efore them in the land of Egypt. Nevertheless thou
savedst them for thy name's sake, that thou mightest make thy mighty
power known; thou didst repeat thy wonders, and didst dry up the sea
before them. He fed them with corn from heaven; they did eat angel's
food. He clave the rock in the wilderness, and caused waters to run
down like a river. After all, they forsook the God of their mercies;
they believed not his promises, nor trusted in his salvation; they
lusted, and they murmured, and desired to turn back to Egypt. Thou
didst chasten them sore for their sin, and didst bring down their
heart with grief.

"When thou didst slay them, they sought thee, and remembered
that God was their rock, and the most high God their Redeemer.
Nevertheless they did flatter with their mouth and lied unto thee with
their tongue, for their heart was not right with thee, neither were
they steadfast in thy covenant. But thou being full of compassion,
forgavest their iniquity and destroyedst them not; yea, many a time
turnedst thou away thine anger, and didst not stir up all thy wrath.

"O how many times did they turn back, tempted God, and limited
the Holy One of Israel. Yet did he fulfil all his promises, and by
wonders in the sea, wonders in the desert, wonders in Zoan's field,
and in the camps of their enemies, he led them safely to the border of
his sanctuary, to the mountain which his right hand had purchased. He
cast out the heathen before them, and gave them rest in the land of
promise. Even there they provoked the Most High, provoked him to
jealousy with their graven images.

"Again thou didst chasten them sore, let loose the corruptions of
men upon them, and suffer them to fall before their enemies. Thou
deliveredst thy strength into captivity, and thy glory into the hands
of their enemies.

"Yet, O Lord, again didst thou deliver them, and sentest
provision for them by thine own covenant. Thou didst choose David thy
servant, and take him from the sheep-folds. Thou broughtest him to
feed Jacob thy people, and Israel thine inheritance. So he fed them
according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the
skilfulness of his hands.

"Such are the people with whom thou hast still to do. Such, O God
of infinite mercy, such the God with whom we sinners have to do, even
'the Lord God, merciful and gracious, keeping mercy for thou sands,
forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; and that will by no