The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 421

rn'.tions, uuder _various oirc_umstanoes, will sure~y best en~ourage th~t ~atholic spirit ol s,vmpathy with all that 1s great and good, without wh1oh no Clmst1an perfection can exist. " Let us then praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us." Let t.he ,T osephs and ,J oshuas _of the new covenant be )ield in th~ deepest honour among us. And thus we she.II nse from the contemplat10u of then· struggles to the vision of the Great Ce.pt,1tin of their SR,lmtion, by whom alone they had victory in the fight. III. THE INFLUENCE OF A GOOD MAN LIYES AFTER HIM, As long 0,8 the memory of Joshua's personal influence was felt, so long did the children of Israel keep to the right way. Or rather, perhaps, we may better put it thus: the example and influence of .Joshua. gradue.lly gathered round him e. number of men like-minded who were placed in positions of authority, and who were ce.pa.ble, like him, of iruiding and directing others. '\'i'hen they died, their pla.ces were filled by men whose recollection of J oshue.'s conduct was less distinct, and who possessed in o. less <legree his power of ruling. Thus Israel fell into disobedience, and it is worthy of remn.rk that when oppression brought them to their senses, it was Othniel, one of those on whom the example of Joshua may be supposed to have had most effect ~hat the~· looked for delfrere.nce. We see these facts (a) repeated constantly in th~ histo1•~- of God's Church. (1) The great leader of a religious movement trnins e, number of men like-minded, who guide and direct the movement in his spirit after, he has passecl away in the spirit, and for the ends that he intended. But (2) a time comes when the first fervour of the movement dies away, when its principles be- come popular, and thereby -rulge.rieed. They are conupted by the e.dmixtw·e of the worldly element, the peculiar features of the system are unduly pressed, and depri,·ed of that be.le.nee which they P,Ossessed in its founder's mind by being kept in check by a wider sympathy and e. larger grasp. From e. revive.I of forgotten truths the movement degenerates into e. sect or party; the salt has lost its savour, and there needs some other regenerator to arise, who she.II give a new direction to the flagging spiritual energies of men. There is no need to give instances of this, They will occur in numbers to every student of history. Also (b) the same truth meets us in the life of individuals. Whether in e. public and private position, either as a minister of Christ, or as e. member of e. congregation, God is pleased to raise up some one whose life of piety is at once an encouragement and an incentive to others to lead the same kind of life_ He dies, and for e. long time his name is e. household word to those who knew him. From his grave he ie e. preacher of right- eousness to those who live near and where he is known. His example is brought forward, his words are quoted, to those who have never seen him. And so the tradition of his excellence lives on among those who come after him. Yet it grows fainu,r as the years roll on, until it becomes e. tradition of the past. Others come in his place who knew him not. Other influences are at work in the pulpit where he preached, the ·pariah where he lo.boured, the place where he dwelt. H.ie influence has not reallv died out-good influence, as we have said, never dies-for the good seed he sowed sprung up in the most unexpected quarters, and in the most unex- pected ways. But his own place knows him no more. Hie name is now but e. shadow in the distant past. It is no longer an influence full of power. Very often there is a declension in the neighbourhood when the good man is taken away. Yery often the aged who remembered him have too good cause to lament a change which is not for the better. But the good work goes on. The torch of love flames more brightly, now here, and now there. But Goel does not fail to rai_se up de- liverers for Hie people. His Spirit does not cease to work powerfully m human hearts. His faithful servants still continue to battle against sin, and shall do so until He come again. tlR, XlUV, 29-98,) TRF, BOOK OF .J08RUA. 373