yearly co=emoration of those who laid down their lives for it, i.s a question. How much our very faint se1;1se of the mercies of God_ to thiR conntry, and in particular to the wonderful salvation God vouchsafed to us m the destruction of the Spanish ~r_mada., is du·e to the so.me cause, may also be a question. As regards the latter, it lR perhaps not too much to say_ that scarcely one educated Englishman out of ten, and no uneducated one, has any idea from what vast perils we, as a nation, have been delivered by that one event. And in spite of the many signal mercies we have received, and in spite of the great things God has wrought for us in grantin" 118 the character we enjoy for fairness, uprightness, respect for liberty and law, and in ~pite of the vast and extended dominion He has placed in our hands, our sense of gratitude to God for these things seems diminishing daily. We shall do well to ask ourselves how much of it is due to a neglect of the principle laid down in this chapter regarding the wisdom of memorials of past blessings which shall induce the young to ask what they mean, and shall enable us, in reply to their question, to incite them to "praise the Lord for his mercies. and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men." III. EVERY TRIBE TOOK PART IN THE WORK. The principle above contended for is capable of misapplication. The multiplication of party or sectarian memorials of animosity and ill-feeling would be an evil, rather than a blessing. Even memorials of tLe Reformers, or of so great a national deliverance such as that to which we have just referred, might easily, as is the case in Ireland, be made occasions of strife. But this applies rather to the abuse than the use of them. In modern days of freedom of thought there could hardly exist a single anniversary the propriety of which would be questioned by no one. To keep only such anniversaries as no one objected· to, would be to keep none at all. But care should be taken that all memorials of this kind should be (1) so kept as not wantonly to insult the pre- judices of others, and (2) should be confined to events in which the community as a whole had a share. The victory of Israel over Benjamin was not co=emo- rated by a memorial, though it was doubtless a real national blessing. Only such events as can be commemorated by taking " out of every tribe a man" are intended by the foregoing remarks. IV. WE ARE ALL EQUALLY BOUND TO DECLARE WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US. The duty of erecting the memorial was not confined to the priests or Levites. So now, it is not the clergy only who are to proclaim God's "noble acts." All, in their several spheres, are to make known the great things He has done, and to tnke part in the public commemorations of them. The Church does not consist of clergy only, but of clergy and laity. So, too, the duties of a public recognition of the goodness of God are as incumbent on the laity as on the clergy. The laity are to bear the stones on their shoulders, and to deposit them where the people rest for the night. It is not well when they leave these duties to women and children, or to those whose duty it is to bi,ar the ark. The duties of worshipping God in the sane.tuary on other days beside Sunday, of promoting religious works and religious societies, is often left to the clergy by those who have plenty of time, if they pre- ferred to spend their leisure hours in work for the benefit of others rather than in regarding their own comfort. Other points in the narrative are worthy ot mention. I. THE PEOPLE HASTED AND PASSED OVER. They hasted (1) because they feared the waters might retw·n and overflow them. So, even when we are experiencing a deliverance by the mighty hand of Goel, ought we to be watchful and trembling lest we be again overtaken by sin. ,vant of watchfulness in the hour of triumph has been the occasion of many a fearful fall. Or they hasted (2) because they were anxious to enter the promised land. ,vould that all Christians were as full of a chastened eagerness to enter upon the conflict with evil, which they only can do who are delivered from the power of Satan and of sin; Wonld that they were e.s anxious to "forget" the days of sinful indulgence they have "left behincl," and to "reach forwo.rcl" unto the time of victory and triumph, which to faith appears clearly "before." Lukewarmness in the Christian course is the forerunner, not of victory, but of disgrace. Or (8) they hastened that they might not try the patience (i8 THE DOOK OF JOSHUA. [c11, IV, 1-24.
of God. He only works miracles when natural men,ns are insufficient. If wo ex• pcct Him to stay the waters of Jordan to suit our convenience, to preserve us from temptation when we ought to have removed ourselves from its infl.uenoe, to guard us by His special prm-idence from dangers from which ordinary care and watch- fulness would have preserved us, we shall be mistaken. We ought not to keep the priests standing in the Jordan one minute longer than is necessary. II. THE ISRAELITES "'.ENT OVER ,, I'REPARED ~OR WAR." This was true, not only of the two-and-a-half tnbes, but of the other tnbes also. (1) The 'Christian must be ready for a conflict. His Master forewarned him that He came to send "not peace, but a swo~d," up_on _the_e_arth. Jve have to "fight the good fight of faith,'' to "wrestle agamst pnnc1paht1es, agamst powers, against the rulers of the dark- ness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." We do not enter the land of promise to be idle. A conflict against evil awaits us, both within our own _hearts an~ in society a~oui:id. A_ man who leads a life of inaction against evil w1thm or m society around hrm 1s a traitor to the cause. We should deceive him were we to lead him to suppose that he should enjoy tho milk and honey, the plee.sure's and consolations of religion, till he he.d undergone its perils and its struggles first. And (2) preparation for war involves self-discipline. The word in the original means " disencumbered." The impediments to action were to be removed; that is, habits, social customs, business engagements, which fetter us in our conflict with e,·il, must be given up. Even the ties of affection must not be suffered to hamper us in the discharge of our duty. The most innocent amusements, if incompatible with effectual action against God's enemies, must be cast aside. Like the nmner in the race, we must " lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." So, and so only, must we enter into the enjoyment of God's covenant, and fit ourselves for the unspeakable blessings which God has prepared for those who are " faithful unto death.''