im·incihle, shrunk from encountering them in the valleys, and slunk away into the, hills and fastnesses out of their way. So to those of little faith the difficulties in the way of a thoroughly godly life seem insuperable. The fashions and customs of the world, the adverse opinions of men, the possible losses in tre.do or worldly ad vantage, or in useful friendships, the sacrifice of inclinations or interests, cannot be got over. Their hearts quail before difficulties and obstacles, and they are ever of a fearful and doubtful mind. III. THE DISPOSITION TO coMrROMISE. These tribes could not or would not drive the Can aanites out, but they would make them tributRries. That was something done if not all that ought to be done. So the weak in faith compromise in respect to thei; Christian duties. They do not yield a bold, whole-hearted obedience at any cost, but they will go half-way, and stop. They will curb the flesh, but not crucify it ; they will check, but not destroy, the body of sin; they will follow Christ's directions up to a certain point, and then, like the young ruler, go away sorrowful. And this want of thoroughness is as fatal to the peace and comfort of a Christian's walk with God as was the compromise of the Israelites to their enjoyment of the promised land. In their case the enemies whom they failed to destroy were constant thorns in their sides-rising against them whenever they were weak, always ready to join their enemies, taking advantage of every opportunity to harass and distress them. And so in the case of these Christians of little faith: the sins which they spare, the affections with which they compromise, the habits which they will not utterly break off, and the unfinished victories at which they stop short are continually marring their peace, and even threatening their hold on the kingdom of God. And the result is seen in the general condition of the Church of God: one of compromise instead of mastery, of hollow truce instead of decisive victory. IV. AN UNDERRATING OF THE POWER AND GRACE OF Goo. This is the cause of all the evil, and is of the very essence of a weak faith. When God's power and goodness and grace are underrated, all goes wrong. Low aims, fear of difficulties, bnse compromises are sure to prevail. But with the due sense of all-sufficient grace all goes well. "My grace is sufficient for thee," saith the Lord to his believing servant. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" is the servant's ans'Wer. Let us make a due estimate of the glorious grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord ; so shall we be II strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.''
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 22-26.-.An unwilling hel,per of the cause of God. Into the motives that actuated him we need not pry. Chief of all was the great one of self-preservation. Was it honourable? Was it right for the soldiers of God to make use of such an instrument? There may have been other considerations that had weight with him. It mio-ht have been virtuous to resist the offer: was it necessarily vicious to yield to it? I. THERE ARE MANY WHO HELP THE TRUTH FROM LOWER MOTIVES WHO MIGHT DO so FROM HIGHER. Expediency; _public be!1e~ts of r~ligion ; ties o! relationship ; reputation. How great the blessmg to Chnst s cause if the same tlw11,gs were done £row higher motives I II. THEY ARE BLESSED, BUT NOT AS THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE EAVE BEEN, A better oervice would have secured a higher reward. III. THEY C:ANNOT BE BELIED UPON, AND THEREFORE MAY NOT BECOME PAB'r 011' Goo's PEOrLE. The conquering host could not trust the traitor whose help h:J,d won them the city. He must go forth with his reproach .. Many chur~hee co!1tain the el_ernents of weakness and ruin because they have failed to exercise a wise censorslnp ov01 those admitted to their communion. The true Churcl:. is composed of those who serve God from the purest rnotives.-M. Ver. 28.-Human wisdom versus Divi,ne. No option was left to the Israelites e.e to the mode in which they were to deal with the Canaanitee. Even if they were unable to subdue the Canaanites because of their own weakness, it would not be with- out fault; for had they not to sustain and direct them ? But the sin of Israel was err. 1. 21-36.] THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 17
the gre11tcr that, whon they were able to obey God's direction, they set it aside in fnvour of n policy of their own. This was direct disobedience, however it might be disguised by the name of prudence or expediency. In the end they had to rue their own folly. J, PEOPLE IN PROSPEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES ARE FREQUENTLY TEMPTED TO FOLLOW A WORLDLY INSTEAD OF A HEAVENLY LINE OF CONDUCT, AND TO QUALIFY THE DICTATES QI)' OBVIOUS DUTY DY CONSIDERA1'IONB THAT ARE PURELY SELFISH AND PRESUMPTUOUS IN 'J'IlEIR NATURE. II. WHEN MEN THUS SHIRK OBVIOUS DUTY, THEY DO IT FROM A TWOFOLD MISCONCEP- noN-(1) of their own power and wisdom, and (2) of the true character of that with which they tamper. Ill. IN TBE END TBEIB ll'OLLY WILL MANIIl'EST ITSELF' IN DISASTER AND RUIN.-M. Vera. 34, 35.-Tlie failure of duty of one an occaswn of inconvenience to another. Joseph, strong enough to have destroyed the Amorites, made them tributaries. The same people a little further away were thereby enabled to afflict and annoy a com- panion tribe. "The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain," &c. The cause of Dan ought to have been the cause of Joseph. The latter was therefore guilty of intense selfishness. I. IT IS A SIN FOB CHRISTIANS TO REAP ADVANTAGE AT THE EXPENSE OF LOSS OB INCONVENIENCE TO THEIR BRETHREN. II. Goo OFTEN MAKES THE UNWORTHINESS OB FAULT OF ONE OF HIS CHILDREN A DISCIPLINE TO ANOTHER. III. BUT THIS DOES NOT FREE THE LATTER FROM THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DOING HIS BEST. Dan might be annoyed, and justly, at the indirect help given to his oppressors, but all the same he ought to have invoked the aid of Jehovah and gone forth to do battle against them. He might have delivered himself from the inconvenience to which he was subject. And so with all the indirectly produced ills of life; a heroic faith is certain to overcome them, or render them comparatively innoxious.-M.