HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 6.-" That this mAy be . . . . stones."' The chil<l!ren's question. That life is intended to be a school of instructi.on to us we see plainly from the many directions given to the people of Israel. For they were under the immediate government of God; He blessed them with special favours, was ready also to re· prove their faults, and omitted no method of inculcating the lessons which the events of their lives were calculated to teach. Christians are " led by the Spirit of God;" their eyes should be open to see, and their ears uncovered to hear, the mean- ing of providential dispensations. In the instructions conveyed by God through Joshua, posterity was not forgotten. Provision was made for handing down to following ages a record of God's dealings with His people. With that provision our text is concerned. I. THE INQUIRY. " What mean ye by these stones ? '' 1. By what suggested J A representative from each tribe selected a large stone from the bed of the river Jordan, and these twelve stones were set up in Gilgal, where the people spent the first night after the crossing. The importance of erect· ing this memorial is indicated by the number of times it is referred to in these chapters (iii. 12; iv. 5 ; and iv. 20). A conspicuous heap of stones waB the cue• tomary method of directing attention to a particular scene of some remarkable occWTence, and a,ccordingly stones were also placed in the Jordan where the priests' feet had stood. But the memorial at Gilgal would be mor~ enduring, and could not !ail to excite attention each time that the national assembly was held there, as was frequently the case (See 1 Sam. xi. 15, and 2 Sam. xix. 15). It was contrary to the law to erect a carved image, for fear of idolatrous practices, but rude stones served the purpose. The " sensible " is more impressive than the abstr~?t· Ignorant per- bons and children who he.d not yet learned to read, to whom wntmg would be use- less, conld appreciate the significance of such a memorie.l. 2. By whom asked .i It ie the question of children whose curiosity has been (IH, IV, 1-24.] THE BOOK OF JOSIIOA. 6!J
o.wakened. What child in Altorf but must have Inquired respecting the statue of William Tell, or in Lucerne a.bout the lion sculptured by Thorwa.ldsen to com- memorate the deaths of the Swiss guards ? Young people a.re not to be dis- couraged, but stimula.ted to put questions for information. The test of a good teacher is found in his ability to induce his pupils to make inquiries spontaneously. And the lesson may be of use to older people, not to be ashamed to confess igno- rance, but to ask for enlightenment. 3. By whom answered! The fathers are to make the reply, explaining the intention of the "sign" to their interested children. Parents a.re the proper persons to satisfy the inquiries of their offspring. There is an implicit trust reposed in their statements which is not eo readily accorded to strangers. The remarks of J oehua illustrate the necessity of pa.rents attending to the religious training of their children. Can it be deemecl sufficient merely to provide food and clothing for the body, and secular learning for the mind, and to allow the moral and spiritual faculties to be neglected ? " Godliness is the best learning." Joshua knew that the deepest impressions are often created in childhood. The clay is then easily moulded; the tree has not yet grown stubbornly crooked, and can be straightened; the white pa.per, if l'lot quite a, blank, has still much space left for godly teachings. A sculptor once engraved his own name at the base of a statue, and covering this with plaster, cut therein the Emperor's name and titles, knowing that as years went on the plaster would vanish, and the first inscription become legible. So does early piety become dimly observable sometimes in the rush of pleasure and the turmoil of business, and then the storms of life sweep away the overlaying strata, and the desires of childhood, the gospel learnt at a mother's knee, the prayer offered to the God of his fathers, these stand out in all their vividness as in the former days. II. GENERAL LESSONS TO BE DERIVED. 1. The wondrous works of God are for all time. Their impressiveness and utility are not intended to termin11,te with their i=ediate effects. They exemplify His power, i;,nd teach all men reverence (ver. 24). Of no avail to plead absence, the recital to us is sufficient to move our hearts. The demand for a repetition of miracles in order to convince each generation in its turn is extravagant and unrea- sonable. These works of God exhibit also His favour to His people, ancl incite to trust and love, if we can declare, " This Goel is our God for ever ancl ever." . 2. The importance of studying Scripture history. Not that we would insist so st.rongly on the distinction between " sacred'' and " profane " history. For all history is sacred, all events being under the control of the Almighty, and evincing His moral administration of the world. Yet Scripture is authoritative, presents us with inspired comments on character ancl actions, and in many places strips off t.c.e tlrn veil o.ncl affords us clear o.nd certain glimpses of the movements of Deity. As distinguished from mere cleclara.tions of the nature of God's attributes, history shows us God in operation, and the picture is helpful to true ancl definite concep- tion. It furnishes us not merely with a statement, but with an illustrative proof. 3. God expects men to propagate His fame 4. The use of a memorial. The stones were for a "sign" to excite inquiry arnl to prevent past history from sinking into utiler oblivion. Events the most illustrious are easily forgotten. There is need of enshrining their remembrance in some per- manent form. Read the mournful ta.le of Israel's ungra.tefol want of recollection in Psa. lxxviii. Again aucl ago.in " they forgttt his works and the wonders he ho.d showecl them.'' Writing has been the chief method of preserving the memory of famous deeds. When resorted to in time it forbids suspicion of legendary exaggerations, o.nd there is not the temptation to relic-worship which "signs" foster. The Jewish clispenso.tion was emphatically the age of symbols, but the gospel ho.s di6pensed with them almost altogether. Of the m!ro.cles of Christ _there ar~ no genuine memorials, save the nu.rratives of the Evangelists ancl the Chr1st10,n Church itself. What has been the effect upon ourselves of a perusal of the Gospels? Are they merely " idle tales,'' or have they revealed to us the love o! Goel, ancl His willingness to receive His erring children ?-A. 70 THE BOOK OF JOSRU A. [en. 1v. 1-24.