MmACLE. As we,s the c.e,so with tho "J?ighty works" of om· Lortl, these wonders of the Olcl Testament were not wrought simply to e,ssist men in their straits and feeble- ness, hut to exert an ethical influence upon them, teaching the power 0,ml love of God. }; ow that tbe Israelites were about to enter upon their inheritance, the time wa.s a, fitting one for signal me,rks of Divine favour and might. But in order that the miracle haYe due weight, preYious reflection aud expectation were essential. The Israelites were as children whose curiosity must he aroused and excitement intensi- fiecl l,y stimnhting annunciati<;>ns. Then, when the notable day dawned, attention would Le drawn to eYery detail, every occun-ence, aud the more vivid and lasting "'oulcl he the impressions produced. A miracle silently nnd suddenly performed would fail of the results _intended. Preparation befits our solemn engagements, qnahfyrng us the more qmckly to hear the "still small voice," and to note the "way of Goel" amongst m~n. It is well for the passions to be quieted, and the co=on duties dismissed from the mind, as we near the sacred operations of God. Of what ahiding influence would the services of the Lord's day be capable, if it were possible to spend the pre,;ous evening in preparing the mind to say, "Speak, Lord, for thy sern,nt hee,reth "I Fully to reap benefit from witneesing a "sign," or from perusing an account thereof, demands of us the same sanctification of heart. Ill. SANCTIFICATION WOULD AFFORD EVIDENCE OF FAITH IN THEIR LEADER AND IN Goo. What folly to trouble about purification unless they believed that the promise would be fulfilled. The miracle was to be eminently a proof of the love of God. His honour demanded that the people should show themselves to be in some degree .worthy of His fa,our. Jesus inquired of the applicants for relief whether they had faith in His ability to heal them ; and we read of places where " he did not many mighty works because of their unbelief." Unbelief is the great hindrance to the progress of religion, both in the individual and in the world. Wo block the only a,enue by which heavenly blessings can come to us; we shut the gates, and wonder why our city is not thronged with angelic visitants. Faith in preparation would lead to augmented faith in the time of action. Soon·was coming the hour of trial. How would the people venture between the dangerous heaps of water? Here would be reaped the e,dvantage of previous thought. Faith grows by exercise. The conquest of one difficulty opens the way for subsequent victories. If the Church of Christ is paralysed by secret disbelief of the efficacy of God's Word and Spirit to con.ert men, how can she expect great awakenings? "According to our faith" is it unto us. And if there is not sufficient faith to lead to the making of the necessary arrangements, where shall be the faith to enable us to rejoice in the evident tokens of God's presence? Let us" lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting." -A.
Yer. 3.-At this decisive moment, when the people of Isrnel were about to enter on the great conflict which was to secure the possession of the land of promise, the co=and was given to gather themselves together around the ark ?f the covenant, as their banner. This indicates the great central truth of the lnstory of Israel. The focus of its national life is the law of its God. It is for this it is to fight and overcome, and not merely that it may gain possession of a rich country and develop its material resources. In its fidelity to the ark of the covenant, lies moreover the secret of its success. This sacred memorial of its religious faith must be its great rallying point in the day of 1,attle. This in a principle applicable to the people of God in all ages, and equally true of their individual or collective life. I. For mankind at large, as for Israel, there aro two aspects of all the great phases of its history. ONE DIRECT, TEMPORAL, TERRESTRIAL, LIKE THE CONQUEST OF A FRUITFUL LAND for Israel ; the other higher, more comprehensive, more Divine- THE FULFILMENT OF A DIVINE l'URPOSE ENTf;nING INTO THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION. Such was the double significance to the descendants of Abra!rnm, of the conquest of the land of promise, the land in which their religious destinies wero to be ful- filled, where the ark of the covenant was to find its resting-place, and to become the centre of the theocracy. So is it in all our lives. Everything that bcfals us in our private a.ud domestic life has a twofold bearing. It has an eart;hward aspect; OH, Ill, 1-6.] THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 51