and seek salvation by Christ alone : for " by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified."]
2. To those who are fighting for the possession ofit—
[Though Canaan was promised to the Israelites, yet they must fight for it. And you must also fight for the promised inheritance of heaven. Remember however, that you are not to fight in your own strength. You must " be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might," if you would gain the victory over your spiritual enemies. And this is your great encouragement : for through Him the weakest shall be strong, yea, shall prove " more than conqueror" over all his ene- mies." What took place in the contest of Israel with the Midianites shall be accomplished in God's Israel throughout all the world. Against the numerous hosts of Midian only twelve thousand armed Israelites (a thousand from each tribe) were sent to fight : and when the whole Midianitish army was destroyed, it was found, on investigation, that not a single Israelite was slain e. So shall it prove with you, my brethren, in your spiritual warfare. Only fight manfully in the Sa- viour's strength ; and what he said to his heavenly Father in reference to his disciples while he was yet upon earth, he will repeat before the whole assembled universe in the day of judgment, " Of those whom thou hast given me, not one is lost'." True, there are Anakims of gigantic stature to con- tend with, and cities walled up to heaven to besiege: but "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world:" and all your enemies, with Satan at their head, " shall be bruised under your feet shortly g." " They all are but, as it were, bread for youh," and not one shall ever be able to stand before you.]
3. To those who yet retain their hostility to the Lord Jesus —
[You have seen what was the issue of the contest between Joshua, and all the kingdoms of Canaan. No less than thirty- one kings fell before him1. And be sure that you also must perish, if you continue to fight against our adorable Lord and Saviour. I would earnestly recommend to you the example of the Gibeonites. They felt assured, that they could not withstand Joshua ; and therefore, feigning themselves to be- long to a nation remote from Canaan, they came, and entreated him to make a league with them. There needs no such col- lusion on your part. You may come to Jesus, and he will
e Numb. xxxi. 49. f John xvii. 12. s Rom. xvi. 20.
11 Numb. xiv. 9. > Josh. xii. 24.