twice in the New Testament is his name translated " Jesus," when it should rather, for distinction sake, have been trans- lated " Joshua0;" and both times in reference to his conducting the children of Israel into Canaan. He was the ostensible leader of the Lord's people : but the Lord Jesus Christ was the real " Captain of the host : " and before Joshua had fought one battle in the land, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a visible shape as a warrior, and made known to him, that he held but the second place, and that the Messiah himself was, in truth, " the Leader and Commander of the people'1." Agree- ably to this appointment, the Lord Jesus Christ is called " the Captain of our salvation e," and is declared to be " exalted of God to be a Prince, and a Saviour, that he may give re- pentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sinsV In fact, it is through him alone that any of " the sons of God are brought to glory*."]
He was a type of Christ in the very act we are considering —
[He was at a distance from the immediate combatants, and in the presence of his God, with whom he was, no doubt, engaged in fervent intercession for the people : and through him was the victory obtained. To the eye of sense, he did nothing ; but to the eye of faith, he did every thing. Thus it is that the Lord Jesus Christ is gone into heaven, " there to appear in the presence of God for ush." There is he " our Advocate with the Father V' and never ceases to make inter- cession in our behalf; and on that very account " he is, and shews himself, able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him V True it is, that we must fight, as if all de- pended on ourselves : but still it is through him alone that we can prevail : and whoever he be that is finally made a con- queror, he is made so altogether " through him that loveth him1:" " God giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"1."]
From the same significant action we may see,
II. How we are to engage in combat for ourselves — Behold the attitude of Joshua, his spear stretched out from the very commencement of the battle to the close. Who sees not in this his determined purpose, and his confident expectation of success ? Thus, then,
c Acts vii. 45. and Heb. iv. 8.
d Josh. v. 14. with Isai. Iv. 4. e Heb. ii. 10. f Acts v. 31.
s Heb. ii. 10. * Heb. ix. 24. j 1 John ii. 1. k Heb. vii. 25. 1 Rom. viii. 37. m 1 Cor. xv. 57. and 2 Cor. ii. 14.