IX. CRAS, CRAS.

GREAT was the abundance and boldness of the frogs in Egypt, which went up and came into their bed-chambers, and beds, and kneading-troughs, and very ovens. [Exod. viii. 3.] Strange that those fen-dwellers should approach the fiery region; but stranger that Pharaoh should be so backward to have them removed; and being demanded of Moses when he would have them sent away, answered, To-morrow. [Exod. viii. 10.] He could be content with their company one night, at bed and at board, loath, belike, to acknowledge either God’s justice in sending, or power in remanding them, but still hoping that they casually came, and might casually depart.

Leave I any longer to wonder at Pharaoh, and even admire at myself; what are my sins but so many toads, spitting of venom and spawning of poison; croaking in my judgment, creeping into my will, and crawling into my affections. This I see, and suffer, and say with Pharaoh, To-morrow, to-morrow I will amend. Thus, as the Hebrew tongue hath no proper present tense, but two future tenses, so all the performances of my reformation are only in promises for the time to come. Grant, Lord, that I may seasonably drown this Pharaoh-like procrastination in the sea of repentance, lest it drown me in the pit of perdition.