■ 3. The matter —
[Nothing could be more judicious than this address. The people had lost sight of God ; and their faithful monitors set God before them. They acknowledge the existence of the dif- ficulties ; but they deny the inference deduced from it. True, say they, the people are mighty ; but our God is mightier : their fortifications are strong ; but not so strong that they can with- stand God : the inhabitants fight only with an arm of flesh ; we with the arm of the living God: What then have we to fear? they, how numerous or powerful soever, are only as " bread for us," and shall be devoured by us as easily as the food we eat. We have nothing to do but to trust in God ; and we are as sure of victory, as if all our enemies were already slain. Let us go up then; not to conquer the land, but " to possess it :" the food is prepared for us ; and we have nothing to do but to go up and eat itk.
How encouraging was this ! how calculated to carry convic- tion to their hearts ! not one word to irritate, but every thing to convince and comfort them ! This is the true pattern for reproof: as it should never savour of our own spirit, so it should never touch on painful topics but with care and tender- ness : every syllable should breathe love. It is a proverb in France, that ' Flies are not caught with vinegar :' and we shall do well to remember, that it is the sweet alone which renders the sour palatable. Faithful indeed we must be, and so faithful as oftentimes to give offence : but we must take care that the offence arise, not from any needless severity on our part, but from the force of truth itself.]
Having noticed the remonstrance, it will be proper to consider,
II. The use we should make of it —
In the Epistle to the Hebrews (chapters iii. and iv.) the Apostle traces the correspondence between the events we are considering and the duties of Christians in all ages. He shews that Canaan represented the rest which remains for us; and he cautions us against falling short of it through unbelief, as that people did. Hence it is evident that the address delivered to them by Joshua and Caleb may with great pro- priety be made to us : at least, we may take occasion from it,
1. To excite your desires —
k Compare Numb. xiii. 30. with the text.