the Goel of the Old Testament and of the N~w, e.nd makes void the gospel of Jesus Ch,;si.. Surely superstition itself is better the.n this denial of the loving Fatherhood of Goel. The lesson here concerns spiritual re.ther than temporal blessings, but it n0ne the less contains a pro~est _e.gainst the sceptical spirit which would lead us to tlunk 1t unnecessary to mamtam by pre.yer a,n a.ttitude of continuC1l dependence on God. III. HEAVENLY LIGHT SHALL NEVER FAIL HIM WHO IS FIGHTING IN GOD'S CAUSE" .Joshua asked for light, that he might destroy God's enemies. So must the Christian a.sk for light, that he may distinguish friends from foes-truth from falsehood. He has the light of God's Word, which, coming direct from God, is symbolised by the sun; and the light of man's preaching of that Word, which, inasmuch as it only reflect.s the Word itself, is not inaptly typified by the moon. We need not fear that that light will ever fail us; and yet we do well to pray that it may continue to be afforded us. We may, in the strength of faith, pray that the sun may for us stand still upon Gibeon and the moon in the valley of Ajalon, until God be avenged on His enemies, sin and falsehood and their allies, through our means. lY. v\'E SHALL" SPEAK OF HIS TESTIMONIE~ EVEN DEFORE KINGS, AND SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED." Joshua. makes a great point of the subjugation of the kings to the people of Israel. He makes his captains set their feet upon their necks to show that none can resist the armies of the Lord. (1) So our Joshua tells us that we shall stand "before go,ernors and kings for his sake." And so it has been in the history of IDs Church. " The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers took counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed." First, in the case of those who first preached the gospel. It was preached for three centuries in direct defiance of the highest human authority, among Jews and Gentiles alike. Next, the defenders of true e.gainst false doctrine, of justice and mercy as against violence and cruelty, had to stand before kings and rebuke them in the name of the Lord. v\"hen the great re.ive.l of zeal and reverence for God's Word took place in the fifteenth century, the influence of the mighty was frequently exerted to crush it. And so it will e,er be. "Not many mighty, not 11:1any noble," are to be found in re-,.ivals of faith e.nd zeal. Authority frowns on them, prescription is against them, force is invoked to put them down, yet they thrive. The hand of man is powerless against the truth. The battle is long and fierce, but it is won at last. And the principles but lately despised are triumphant. Their holders put " their feet on the necks of kings," for the rulers who resisted to the utmost are forced to own the power of the truth against which they contended as long as they were able. Thus we learn the lesson of confidence taught by J osbua, "Fear not, neither be dismayed, be strong and of a good colliage, for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight." Again (2) we learn the same confidence against tyrant lusts," which war against the soul." Long and obstinate is the conflict; but ifit be waged in faith and prayer, the Lord fights for us out of heaven; light is shed upon our onward path, the light of a right judgment and a Christian prudence, until at last we put our feet upon the necks of those " kings" that would have enslaved us, and· then our Joshua slays them, that they trouble us no more.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-.Ado'llli-zedek, a l,esaon for naticna and individuals. These Jebusitee had two or three ideas at least which are worth remarking. They had a true idea. of the essential condition of a nation's prosperity-for the people of J ebus had called their city" Salem "-that is, "peace." And the title of their king was Melchi- zedek, or Adoni-zedek-King or Lord of Righteousness. These ne,mes are amongst the earliest contributions to the science of political economy. The one name, " Salem," contains as much valuable suggestion as is found in many books ou "the wealth of nations." The second condenses all principles of sovereignty into a single word. No one is a good ruler unless the title Adoni-zedek would suit him. Ring or Parliament, the Father in his family, the Prime Minister in his Cabinet, OH, X, 1-48.] THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 175