Josh. i. 7 — 9. Only be thou strong arid very courageous, that thou may est observe to do according to all the Law which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou may est prosper ivhither soever thou goest. This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth ; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou may est observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee ? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
IN an address to Joshua, when about to invade a country " wherein were seven nations greater and mightier than he," we might well expect a charge to him to " be strong and very courageous :" but we should naturally suppose, that the exhortation to for- titude would have respect chiefly, if not exclusively, to the enemies whom he was about to encounter : whereas his enemies are left, as it were, altogether out of sight; and no notice is taken but of the Law of God, as that towards which his courage should be .exercised. But, as all his success depended entirely upon God, it was indispensably necessary that he should secure the divine favour; which could not be done but by an obedience to God's commands: and an unreserved obedience to them would, in fact, re- quire in him a stronger principle of courage, than the most formidable enemies would give occasion for. In confirmation of this, I will shew,
I. Wherein the fortitude of a Christian soldier should chiefly display itself —