CONTEMPLATION IV.

THE FOIL OF AMALEK; OR THE HAND OF MOSES LIFT UP.

No sooner is Israel's thirst slaked, than God hath an Amalekite ready to assault them. The Almighty hath choice of rods to whip us with, and will not be content with one trial. They would needs be quarrelling with Moses without a cause; and now God sends the Amalekites to quarrel with them. It is just with God, that they, which would be contending with their best friends, should have work enough of contending with enemies.

In their passage out of Egypt, God would not lead them the nearest way by the Philistines' land, lest they should repent at the sight of war; now they both see and feel it. He knows how to make the fittest choice of the times of evil, and withholds that one while, which he sends another, not without a just reason, why he sends and withholds it: and though to us they come ever, as we think, unseasonably, and at sometimes more unfitly than others; yet he that sends them knows their opportunities.

Who would not have thought a worse time could never have been picked for Israel's war than now? In the feebleness of their troops, when they were wearied, thirsty, unweaponed; yet now must the Amalekites do that, which before the Philistines might not do. We are not worthy, not able to choose for ourselves.

To be sick, and die in the strength of youth, in the minority of children; to be pinched with poverty, or miscarriage of children in our age, how harshly unseasonable it seems! But the infinite wisdom that

orders our events, knows how to order our times. Unless we will be shameless unbelievers, O Lord, we must trust thee with ourselves and our seasons, and know, that not that which we desire, but that which thou hast appointed, is the fittest time for our sufferings.

Amalek was Esau's grandchild, and these Israelites the sons of Jacob. The abode of Amalek was not so far from Egypt, but they might well hear what became of their cousins of Israel; and now, doubtless out of envy, watched their opportunity of revenge for their old grudge. Malice is commonly hereditary, and runs in the blood, and, as we use to say of runnet, the older it is, the stronger.

Hence is that foolish hostility, which some men unjustly nourish upon no other grounds, than the quarrels of their forefathers. To wreak our malice upon posterity is, at the best, but the humour of an Amalekite.

How cowardly, and how crafty was this skirmish of Amalek! They do not bid them battle in fair terms of war, but, without all noise of warning, come stealing upon the hindmost, and fall upon the weak and scattered remnants of Israel.

There is no looking for favour at the hands of malice the worst, that either force or fraud can do, must be expected of an adversary; but much more of our spiritual enemy, by how much his hatred is deeper. Behold, this Amalek lies in ambush to hinder our passage unto our land of promise, and subtilely takes all advantage of our weaknesses. We cannot be wise, or safe, if we stay behind our colours, and strengthen not those parts where is most peril of opposition.

I do not hear Moses say to his Joshua, Amalek is come up against us, it matters not whether thou go against him or not: or if thou go, whether alone, or with company; or if accompanied, whether with many or few, strong or weak; or if strong men, whe

ther they fight or no; I will pray on the hill; but "chuse us out men and go fight.'

Then only can we pray with hope, when we have done our best. And though the means cannot effect that which we desire, yet God will have us use the likeliest means, on our part, to effect it. Where it comes immediately from the charge of God, any means are effectual: one stick of wood shall fetch water out of the rock, another shall fetch bitterness out of the water: but in those projects, which we make for our own purposes, we must choose those helps which promise most efficacy. In vain shall Moses be upon the hill, if Joshua be not in the valley. Prayer without means is a mockery of God.

Here are two shadows of one substance; the same Christ in Joshua fights against our spiritual Amalek, and in Moses spreads out his arms upon the hill; and, in both, conquers. And why doth he climb up the hill rather than pray in the valley? Perhaps that he might have the more freedom to his thoughts, which, following the sense, are so much more heavenly, as the eye sees more of heaven. Though virtue lies not in the place, yet choice must be made of those places which may be most help to our devotion; perhaps that he might be in the eye of Israel.

The presence and sight of the leader gives heart to the people: neither doth any thing more move the multitude than example. A public person cannot hide himself in the valley: but yet it becomes him best to show himself upon the hill.

The hand of Moses must be raised, but not empty : neither is it his own rod that he holds, but God's. In the first meeting of God with Moses, the rod was Moses', it is like, for the use of his trade; now the propriety is altered; God hath so wrought by it, that now he challenges it, and Moses dare not call it his own.

Those things which it pleases God to use for his own service, are now changed in their condition. The bread of the sacrament was once the baker's, now it

is God's the water was once every man's, now it is the laver of regeneration. It is both unjust and unsafe, to hold those things common, wherein God hath a peculiarity.

At other times, upon occasion of the plagues, and of the quails, and of the rock, he was commanded to take the rod in his hand, now he doth it unbidden. He doth it not now for miraculous operation, but for encouragement.

For when the Israelites should cast up their eyes to the hill, and see Moses, and his rod, (the man, and the means that had wrought so powerfully for them) they could not but take heart to themselves, and think, There is the man that delivered us from the Egyptian, why not now from the Amalekite? There is the rod which turned waters to blood, and brought varieties of plagues on Egypt, why not now on Amalek?

Nothing can more hearten our faith, than the view of the monuments of God's favour: if ever we have found any word, or act of God cordial to us, it is good to fetch it forth oft to the eye. The renewing of our sense, and remembrance, makes every gift of God perpetually beneficial.

If Moses had received a command, that rod which fetched water from the rock, could as well have fetched the blood of the Amalekites out of their bodies. God will not work miracles always; neither must we expect them unbidden.

Not as a standard-bearer, so much as a suppliant, doth Moses lift up his hand. The gesture of the body should both express and further the piety of the soul. This flesh of ours is not a good servant, unless it help us in the best offices. The God of spirits doth most respect the soul of our devotion; yet, it is both unmannerly and irreligious, to be misgestured in our prayers. The careless and uncomely carriage of the body helps both to signify, and make a profane soul.

The hand and the rod of Moses never moved in vain; though the rod did not strike Amalek, as it had done the rock, yet it smote heaven, and fetched down victory. And that the Israelites might see the hand of Moses had a greater stroke in the fight, than all theirs, the success must rise and fall with it. Amalek rose, and Israel fell, with his hand falling: Amalek fell, and Israel rises, with his hand raised. O the wondrous power of the prayers of faith! All heavenly favours are derived to us from this channel of grace. To these are we beholden for our peace, preservations, and all the rich mercies of God which we enjoy. We could not want, if we could ask.

Every man's hand would not have done this, but the hand of a Moses. A faithless man may as well hold his hand and tongue still; he may babble, but prays not; he prays ineffectually, and receives not; only the prayer of the righteous availeth much; and only the believer is righteous.

There can be no merit, no recompence answerable to a good man's prayer; for heaven, and the ear of God is open to him; but the formal devotions of an ignorant and faithless man, are not worth that crust of bread which he asks: yea, it is presumption in himself, how should it be beneficial to others? It profanes the name of God, instead of adoring it.

But how justly is the fervency of the prayer added to the righteousness of the person! When Moses' hand slackened, Amalek prevailed. No Moses_can have his hand ever up; it is a title proper to God, that his hands are stretched out still, whether to mercy or vengeance. Our infirmity will not suffer any long intention, either of body or mind. Long prayers can hardly maintain their vigour, as in tall bodies the spirits are diffused. The strongest hand will languish with long extending: and when our devotion tires, it is seen in the success, then straight our Amalek prevails. Spiritual wickednesses are mastered