The .local officials in many<br />
places are already asking the advice of the<br />
missionaries and Chinese pastors as to the<br />
best methods of managing local affairs. This<br />
fact is full of hopeful encouragement for us<br />
while at the same time it is a source of danger<br />
to our work; encouragement in that it affords<br />
an unprecedented opportunity for the<br />
entrance of the Gospel message; a source of<br />
danger in that it opens the way for indiscreet<br />
and designing men to work untold<br />
harm to the cause of Christ. How important<br />
it is that all the missionaries and native<br />
workers should be like the man of Issachar<br />
w'ho 'had understanding of the times to know<br />
w'hat Israel ought to do.' "<br />
W. J. McKNIGHT.'<br />
^^^^ Sabbath School<br />
Lesson VIII. August 17, 1913.<br />
By the Rev. W. A. Aikin.<br />
CROSSING THE RED SEA.—Exodus<br />
13:17—14:31.<br />
Golden Text. Before they call I wifl<br />
answer.—Isaiah 65 -.24.<br />
Psalms.—107:1-5. C. M.; 3:1-5. C. M.<br />
76:4-7 CM.<br />
Time.—B. C. 1491. Just following last<br />
lesson. In the reign of Minetaph, son of<br />
Rameses II.<br />
Place.—(joshen and the district lying to<br />
the south ofit toward the Red Sea.<br />
The monuments of Egypt are silent concerning<br />
the Exodus of the children of Israel,<br />
and the destruction of the army of Pharaoh<br />
in the Red Sea. But this is not strange.<br />
On , the tomb of Napoleon in the ciity of<br />
Paris may be seen the names of some of the<br />
most illustrious battles fought by the great<br />
general. But no mention is made of the battle<br />
of Waterloo, although it is the most noted<br />
battle he ever fought. It was for him a<br />
great defeat. Thisj doubtless, is also the<br />
reason for the silence of the monuments of<br />
Egypt about the escape of the children of<br />
Israel.<br />
ANALYSIS AND COMMENT.<br />
I. ISRAEL ON THE MARCH.<br />
"God led the people about, through the<br />
way of the wilderness of ihe Red Sea: and<br />
the children of Israel went up harnessed out<br />
of the land of Egypt." From the account<br />
which the books of Exodus gives of Israel's<br />
march out of Egypt, we note. 1st. There was<br />
a great concourse of people. Scripture says<br />
that there were six hundred thousand warriors.<br />
This would imply, according to comnon<br />
computation, a population of at least two<br />
millions of people. This means that there<br />
must have 'been a marvelous growth in the<br />
population of Israel, even allowing for the<br />
descendants of rtianyservants who came with<br />
the sons of Jacob into Egypt and- were afterwards<br />
incorporated in the nation.<br />
2nd. They went out by the right way.<br />
There were three possible roads for Israel.<br />
The first was ithe northern roUte. This was<br />
the route for caravans. But-it'was dangerous<br />
for Israel to go this,,way, as the warlike<br />
Philistines would resist their passage through<br />
their territory. The second way was along<br />
the great wall which Egypt had built from<br />
the Mediterranean to the Red Sea. But<br />
this was through the desert and would require<br />
a constant miracle to sustain Israel and their<br />
flo'cks. ThS' third, southernmost, "swept<br />
across the wilderness between, the two arms<br />
of the Red Sea." Mosps was fj^miliar -with<br />
tbis road. No doubt, the road which Israel<br />
was led to take, seerned to them the last<br />
road they should take. I5ut God was their<br />
leader and He knew that it Was best suited<br />
for them in their .condition, at that time.<br />
"He led them forth by the right way." Ps<br />
107:7.<br />
3rd. They went out in faith. There was<br />
faith at least in the heart of Moses. "And<br />
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him''<br />
If the unburied bones of Joseph had not been<br />
a common theme in the homes of the Hebrews,<br />
Moses would never have known of the<br />
request which he had made so many years<br />
before.<br />
II. ISRAEL UNDER THE CLOUD, i<br />
"And the 'Lord went before them by day<br />
in a pillar of a cloud.". This cloud signified<br />
the abiding presence of God with Israel. By<br />
it they were protected from the burning, rays<br />
of the sun by day and given light by nig'ht.<br />
At one time it removed and came behind<br />
Israel so as to conceal them from the hosts<br />
of Pharaoh. When Israel settled in Canaan,<br />
it took up its abode within the Holy of Holies<br />
in the sanctuary. The church realizes the<br />
presence of God in a fuller measure now in<br />
the constant presence of Christ,- the Angel of<br />
the covenant, who became flesh and walketh<br />
among the seven golden candlesticks. d<br />
III. ISRAEL PURSUED. 1<br />
"And the Lord hardened the heart of<br />
Pharao'h, king of Egypt, and he pursued<br />
after the' children of Israel." (jod's gracious<br />
admonitions only increased the stubbornness<br />
of Pharaoh'si will, and every opportunity afforded<br />
him to show a kindness to the<br />
children of Israel only increased the bitterness<br />
of his spirit and the hardness of his<br />
heart. The rays of the sun which call forth<br />
life and vegetation in one piece of soil, only<br />
make another piece of soil of a different nature<br />
the harder. Thus the gracious offers<br />
and influences of the gospel, which to one<br />
person is the "savour of life unto life," is to<br />
another, the one who resists it, "the savour<br />
of death unto death." The plagues of Egypt<br />
might have been a great mercy to Pharaoh,<br />
had he been so disposed, (jod hardens the<br />
hearts of men by sending them gracious admonitions<br />
and opportunities to repent.<br />
The hardness of Pharaoh's heart now being<br />
ripe for judgment, he was led to pursue<br />
after Israel with the chariots and horsemen<br />
which formed the flower of his army.<br />
Before noting the fearful outcome of this<br />
mad undertaking, we must look at the event<br />
next in order, viz:<br />
IV. ISRAEL IN DESPAIR.<br />
"And when Pharaoh drew nigh,the<br />
children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and<br />
behold the Egyptians marched after them<br />
and they were sore afraid." If God be lefl<br />
out of the scene, Israel was indeed in ar<br />
awful plight. Before them was the Rec<br />
Sea. On, one hand was an impassable rang«<br />
of craggy rocks; on the other hand grea-^<br />
fortifications confronted them. And behiffl<br />
them the army of their dreaded ' fo€S, tin<br />
Egyptians. Their position here represent!<br />
the child of God when he is beset with spir<br />
itual foes on £very side; when without an