Page:Bush burning, yet not consumed, or, The church in the furnace, yet still preserved (2).pdf/3

 -like appearance in the view and eſteem of thoſe whom the god of this world has blinded. She is as little accounted of as a ſilly Bramble-Buſh, that attracts no man's regard, engages no man's obſervation. Moſes in this Chapter, is about his worldly buſineſs: he kept the Flock of Jethro his father-in-law, and led his flock to the back of the deſert: and, while thus employed, he is privileged with a very ſingular appearance of God. This may teach us, that diligence and activity in our worldly buſineſs is a very commendable thing, and eſpecially when gone about with a view and regard to the glory and command of God; and that even the meaneſt office in life is by no means degrading or diſhonouring to the ſaints of God: yet, many times ſuch as are endeauring to ſerve God in the meaneſt offices, are privileged with noble manifeſtations from God, and ſometimes raiſed to honourable ſtations. Thus Moſes when keeping a flock of ſheep, has an extraordinary revelation from Heaven, and is called to the office of a general and deliverer to the enſlaved tribes of Iſrael in Egypt. Thus, again, David was taken from following the ewes great with young, to ſway the ſceptre of Iſrael. And thus Amos, who was of the herdmen of Tekoah, was taken from the office, to declare the will of God to the People of Israel, and renounce his judgements againſt the kings court at Samaria.

Moſes, after he had ſojourned forty years is the land of Midian, and during that time, employed himſelf in tending the flocks of his father-in-law is honoured with a viſion. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire, out of the midſt of a buſh: And he looked, and, bebold, the buſh burned with fire, and the buſh was not consumed. In which viſion this holy man gets a clear emblematical repreſentation of the Church of Chriſt in Egypt, and of the wilderneſs condition and ſituation of the Church of Chriſt to the end of Time.