so we feel these graves were a. leavening consecration which made Palestine ind€ed a holy land. England is rich in graves. Its soil is rich with the dust of the great and good. " Ha.If the soil has trod the rest In poets, heroes, martyrs, sages." What impulses of courage, of philanthropy, and consecration have come from the graves of Bruce, of Howard, of the Wesleye, of a. multitude that none can number? If we have the Divine life within us, death cannot end our neefulnese. On the contrary, its touch canonises. Death makes the neglected counsel the revered oracle; and the neglected example the pattern on the mount; and the despised creed the life-giving truth. " Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it a.bides a.lone ; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.'' Death robe us of ruler- ship over a. few things only to give us rulership over many things. Let us live so that, like these, our graves may brighten and bless the land of our buriaJ.-G. Ver. 82.-Joseph's bones. I. THE BURIAL OF JosEPB's BONES WAS A JUSTIFICA· TI0N OF BI!! FAITH, Joseph had been so sure that God would give the promised land to Israel that he had made his brethren swear to bring up his bones with them (Gen. 1. 25). (1) True faith will lead to decisive action. It is vain to profess to believe in our heavenly inheritance unless we behave consistently with om· belief. (2) Faith is concerned with the unseen and the future. If we could see all there would be no room for faith. (8) Faith is justified on earth by providence. It waits its full justification in heaven. As J oseph's faith was justified in the • entrance into Canaan, so the old Messianic faith was justified in the advent of Christ, and the Christian faith will be justified a.t the " cousumma.tion of all things." II. THE BURIAL OF JosEPH'S BONES WAS AN EXAMPLE OF DEFERENCE TO THE WISHES OF THE DEAD. It is well that children should respect the wishes of departed pa.rents. Much good may be learnt by considering the thoughts and purposes of our ancestors. Th~ people which has no respect for its past is wanting in reverence and in depth of national life. Yet there must be a. limit to the influence of antiquity. The ancients lived in the childhood of our race; wisdom should grow with enlarged historical experiAnce. At best they were fallible men, and cannot claim to extinguish the reason and responsibility of their descendants. ~ ew circumstances often render the roles and precedents of antiquity entirely obsolete. III. THE BURIAL OF JosEPB's BONES WAS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE ONE:-!ESS OF MANKIND. Ages had passed since the death of Joseph. Yet his bones were pre- served and buried in the very" pa.reel of groun~ which Jacob ha~ bo_ught." There i~ a fami!-y unity, a nationo.l unity,_a. chu:ch °:°'ty, a humo.n solido.r1ty. Th'; po.st lives on m the present. Men are msens1bly linked and wehlecl together. ,, e are members one of another. Therefore we should consider the goo(l of each other, and of the whole co=unity, and should take note of past experience and future requirements. IV. THE BURIAL OF JosEPH'S BONES REMINDS us 0!' THE DELAY WHICH PRECEDES THE ENJOYMENT OF THE HIGHEST BLESSINGS. There were centuries of delay between the promise and the possession of Cana.an. Many ages passed a.fter the first 8,8 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [on. XXIV. 29-88.
prophecy of redemption and before the coming of Christ. The second advent of Christ has often been anticipated by the Church e.nd longed for by Hie people, but it. is not yet accomplished. The Christian must wait ou earth dUl'ing years of i,enice before recei,;ng his heavenly inheritance. 'l'his is occasioned (1) by our unhelief-as the unbelief of Israel defe1Ted possession of Co.nMn; (2) by the need of fitness-the people needed to be trained iu the wilderness; the world needed 11reparing for Christ, who came in the "fnlness of time;" Clnistians must bo made "meet for the inherite,nce of the saints in light;" the world must be prepored for the full e,nd perfect reign of Christ." Yet, note, the promise is not violated hecause the fulfilment is deloyed. Finally, the Christian inheritance will not be the unconscious possession of a grave in the promised land, but the enjoyment of heaven ·with the faculties of an eternal life.-W. F, A, HOMILETICAL INDEX
'TO THE BOOK OF JOSHUA.
THEME CHAPTER I. - PA.GE THEME CHAPTER IV. PA.GB
Joshua's Commission 5 The Memorial .. 66 Consolation for Bereaved Workers 7 The Children's Question 68 God's Gift to the Church 7 Memorials 70 Joshua, the Successor of Moses . . 9 Memorial Stones 70 The Source of Joshua's Confidence 11 Grace for Beginners 72 The Leader's Promise . . 12 Prophets and Priests-The Order of A Renewed Covenant . . 12 Precedence Memorials .. 74 The Study of the Bible . . 14 75 Joshua's Command to the People 18 The Passage of Jordan the Symbol Joshua and the Reubenites 18 of Dea!h 77 Duties of Brotherhood . . 19 An Agreement Remembered 21 CHAPTER V. The People's Answer 23 The Great Renewal of the Covenant 81 Loyalty 24 The Two Sacraments of the Old Covenant 84 CHAPTER II. Sacramenta.1 Consecration of Life . 84 The Passover and the Cessation of Rahab and the Spies .. 29, 39 the Manna .. 87 Forethought .. 32 The Special and the Customary 88 A Brand Plucked from the Fire 33 The Vision and the Command 92, 100 The He.riot Rahab 35 The Captain of the Host 93 Rahab's Faith .. 37 A Soldier's Interview with h.is The Oath of the Spies, and their Captain 95 Return to Joshua 41 The Captain of the Church 97
CHAPTER III. CHAPTER V!. 44 The Siege of Jericho 102 The Command to Cross Jordan 46 Strongholds 104 The Crisis of Life Preparation for beholding Displays Delusive Trust 106 49 So.!vation : its Cause and Effects .. 108 of Divine Power The Entry into the Promised Land 50 A City of Destruction .. 112 God's Wonders 61 56 CHAPTER VIL The Passage of the J ordo.n 58 The Siu 115 The Di~sion of th~ Waters 60 Sin Committed 117 HOMILETICAL INDEX.
THEMJ.: I"AGE Tmt:Mlt PAOB
The Way of the Transgressor 118 Hearts Hardened by God 197 The Accnrsed Thing 120 Doomed to Destruction . . 198 The Hu!:nilie.tion 123 The Extermination of the Cana11.n- Sin Discovered .. 124 ites 199 The Detection .. 126 The Destmction of the Giants 200 Sin Confessed .. 128 Rest from We.r 202 A Sin of Greed 129 Victory and Rest 203 Sin Punished .. 191 The Promise Fulfilled 203