I. '.fm: POSITION OF THESE ISRAELITES. After years of wandering they were penmtted at 111st to tread the soil of the land of promise. They might well indulge feelings of gratification at the thought of their surroundings, that the wilderness was passed, and their eyes beheld the country which their fathers had in vain desired to see. A spo~ had been selected where the tabernacle should remain, being, according to the promise and prophecy of God," in the midst of all their tribes." Still the Israelites Imel only attained to 11 half-way position. The rest of arrival must be succeeeleel by the warfare of acquisition before they coulel reach the rest of enjoy• ment. ~ ehov11h hael granteel to them the Janel of the enemy, had conelucteel them safely thither; now let41.hem grasp the privilege placed so near. Few of God's gifts but necessitate effort on the part of the recipients, efforts to appropriate anel improve. According to the old fable, treasures are burieel in the fields, anel only diligent search and cultivation will bring them to light anel make us master of them. What men pay for or have a hand in securing, they value ; what they strive after, they esteem; hence the necessity laid upon us to labour in order to receive is a beneficial law. II. WHAT THE REPROOF OF THE TEXT ARGUES UPO~ THE PART OF THE REPROVED. (1) Indolence of disposition. It was doubtless pleasing to the Israelites to inelulge for a season their love of ease. They could live for a time on the bounty of their brethren and on the fertile produce of the land which had cost them no trouble to till. They were " slack to go in to possess the land." Indolence is one of the most difficult foes to overcome. The great majority evince a decided disinclination to energetic exercise of their powers. In elolence is not only a state of privative loss in respect both of cha.racter and happiness, it is also a dangerous state, leaving man open to any incursion of the arch enemy. History abounds in instances of failure on the part of men to become great because they relaxed their efforts and progress ceased. A little longer struggling and the summit of ambition and fame had been scaled. "Ielleness," says Seneca, "is the burying of a living m~n." (2) Insensi- bility to the privileges possible to be acqwired. Desire of gaining an end in view is the chief incentive to exertion, and the strength of the elesire depends upon the amount of appreciation of the advantages which will be thereby secured. He who is not attracted by the pictures drawn of heaven will not manifest any resolute endeavours to get there. That kind of exhortation is most successful which causes hearers to glow within them at the thought of the precious jewels which may be obtaineel by seeking. Emotions are regulated by the keenness or dulness of our perceptions. (3) Forgetfnlness of direct command. Sloth was, in fact, disobedience. The very purpose for which Goel had preserved the tribes was, that they might, in obedience to His behests, occupy their respective territories, anel drive out tile inhabitants who had defiled the land. Many persons excuse their dilatoriness in complying with the precepts of Scripture by various pleas which discover an insuffi- cient acknowledgment of the obligation resting upon them not merely to leave undone what ought not to be done, but to do at once what they ought to do. In this they are verily guilty. We must not be oblivious of the sins of omission as well as 0f commission. Woe to us if we know our Lord's will and do it not! Constantly let the inquiry be made, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? " Ill. THE APPLICATION OF THE FOREGOING, To Christian attai11ments. The Christian life is elescribed in many terms, nearly all of which represent it as a progress, a "reaching forth unto things that are beforn." It is called a warfare, a rnce, a pilgrimage, 11 building, &c., denoting continuous effort, in the_ shape of assault or resistance to assault. There are strongholds to be taken, plaIDs to be seized, fountains auel woods and rivers to be gained, trophies to be won. Tile followei·s of Christ are expected to aelvance in faith, hope, an<l: love, in knowledg.e, purity and holiness, in gifts and graces, in self-discipline and improvement, and m usefulness to others and to the Chtu"ch. To secret disciplqhip. There was a time when you were under the servile yoke of sin, and being released entered l he wilderness of doubt to be affrigbted by the thunders of_ the law. But you h,ern founel a High Priest, a Mediator, who has also been 9: J?~hve_rer to lead Y.OU rnto t,he land of rest. Yon have believed in Christ, and are i·eJoicmg m your cond1t1on. Bnt you have not taken yow· rightful positio11 among your brethren. Some ue engageJ. TR'E BOOK OF :tosttuA. [cR. xnt 1-111.
in tending the ground, planting and sowing, erecting houses and expelling the enemy, whilst yon are content to remain by the tabernacle of the Lord. You do not enjoy the privileges of communion at the table of the Lord, and of occupying your station in the Church of Clu·ist. To stay where you are is nu injmy to your- eeh-es, it is a loss to the Chlll'ch, and dishonours the Redeemer.-A.