charms them t,o integrity, is a root of brotherliness a,nd peace. Especia,lly should all leaders of their fellows cultiva,te this honour. It is not too common a,mongst either sovereigns or statesmen. ~en are ,a;pt to forget the,~ selfishness is vulgar, ""hether it seeks t-0 get a throne, m a.mb1t1on, or to keep its hulfpence in sordid avarice. All selfishness is mea,n; and in the great it is greatly mischievous. It breeds civil wn,rs ; it corrupts the patriotism of a people; it prevents the lise of that confidence in the justice and the patriotism a,ud the wisdom of the rulers whioh gives the nations rest. In leitders in smaller circles-boroughs, chtu'ches-there is the same scope for this high principle. Israel was blessed in this, that its most unselfish man was its leader. Aud he who was highest in place wa,s highest in honour. Secondly observe- II. HONOUR HAS ITS RE'\\'ARD AT LAST. He had had abundant reward all through. Rivalries a,nd competitions which, under a selfish ruler, would ha,ve broken out, and perhaps flamed up into strife and tumult, are repressed by the silent. dignified example of one whose thoughts were above the vulgar delights of wealth. And this reward of being able to compose the conflicting claims of a great multitude was the grandest rewa,rd he could have. To win victory over his nation's foes, and keep contentment.a,ud peace in her own borders, was reward indeed. But he does not go without even the material reward. All Israel come and give him Ti=a,th-serah. We cannot identify it now with any definiteness. But it was doubtless worthy of the nation that gave it-of the man that received it. Honour often seems, to the coarse-hearted, to go without reward. But that is only because the reward is of a sort too subtle for coarse vision to detect. It has always a grand reward in the influence with which it crowns the bead of him who practises it. It ha,s, besides, even common outw&rd rewards. The race is not a,lways to the s~ift, nor the gold to the greedy_ We make our own world, and teach men how to deal with ns. The world is froward to the froward ; it is honourable to the honourable. The fairest treatment men ever give is given to those who treat them fairly_ The best masters get the best service. The truest friends form richest friendships. Honourable men r&rely meet with dishonourable treatment. And without any clamour or fighting they get a better Tim.na,th-serah than in any other way they could have gained. " Trust in the Lord a,nd do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." Lastly observe- III. THE INHERIT.ANOE GOT BY DESERT, AND HELD WITHOUT BEING ENVIED, IS THE PERFECTION OF A LOT. Not all riches comfort us. ill-gotten riches curse us. Riches gotten by others and passed on to us are insipid. Wealth gathered by penury is a burden. But the lot that comes a,s the reward of diligence, consecr!l.- tion, honour, has a special sweetness, and the man who gets it has a special power of enjoying it. Especially when it is nngrndged; no neighbour coveting it; no peasant thinking that by right it shonld be his ; all men glad to see it in such worthy hands. We shall do well to resolve that we will have no fortune and no inheritance which does not in its way resemble TIMNATH·SERAH.-G. Yers. 49, 50.-Joshua's inheritance. I. JOSHUA RECEIVED _AN INHERITANCE il!ONG ws BRETHREN. After labour and battle come rest and recompense. Though Josh= was a man of war he was not to spend all his days in fighting. It is some- times well that the active should have a quiet time of retirement in old age. For all God's servants there is an inheritance of rest when this world's work is done (Heh. iv. 9). II. JOSHUA'S INHERITAKCE WAS GIVEN ACCORDING TO A DIVINE PROMISE. True derntion is founded on unselfish motives. Yet the prospect of reward is added by God's grace as an encow·agement. Christ looked forward to His rewa,rd (Heb. xii. 2); We are only guilty of acting from low motives when the idea, of personal profit is allowed to conflict with duty, or when it is the chief motive leading us to perform any duty. III. JOSHUA'S INHERITANCE WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF HIS BRETHREN. He was the ruler of the people, yet he took no regal honours. He had led them to victory, ;vet he received no exceptional rew&rd. l,ike Cincinna.tus, be quieUy retired to CH, XX, 1-U.] 'fHE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 28!)
p1ivate life when he had completed his great task. This is a grand example of un- selfislmess, simplicity, and humility. It ia noble to covet high service rather than rich 1·ewards. Ambition is a sin of low selfishness cloaked with a false semblance of magnificenco. 'fhe Christian is callerl to fulfil the highest service with the lowliest humility (Luke xxii. 26). Christians are all brethren under one ;\,Jaster (Matt. xxiii. B). Joshua is a type of Christ in his great work and unselfish humility (John xiii. 13-16). IV. JOSHUA RECEIVED HIS INHERITANCE FROM THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE. He was not forward to take it for himself. He submitted to the choice and will of the people. It is a mark of true magnanimity to refuse to use influence and power to gain personal advantages. Joshua is a noble example of a man who exercised authority over others without developing a spirit of despotism which would fetter the popular choice. It is a great thing to have a strong, united government ruling over a free people. V. JOSHUA DID NOT RECEIVE BIS INHERITANCE TILL AFTER ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE HAD RECEIVED THEIR POSSESSIONS. He was first in service, last in reward. The true Christian spirit will put self last. He who is rightly devoted to duty will not seek for his reward before his task is completed. The wodd is too often tardy in recognising those who have rendered it most valuable service.-W. F. A.