reckoned on more than natural probabilities, arguing, "The Lord is with us; and thoir defence is departed from them." But overborne by the numbers of those on the other side, and by the unbelief of the crowd, they can only grieve over what they cannot avert. And Israel turns back to the wilderness-where the carcases of all the grown men except these two fall before they next approach to Canaan. Now he re-appears after the conquest of the land to ask the fulfilment of the promise made by Moses to him. This_district of He~ron was consecrate~ by early recollections of Abraham. The Amontes, though driven out from the city tempo- rarily, are still in possession of the mountains about Hebron. Full of the old heroic fire, Caleb asks for a land still in the hands of enemies. Joshua grants it, and the Lord gives it him: And the land which saw his courage became his inherit- ance for generations. Let us consider a few features of this story in Numbers xiii. and xiv., and Joshua xiv. and xv. I. First observe-THERE IS NEED FOR GOOD MEN IN SUBORDINATE AS WELL AS IN EXALTED STATION. Caleb is not over all Israel, not even prince of Judah. Only a spy-he is a man of eminence, but not of_ the highest. He fills a humbler place which some would have thought not worth while adorning. But, in addition to integrity and service in those at the head of the State, you want righteousness and courage throughout all classes of it. Had they had twelve Calebs for spies the Janel would have been theirs forty years before it was. As it was, the heroism of Caleb and Joshua was not wasted. Their testimony remained, inspiring wanderings; round it the purpose of the nation crystallised. Their testimony of the possibility, of conque1ing Canaan, helped to create the possibility. Their faith was a leaven that took forty years to do it, but ultimately leavened the whole lump. In whatever station we be, remember, there is need for faith, energy, and service, and there is reward for the exercise of these in the lowly as well as in the lofty sphere. II. Secondly observe - GODLINESS DEGETS MANLINESS OF THE NOBLEST KIND. What a charm there is in mamliness, in its vigour, its honesty, in its fortitude and daring. 'What worth is in the manliness that dares to differ from friends, as well as to qefy foes. The happy union of strength and spirit, which knows not fear nor halting. Besides the charm and worth, there is great joy in it as well. It feels no dread or dismay. It enjoys the leisure of the lofty nature, and its quickenin<> self. respect. "Add to your faith manliness," says Peter. Courage to avow a~d to obey your faith. Most failures i~ conduc~ are prece~e_d by failures in courage. To face duty as well as danger reqmres hardihood of spint. Now observe the magni- ficent manliness of Caleb. It gleams throu~h his report as a spy. It is apparent in this choice of the as yet unconquered temtory. It comes out in the energy of his old age. And this simple quality in one man was of incalculable service to Israel. We all need this quality, men and women. " Our doubts o.re traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt."
More manliness would mean less falsehood, less failure, less wretchedness of appre- hension, more enterprise and grand. su?cess. And godliness begets it. For godli- ness gives larger thought? gre9:ter digruty, scope for grand purposes, consciousness of help laid up in all provulential law and processes. By communion with God man attains calmness, wis<lom_, strengt.h, and help. Neither David nor Elijah was less manly, bat ~ore so, for bemg devout. ~f you W?~d form a list of the kingliest men you will be surprised how man:\'. o~ the godh~st are m it. John Knox and Luther n.mongst teachers, Cromwell and W1lha?1 the Silent !lmong statesmen, Sir Philip Sidney and Henry Havelock among solihers. We are short of manliness because short of godliness. If 1·el_igion _ever enervates _a m~n, or wit_hers him, i_t is !I superstitions an<l not the genume tlung. Nelson said his Methodists were bis best sailol'S. Let the young note this. Godliness does not enfeeble, it enlarges every essential element of manhood. III. Thirdly observe-THE GREAT REWARDS OF CONSECRATION, That manliness W!IB its own magnificent reward, ae it produced an expansion of nature, which would be Josau.i., • • ~ 242 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [cH. XIV. 1-16,