Ycrs. li-25.-God for ,ts. The numbers, strength, and fortified security of tho sewn nations made the conquest of Palostiue a task of diniculty, and might naturally produce a di,heartcning c-flect on the invaders. I. A !s"A1THAL FEAR. (Yer. 1 i.) Like disheartening feelings may assail ourselves in J rcscncc- of the strong spiritual opposition to be encountered in seeking to win the world for Christ. Onr enemies are neither weak nor few; we will do well not to underrate them. The larger part of the globe is yet unoccupied by Christianity. Heathen systems are in possession, supported by the combined influences of tradition, custom, prejudice, and superstition, and presenting an apparently impregnable front _to the thin ranks of their assailants. At home, how much of the Christianity is merely nominal! and how much of it is corrupted! We live in days of intense worldliness. The sceptical spirit, likewise, is pronounced and active. Drain and pen power of the highest order b enlisted in its service. Unbelieving science, infidel philosophy, rationalism in the Church. The press is a tower of strength to anti-Christian views of life and duty. While, at the other end of the social scale, the multitudes are sunk in indiflercnce and ,ice. How are all these enemies to be overcome? May we not fear that., work as we "·ill, we cannot succeed? The fears are groundless; but they are not "·ithout their use, if they make us feel that the conquest of the world is not to be achieved without much hard fighting. II. A GROR-D OF ENCOURAGEMENT. (Vers. 18-22.) This encouragement resolves itself into the simple truth that God is for us. He is mightier than our enemies, and will ,rnrk on our behalf to secure their overthrow. 1. With supernatural power. Jn the 1 ast he bad shown " signs and wonders," and had brought forth his people. with a miglny ban~ (vers. 18, 19). The same power would help them still. It is encouraging to recall the supernatural strength for conquest which the gospel has already displayed. 'l'Link of our own land penetrated by a faith which sprang up 1800 years ago in remote, de~pised Judrea, with churches for Christ's worship dotting almost every street of e,ery city, town, village, hamlet, throughout its length and breadth! How Utopian ,1·ou ld such a work of conquest have seemed at the -beginning-a dream of insanit.y 1 And this Di,ine energy for conquest inheres in the gospel to-day as truly as it did of old. 2. With providential aids (ver. 20). "Hornets "-types of secret, providential allie8 working under God's direction. The forces of providence are on the side of those who arc working for the advancement of bis kingdom. There are such secret allies in men's o,rn !,carts. ·we may compare to the hornets the secret thoughts and feelings-the s:ings of conscience, guilty fears, feelings of dissatisfaction, etc.-wbich, operating "itLin, drirn men out to join issue with the Spirit in his truth. God has bis" hornets" also fur arousing bis own children out of their sloth and self-indulgence and forgetfulness uf ciuty-sharp trials, vexations, griefs, etc. III. A METHOD oF CONQUEST. "Little by little" (ver. 22). A law of providence and grace. Little by little God gives a man conquest over the evil in self, and bis nature i's sanctified. Little by little the world is conquered for Christ. 'l'be reason of the law is oL\'ious. There is no advantage in having more than can be rightly used; e.g. a wan who has more money than be can turn to good account, who bas a larger estate than !,e can manage, who reads more books than he can mentally digest. The best 1uctl,od is "little by little "-mastering, consolidating, using what we have, beforn La,liug to get more.-J. 0.
Yers. 25, 26.-The cursed thing. The Israelites were not to desire the silver and golil on the graven images. 'l'hey were not to take it. 'l'bey were not to bring it into God's Louse. They were to detest and abhor it, to count it an abomination, a cursed thing, and to beware lest, by lusting after it, they became accursed like unto it. We are taught a lesson- J. OF DISINTERESTEDNESS IN (fop's s~RVICE. No QJ.otive of gaiq was t9 be 111iowcd to OH, VII, 1-26.] THE nooK OF DEUTERONOMY.
mingle with their work. Their service was to be disinterested. Under the cloak of religious zeal there was to be no gratiflcation of covetousness. II. OF AVOIDING O00ABIONB OF BIN. The gold and silver of the idols tended to ensnare. 'fhere would be a temptation to a superstitious and idolatrous use of it (Judg. viii. 27). ' III. OF REFUSING GAIN DERIVED FROM IMMORAL BOUROEB. The Church is not profited by an influx of the money of the worldling. Still less are the gains of sin to be coveted by her: money derived from gambling, immoral speculation, bubble companie~, gin-palaces, sale of irreligious and immoral books, etc. IV. OF HEARTY DETESTATION OF EVIL, The gildings of vice have an attraction for many who dislike the thing itself. But vice is to be abhorred in its gilded forms, as in every other, "Looking begets liking."-J. 0.