first watch of a remarkably dark night, God sent a violent east wind,38 which dried up the mud at the bottom of the sea, that it might not incommode the Israelites on their passage, being lighted on their way by the pillar of fire, which, with its dark or cloudy side towards the Egyptians, increased the darkness

39

abounding; but why among other nations it is called the Red Sea interpreters agree not; whether it be from the redness of the sand, or the redness of the water, both in the deep and by the shore, or from King Erythra, whose name signifies red, and sometime possessed that sea; neither is the knowledge of the thing very material. This sea, the waters of it being divided on each hand, they passed as by dry land." (Lushington, Expiat. p. 278.)

38 Thevenot, speaking of the excessive heats of this country in summer, takes occasion to mention a very dangerous burning wind, called by the Arabs Samael, and which he supposes to be the east wind above-mentioned. It is mixed with streaks of fire as small as a hair, and frequently proves fatal to travellers; for those that breathe it either instantly die, or have but just time to complain of an inward burning. When they are taken up they are as black as a coal, and their flesh comes off from the bones; but those who perceive it coming sometimes escape the danger by falling flat upon the ground.

39 This was an apt representation of the contrast between light and darkness the light of reason, the light of religion, the light of true Freemasonry-and the darkness of error, the darkness of idolatry, the darkness of spurious Freemasonry. The intellectual vision of this besotted people was obscured; they paid divine honours to darkness, and now darkness was a snare and a trap in their way, and instead of being a protection, led them on to their downfal; and they saw, when it was too late, the perfect impotence of the power wherein they trusted. A noble writer says (Lord Shaftsbury, Characteristics, vol. iii. p. 124), "To me it plainly appears, that in the early times of all religions, when nations were yet barbarous and savage, there was ever an aptness or tendency towards the dark part of superstition." The Egyptians were not singular in the propensity, of which the cloudy pillar was a type; and the circumstance is

this unnatural convulsion of the elements, passed q and triumphantly over, with Moses at their her encourage them by his example, that they might him without fear, and submit themselves implici the divine protection. "Moses primus progr hortatus Hebræos ut alacriter sequantur per viam nitus datam." But when the Egyptians were the sea, 45 and the Israelites had reached the of shore in safety, the wind suddenly changed, the rushed together with great violence, and the

46

would fall much short of 2,000,000, exclusive of the mixed m that went up with them." (Pict. Bibl. vol i. p. 163.)

45 "The Egyptians came on after them," as Shuckford d the circumstance (Con. vol. ii. p. 449), "and it being nig they not having the light of the pillar, which guided the Is and finding themselves upon dry ground all the way they might, perhaps, not at all suspect that they were off the sh I imagine, that if they had seen the miraculous heaps of w each side the Israelites, they would not so eagerly have ver press after a people saved by so great a miracle. When the] got safe on the land over the sea, towards morning, the Lor from the pillar of fire and of the cloud upon the Egypti troubled their host, and took off their chariot wheels, that th them heavily. The Egyptians began to find their passage easy; the waters began to come upon them, and their charic to sink and stick fast in the muddy bottom of the sea, so t could get no further; and Moses, at the command of God, forth his hand over the sea; the Egyptians began now at to see where they were, and to fear their ruin, they turned fast as they could, and endeavoured to get back to shore; waters came upon them in full strength, and overwhelme And thus Pharoah and his whole army were lost in the Red

46 We are told by Diodorus Siculus (Bibl. iii. 174), Ichthyophagi, who inhabited a country on the coast of the had preserved a tradition, that at a great distance of tim

this unnatural convulsion of th and triumphantly over, with encourage them by his examp him without fear, and submi the divine protection. hortatus Hebræos ut alacriter nitus datam." But when th the sea, and the Israelites

45

"M

shore in safety, the wind sudd rushed together with great

would fall much short of 2,000,000, e that went up with them." (Pict. Bib

45" The Egyptians came on after the circumstance (Con. vol. ii. p. 44 they not having the light of the pilla and finding themselves upon dry gro might, perhaps, not at all suspect th I imagine, that if they had seen the each side the Israelites, they would 1 press after a people saved by so great got safe on the land over the sea, tow. from the pillar of fire and of the clo troubled their host, and took off their cl them heavily. The Egyptians began to easy; the waters began to come upon the to sink and stick fast in the muddy botton could get no further; and Moses, at the con forth his hand over the sea; the Egyptians to see where they were, and to fear their fast as they could, and endeavoured to waters came upon them in full

And thus Pharoah and his

46 We are told by D

Ichthyophagi, who

had preserved a