though the ground on this aide of it is undoubtedly better surveyed. Concernina God, we shall be always in need of a revelation, however much He may reveal Himself in His works. So that it is still as true ae it ever was, in reference to our spiritual condition, that truth ie hidden from the "wise and prudent" in their own sight, and is " revealed unto babes." IV. JosllUA HAD STILL TO COMBAT NATURAL STRENGTH. To the men a"ainst J abin succeeded the campaign against the uncivilised bnt powerful Anakim~ So civilisation does not destroy our natural passions. It may (a) give them another direction, bnt it rather augments them than otherwise. The refinements of civilised life are unfavourable to brutal violence, but brutal indifference is not less common, and not less cruel. Against vulgar license the civilised man sets his face, bnt is refined licentiousness less destructive to the soul? History has proved that civilisa- tion, unchecked by Christianity, doee bnt increase the natural appetite for sinful pleasure. And it is Chrietianity alone that keeps the temptations incidental to a life of luxury within bounde. Remove that obstacle, and Nature will assert her power, and the animal in man will once more dominate civilisation to its own cruel appetites, as in past times. But (b) it is a noteworthy fact that civilised life has everywhere a fringe of aggravated naturalism. In the element that we call "rough," which is ever found where society is most highly organised, we fii,d the most shocking perversion of natural appetites, combined with their ntmost strength. Is there any place upon earth where brutality, ferocity, recklessness, animal indulgence, rages more uncontrolled by any moral consideratione, than in the "slums," as we have named them, of our greatest cities ? This is the direct product of the thoughtlessness, the eelfishnees, the recklessness of civilisation, which thrusts out of sight all that is foul and hideous of its own creation, and leaves it to fester alone. Civilisation may be won to Christianity ; but there remains a long and terrible conflict with the Anakim, those giant perverted natural forces which hang on the outskirts of civilisation. . v. JOSHUA DID NOT BURN ALL THE CITIES. That is to say, there are uses to which the discoveries of civilisation and the force of natural temperament may be put. He.zor, the centre of the combination against Joshua, was burnt. So cinlisa- tion and natural disposition, so far as they are employed for self, instead of for God and mankind, must be rooted out. But where discovery is used, not to exalt men's pride, but to increase bis knowledge of God'e ways ; not to manufacture ln.:rnries and enjoyments to be the exclusive privilege of the few, but to augment the happiness of all, then need we not destroy but welcome them. So natural disposition need not be destroyed, but converted to a good purpose. Thus the ardent temperament of a St. Paul, diverted from its misuse in fierce persecution, became the parent of a burning zeal for the diffusion of Christianity. A cold, critical spirit may become useful in ridding the true cause of false allies. A calm, unimpassioned judgment may make its possessor an useful guide to the passionate and impulsi,e. The quiet, contemplative soul may furnish abundant stores of thought for those who ha,·e no leisure to think for themselves, and a busy, active disposition may find scope for its energies in the multi1>licity of good works which our complicated state of society has brought into being. And even those passions which, wrongly directed, will cause widespread misery through sensual indulgence, may bum with e. restrained and steady and harmless fie.me in the charities of family life. VI. THE WAR LASTED MA.NY DAYS. So does the struggle (1) of the Christian Church age.inst evil, and (2) that of the Christian soul age.inst temptation. It is not (1) until the final consummation of all things, and (2) till the close of life, tha.t "the land" can "rest from war." VII. GOD IS SAID TO HARDEN MEN'S HEARTS, but only in the sense in which this is done by the operation of His laws. He has so ordained, that if a man's heart is not softened by His loving-kindness, it is hardened. The man who resists the pleadings of His Spirit becomes insensible to their influence. The man who succumbs to temptation becomes ~capable _of resistance, indifferen~ to _the beauty of holiness. The wan who apologises for vice sees no excellence 111 vutue. The ina.n who is puffed up by a sense of bis own sufficiency is unable to perceive the THE BOOK 'OF JOSHUA. [en, xr, 1-29,
enrlence for God's tmth. And this is in a sense God's doing, bec1mse He hns vvillecl that it shall be so. It is not an arbitrary law. I~ exists by a moral neces• si!y. We can see that it is but an effect following a cause. "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commA,ndmeut holy, just, and good." And if that wllich is good works evil to any, we may not blame God, but man, who bas turned his mea,t into poison, and extracted death from God's most righteous law.