But alas, it was early days when Moses made this complaint; this was but the beginning of the sorrows of their travel; Israel must endure sharper pains and harder throws, before she be delivered, that shall make her even despair of Life. Oh how doth the Deliverance after this hover up and down between Hopes and Fears? Good news to day; the plague of the Frogs hath made Pharaoh another man;1 he sends for Moses and Aaron, calls for prayers, promiseth to let Israel go: Moses thinks he is in good earnest; tells his Majesty he may command his prayers, Have this honour over me; bids him appoint his time, and it shall be done. 2Surely now said they one to another, Our bondage is at an end; we hope, before a week go over our heads, to be well onward in our journey towards Canaan. I but before that week came about, What news from Court? Oh, as bad as ever; Pharaoh is of another mind; he speaks big, 3threatens, curseth: it is well if we be not put to the sword! Well, but there is tidings since that, very good; what the Frogs could not do, the Locusts have: Pharaoh melts. 4confesseth his sin against God and Moses, begs pardon, which be desires but this once more, and then certainly Israel shall be gone. I but this fair weather lasts not; the clouds return after rain: Pharaoh hardens again; Moses and Aaron are ⟨p. 5⟩banished the Court upon pain of death; and there seems to be no possibility now of their departure, since all means of negotiating thereof is obstructed.
But alas, it was early days when Moses made this complaint; this was but the beginning of the sorrows of their travel; Israel must endure sharper pains and harder throws, before she be delivered, that shall make her even despair of Life. Oh how doth the Deliverance after this hover up and down between Hopes and Fears? Good news to day; the plague of the Frogs hath made Pharaoh another man;1 he sends for Moses and Aaron, calls for prayers, promiseth to let Israel go: Moses thinks he is in good earnest; tells his Majestie he may command his prayers, Have this honour over me; bids him appoint his time, and it shall be done. 2Surely now said they one to another, Our bondage is at an end; we hope, before a week go over our heads, to be well onward in our journey towards Canaan. I but before that week came about, What news from Court? Oh, as bad as ever; Pharaoh is of another minde; he speaks big, 3threatens, curseth: it is well if we be not put to the sword! Well, but there is tidings since that, very good; what the Frogs could not do, the Locusts have: Pharaoh melts. 4confesseth his sin against God and Moses, begs pardon, which be desires but this once more, and then certainly Israel shall be gone. I but this fair weather lasts not; the clouds return after rain: Pharaoh hardens again; Moses and Aaron are ⟨p. 5⟩banisht the Court upon pain of death; and there seems to be no possibility now of their departure, since all means of negotiating thereof is obstructed.
- 1Exod. 8.8.
- 2Vers. 9.
- 3Exod. 10. 10, 11.
- 4Vers. 17.