thr,1ne must be considered as God's enemy. Multitudes think that if they a,re not found openly opposing religion there is naught to be complained of in their a,ttitmle 1111d conduct,. Herein they are terribly at fault. "He that is not with Me is a,ga,inst llfr." 'I110se who a,dyanee not to the help of the Lord are treated as His foes (cf. Juclg. xxi. 8 :md 1 S11111. xi. 7). Nor will God accept a divided allegiance. D::i.gon mnst fall from his pedestal when the ark of God's presence enters the· ch:1mber of the heart. How could the Israelites be true at once to JehoYah and to idols? "Ye cnnnot serve Goel and mitmmon." Religion modifies the character of every action, transforming it into 11,11 offering laid upon the altar to the glory of God. All that we haYe and are we sencl. to the Royal Mint, and recei,·e it back, stampecl with the S,,wreign's image, ancl. fashionecl. accorcl.ing to His desire. III. A FIXED RESOLYE. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshna_seta noble cxa-n1p/.e, which powerfully affected his followers. The expressed detern:unat10n of a pasto1·, a teacher, a parent ma,y produce widesprea,d beneficial results upon those under their charge. Joslm::i. showed himself fit to lead men. He did not wait to see what the majority of the people would a,pprove before he eommitted himself to a particular course of action; but boldly sta,ted his inten- tion to cleaYe with full purpose of heart unto the Lord. The Ephraimites, slow to come to the rescue in the hour of danger, but swift to claim a place of honour when a nctory has been won (Judg. xii.I, 2), ha,ve fonnd many imitators in. every ai::e._ Men who wait to see in which direction the ·current of popular feeling is r;e,tmg ere they risk their reputation or their safety by taking a decicled step. We may dislike isolation, but are not alone if the Father is with ns. Joshua's resolve was nrver regretted. What man has ever been sorry that he became a follower of Christ? Even backsliders confess that they were never happier-than when they attended to the co=andments of the Lord. True religion furnishes its votaries m.th self-endential proofs of its Divine authority in the peace of mind and satis- faction of conscience which they experience. To enjoy the favour of God is felt to be worth more than any earthly friendship or worldly gain. CoNCLusroN. This theme is suitable for the beginning of a year, when untrodden paths in,ite you to choose a method of travel Or perhaps some crisis is occurring in your life, when you are entering upon a fresh sphere of employment. Use it as a time to commence a period of devotion to God's service. Young people, decide which is the more honourable, to serve God or the world. Do not spend the finest of your days in a manner which will hereafter pierce you with remorse.-A.
Vers. 1-22.-Joshua gathers all the tribes together to Shechem, and calls for the elders r,f Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and they presented themselves before God. "And Joshua said unto the people, _Ye are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the Lord to serve Him. And they said, We a.re witnesses. So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day." There are few more beautiful incidents in the Old Testament then this renewal of the covenant between God and His people, at the moment of their entering into possession of the promised land, and on the eve of the death of J oshue.. It seems to us an admirable model of the covenant which ought to be constantly renewecl between successive generations of the people of God in all ages, and the Father in heaven. (1) Let us observe, first, that the piety of the fathers does not suffice for the sons, and that while it is a great blessing to have pious parents, and gi 1·es the children a strong vantage-ground for the spiritual warfare, it does not do away with the necessity that they should for themselYes ratify the holy resolves of their proaenitors. God ma,de a covenant with Abraham, but, nevertheless, both Isaac ana"Jacob renewed that holy covenant for themselves. And it needed, a~ we see, to be ratified again by their descendants when at length they entere_d mto possession of the promised land. So is it with ourselves. Though we had m our veins the Llood of the most gloriollB saints, their holiness would not make us the less culpable if we did not yield our own selves a living sacrifice unto God. What availi it to Le children of Abraham according to the flesh, since God is able of the stones to raise up children unto Abraham? (Matt. iii, 7.) These principles find a en. XXIV. 1-28.] THE BOOK OF JOSHUA.