Vers. 16-31.-A great decision. One of the beautiful things about Scripture is the fine endings of all courses in which God has been leader. This book is no exception. The last new we have of Israel shows them entering into a solemn co\'enant with God, and one which, speaking roundly, all who ma.de it kept. They respond grandly to Joshua's cha.llenge. "God forbid that we should serve other gods.·, And even when reminded of the diflicnlty of serving Him, their purpose remains unshaken. In this great decision there are many things worth noting. I. HE "\"\'HO LEADS MEN RIGHTLY wn.L NEVER LACK FOLLOWERS. Some say, Go, and men go not. Bnt when they say, " Come with us," they find men respon- sive. Ad'l"ice that costs nothing is futile, but example that costs much constrains, J oshna leads grandly, because he moves before the people. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." It is strange the contagiousness of faith and good- ness ; the force of unconscious influence. The courage of another wakes courage.; the honour of another wakes honour. The faith of others is itself " evidence of the things unseen.'' A man like Joshua is a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fue bv night, that " marshals men the way that they were going." However arduous the calling to which you summon men, if you can say, "As for me, I will ,erve," you will always be answered by some, "We will serve the Lord." Despair cot of holy and sa,ving in:B.nences. Every one marching on the Divine way of duty, mercy, faith will have more followers than he dared to hope for. It is the grandest illustration of the influence of man on man that we can guide men even to heaven itself by the constraint of a good example. Note this, the good leader bas always good followers. [See a beautiful treatment of this subject in Horace Bushnell's sermon on ' U ncouscious Influence.') Secondly observe- H. A GREAT DECISION SHOULD BE SOLEMNLY AND FORMALLY MADE, He leads them to make a formal covenant with God. He constrains them at once to give up their id?ls, and in the spot where Jacob had buried the idols which his family had brou~ht with them from Pada.na.ram he buries them ; and he sets up a pillar as a memo~aJ. These se\'eral things all tend to fortify and consolidate the resolution to w.hich they had come. Sometimes we make a great decision, but fail to keep it through aome neglect to fortify it with special solemnities. One great object of the ~11~ra- ments ordained by the Saviour, unquestionably, was to give to religious deo1B1ons this solemn and formal character. They were meant to bring vague feelings to a. point; to detach utterly from the world; to atta.ch strongly to the Saviour, If we mean to serve Christ, the idols should be brought out and buried, e.nd the cove- OH, XXIV. 20-88.) THE BOOK OJ:<' JuSHUA.
na,nt rites of God entered into. There should be openness for without confession we remain constantly amid ento.nglements. 'fhere should 'be thoroughness, for a gre11t cl111nge is often more easily made than a, gradual one. There should be the s11cr11ment11l covenant and vows that we may have at once the strength and the constraint which come with the feeling th11t we belong to God. As here the cleter- mination was a.vowed-carried out thoroughly-solemnised in a covenant-so onrs should be. Men do not know what they lose by a secret and uncovenanted sanctity. Wlrnn we are secret disciples there is a perpetual danger of the secresy r1estroying the discipleship. We lose the pl'Dtection of a definite poRition, the power that lies in fellowship, and much of the usefulness which our goodness might c:irry if it were not counteracted by our reserve. If you are deciding to serve God, let your decision be thorough, open, sacramental. Observe lastly- III. THE GRAND RESULTS OF THIS GREAT DECISION. Sometimes good resolves are badly kept. They are like" grass on the house-tops, which withereth afore it groweth up." Whether they are well kept or not depends largely on whether they are well made. Generally it will be found whe1·e they are broken that there was some defective part : sin not wholly left ; the surrender to God not absolutely made. Here the great decision is worthily and thoroughly made, and the grandest results flow from it. (1) They keep the covenant they enter into with God. From the 31st verse we might conclude what from Judges ii. 7, 10 we learnt explicitly, that all that generation which made the covenant kept it. \Ve are called to resolve on what seem impossibilities: to deny self; to walk with God ; to follow the Saviour's leading. But when the great resolve is well made, the very making of it ensures the keeping of it. " Well begun is half done." Each step well taken developes strength to take the next. Each good deed done imparts the power to do one still better. God supplies the grace on which men depend. His smile heartens; His providence helps Lhem. Be not afraid to enter into co,enant with God. Perhaps none ever finally fall away from a great decision, thoroughly and religiously made. (2) They have a period of freedom from assault in which to complete their occupation of the land. This period he.a been computed to be thirty- two years (Smith's 'Diet. Bible,' art. Chronology). Godliness is not detrimental, but profitable for all things. A nation devout is a nation sober, united, strong; one left unattacked, or easily resisting an attack. It was of great moment that they should settle down, become accustomed to possession, multiply in strength, secure whatever of the inheritance was still in the enemy's hands. And, following God, they enjoy the favour of God, and find just the period of rest which they require. Is there not something here to which the experiences of individual men furnish many a parallel ? Your earthly welfare will not be wrecked by your Christian action. Your honesty will-promote, it will not prevent success. No lie and no dishonour is necessary for getting on in life, only the weak ancl foolish think so. It is not the grasping that inherit the earth, but the meek. It is wisdom, not greed, that has " in her right hand length of days and in her left h11nd riches and honour." It is one of God's " open secrets " that the shortest way to the enjoyment of anything we desire is simply deserving it. Enter into covenant with God, and keep His covenant, and "thou shalt dwell in the l11nd, and ,erily thou shalt be fed."-G.