done, But Gideon no doubt hnd the future as well as the present moment in view. 'I'he wrongs nnd misery of his country during the Midianite oppression, seven long yonrs of grinding, cruel servitude, were fresh in his memory. He would not have the plain of ,Jezreel ngnin the prey to those locusts from the east. And so Midian must be crushed. But could his strength and the strength of his 300 hold out any longer? The long and hurried march, the hand-to-hand fights, the heat, their hunger and thirst, the weight of their arms, which they bad doubtless taken in lieu of the pitchers and trumpets, had nearly exhausted their powers; even their own country- men would not help them; they were weary and faint; might they not now stop and rest? No, their work was not complete ; so, though faint, they must still pursue. Methinks that RB we read this stirring tale of energy and perseverance we must feel ashamed of our pwn faint-heartedness ; we must feel rebuked at our own readiness to succumb to lnndrancee, or to be content with half successes; we must resolve that we will put a little more energy into our own daily work, or extraordinary tasks, and that, in spite of weariness and discouragement, in the face of hindrances and oppo- sition, we will persevere ang carry through to the end whatever work we have in hand, of which we are convinced that it is right to do it. This is the first lesson given to us by Gideon-faint, yet pursuing. II. But we may no doubt also spiritualise the lesson, AND APPLY IT TO OUR SPIRITUAL WARFARE, AND TO THE STRUGGLES OF THE SOUL FOR THE MASTERY OVER SIN. Here the importance of doing our work thoroughly, and persevering, in spite of successes and hindrances alike, till our task is complete, is certainly not less than in the affairs of this life. In resisting temptations, in resolutely subduing fleshly lusts and unruly appetites which war against the soul, in determined self-conquests, in perfecting holiness in the fear of God, in encountering the opposition of the world, and the contradictions of sinners, and the wiles and assaults of the devil, we must expect to be often faint. It is so easy to give up the struggle, to be content with imperfect results, to seek for rest and ease in giving up the close pursuit which we bad begun. But this is not the spirit of Gideon. If we would be in our spiritual warfare such as he was in his conflict against his earthly foes, even when we are faint and weary we must be still pursuing; we must persevere to the end, and never slack our bands nor rest oul' feet till we have gained a complete and final victory through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory for ever.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 4.--" Faint, yet pursuing." A splendid and really /arced march. Humanly speaking, it was the real battle. The grandest qualities were called forth, and the greatest results secured. A picture of the Christian life. I. Goo OFTEN SUFFERS HIS SERVANTS TO ENDURE HARDSHIP IN DOING HIS WILL. II. THOSE WHO ARE DOING IMPORTANT SERVICE UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF HARD- SHIP OUGHT TO BE ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED. Ill. DOTY AND THE HIGH CALLING OF CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO TRIUMPH OVER WEAK- NESS, HARDSHIP, AND OPPOSITION. IV. THE GREATEST RESULTS OFTEN DEPEND UPON PERSISTENCY EVEN AMIDST DIS- ADVANTAGES.-M. Ver. 4.-" Faint, yetfurming." The faintness of Gideon's troops may illustrate the spiritual faintness o Christians, nnd the influence of this on their conduct in life. J. FAINTNESS MAY OVERTAKE US WHILE PURSUING THE CHRISTIAN COURSE. 1. Not( the cliaracteristics of this faintness. It is ( 1) loss of strength, so that we are not able to attain so much nor to progress so fast as we should otherwise rlo; (2.) a sense of distress, making eYery movement a pain, and robbing the Christian life of its bright hopefulness and cheerful enthusiasm. 2. Note the existence of this faint- ness in the pursuit of the Christian course. Thoubh still pursuing the right w11y, we mny experience faintness. It is not the deviation to bye-path meadow alone which bring11 distress. We may grow wenry i~ well d_uing (Gal. vi. 9). Therefor~ (I) let us not be over confident becuuse we are m the nght, Ullll (2) let u~ not be d1snrnyed at the experience of fu.iutncss, as though this were 1i sign of spiritual defection. 88 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [cH. vm. 13-21.