frogs to die. The
people gathered them up in great heaps and these dead and putrefying
frogs in the streets and the water of the river caused the air to be
loaded with a great stench that filled the nostrils of all the people.

After this plague of frogs came the plague of lice, when all the dust of
the country was turned into lice, and after that the plague of the
flies; and so on through to the last plague, which was the slaying of
the first-born, of which I will tell you in another sermon.

I wish you would at your earliest opportunity turn to the second book in
the Old Testament, the Book of Exodus, and in the early chapters read
about these various plagues of Egypt. When you read the account of the
various plagues, you will see how after each affliction Pharaoh's heart
seemed to relent. He would consent for a time that the Children of
Israel might be liberated from their bondage, and depart from Egypt and
start on their journey to the land of Canaan. When he was in affliction
he would make good promises, but as soon as God had removed the plague,
and the sorrow of his people seemed to be ended for a time he again
hardened his heart against God, and refused to do what he had promised.
Again and again the king refused to do that which he had agreed, and
caused the unhappy Children of Israel to continue in their bondage.

We may think that we are not wicked like Pharaoh was. We may not be
wicked in the same degree, but we are wicked after the same nature and
kind; and so God brings upon us various providences, some of which are
not very pleasant. God is seeking to educate us by the trials and
sorrows and disappointments and afflictions which He permits to come
upon us, so that we will be more obedient, and more faithful, and more
Christlike. But I suppose you have seen people who were just like
Pharaoh. When they were sick they would promise to become Christians,
and live good and right lives, and join the Church and be faithful
followers of Christ all the rest of their lives. And yet when God would
raise them up from their beds of sickness they would forget all their
promises, and generally, as it always was in the case of Pharaoh, their
hearts became harder and harder. Instead of being better after God had
raised them up and made them strong and well, or removed some trial or
affliction, they became worse than before.

Have you not found something of this also in your own experience? When
you have desired someth