按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
remain with Pharaoh's daughter。 We may well suppose these 〃treasures〃
would have been a mighty fortune。 Enough is still remaining in Egypt to
give us some faint idea of the money at its King's disposal。 The
pyramids； and obelisks； and temples； and statues are still standing
there as witnesses。 The ruins at Carnac； and Luxor； and Denderah； and
many other places； are still the mightiest buildings in the world。 They
testify to this day that the man who gave up Egyptian wealth； gave up
something which even our English minds would find it hard to reckon up
and estimate。
Let us think once more； how great was this temptation。
Let us consider； for a moment； the power of moneythe immense
influence that 〃the love of money〃 obtains over men's minds。 Let us
look around us and observe how men covet it； and what amazing pains and
trouble they will go through to obtain it。 Tell them of an island many
thousand miles away； where something may be found which may be
profitable； if imported； and at once a fleet of ships will be sent to
get it。 Show them a way to make 1 per cent； more of their money； and
they will reckon you among the wisest of menthey will almost fall
down and worship you。 To possess money seems to hide defectsto cover
over faultsto clothe a man with virtues。 People can get over much； if
you are rich！ But here is a man who might have been rich； and would
not。 He would not have Egyptian treasures。 He turned his back upon
them。 He refused them。 He gave them up！
Such were the things that Moses refusedrank； pleasure； riches； all
three at once。
Add to all this that he did it deliberately。 He did not refuse these
things in a hasty fit of youthful excitement。He was forty years old。
He was in the prime of life。 He knew what he was about。 He was a highly
educated man； 〃learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians。〃 （Acts vii。
22。） He could weigh both sides of the question。
Add to it that he did not refuse them because he was obliged。 He was
not like the dying man； who tells us 〃he craves nothing more in this
world；〃 and why？Because he is leaving the world； and cannot keep it。
He was not like the pauper； who makes a merit of necessity； and says
〃he does not want riches〃； and why？Because he cannot get them。 He was
not like the old man who boasts that 〃he has laid aside worldly
pleasures；〃 and why？Because he is worn out； and cannot enjoy them。
No！ Moses refused what he might have enjoyed。 Rank； pleasure； and
riches did not leave him； but he left them。
And then judge whether I am not right in saying that his was one of the
greatest sacrifices mortal man ever made。 Others have refused much； but
none； I think； so much as Moses。 Others have done well in the way of
self…sacrifice and self…denial； but he excels them all。
II。 And now let me go on to the second thing I wish to consider。 I will
speak of what Moses chose。
I think his choices as wonderful as his refusals。 He chose three things
for his soul's sake。 The road to salvation led through them； and he
followed it； and in so doing he chose three of the last things that man
is ever disposed to take up。
（1） For one thing he chose suffering and affliction。
He left the ease and fort of Pharaoh's court； and openly took part
with the children of Israel。 They were an enslaved and persecuted
peoplean object of distrust； suspicion； and hatred； and anyone who
befriended them was sure to taste something of the bitter cup they were
daily drinking。
To the eye of sense there seemed no chance of their deliverance from
Egyptian bondage； without a long and doubtful struggle。 A settled home
and country for them must have appeared a thing never likely to be
obtained； however much desired。 In fact； if ever man seemed to be
choosing pain； trials； poverty； want； distress； anxiety； perhaps even
death； with his eyes open； Moses was that man。
Let us think how wonderful was this choice。
Flesh and blood naturally shrink from pain。 It is in us all to do so。
We draw back by a kind of instinct from suffering； and avoid it if we
can。 If two courses of action are set before us； which both seem right；
we generally take that which is the least disagreeable to flesh and
blood。 We spend our days in fear and anxiety when we think affliction
is ing near us； and use every means to escape it。 And when it does
e； we often fret and murmur under the burden of it； and if we can
only bear it patiently； we count it a great matter。
But look here！ Here is a man of like passions with ourselves； and he
actually chooses affliction！ Moses saw the cup of suffering that was
before him if he left Pharaoh's court； and he chose it； preferred it；
and took it up。
（2） But he did more than this； he chose the pany of a despised
people。
He left the society of the great and wise； among whom he had been
brought up； and joined himself to the Children of Israel。 He who had
lived from infancy in the midst of rank； and riches； and luxury； came
down from his high estate； and cast in his lot with poor menslaves；
serfs； helots； pariahs； bondservants； oppressed； destitute； afflicted；
tormentedlabourers in the brick…kiln。
How wonderful； once more； was this choice！
Generally speaking； we think it enough to carry our own troubles。 We
may be sorry for others whose lot is to be mean and despised。We may
even try to help themwe may give money to raise themwe may speak
for them to those on whom they depend； but here we generally stop。
But here is a man who does far more。 He not merely feels for despised
Israel； but actually goes down to them； adds himself to their society；
and lives with them altogether。 You would wonder if some great man in
Grosvenor or Belgrave Square were to give up house； and fortune； and
position in society； and go to live on a small allowance in some narrow
lane in Bethnal Green； for the sake of doing good。 Yet this would
convey a very faint and feeble notion of the kind of thing that Moses
did。 He saw a despised people； and he chose their pany in preference
to that of the noblest in the land。 He became one with themtheir
fellow； their panion in tribulation； their ally； their associate；
and their friend。
（3） But he did even more。 He chose reproach and scorn。
Who can conceive the torrent of mockery and ridicule that Moses would
have to stem； in turning away from Pharaoh's court to join Israel！ Men
would tell him he was mad； foolish； weak； silly； out of his mind。 He
would lose his influence； he would forfeit the favour and good opinion
of all among whom he had lived。 But none of these things moved him。 He
left the court and joined the slaves！
Let us think again； what a choice this was！
There are few things more powerful than ridicule and scorn。 It can do
far more than open enmity and persecution。 Many a man who would march
up to a cannon's mouth； or lead a forlorn hope； or storm a breach