whom earthly chariots are but fuel for the flame (Ps. lxviii. 17, xlvi. 9). Jehovah had not excepted 'the valley,' when He promised, "Behold, I have delivered the land into Judah's hand" (ver. 2). But Judah's faith yielded to fears, because of difficulties, when one bold blow, in dependence on Jehovah, would have destroyed the foe, and given lasting possession of the land. God is the God of the valley, as well as of the mountains. But unbelief hinders the working of God. It drew forth the marvelling of the Son of God, so that "He could do no mighty work in Capernaum (Mark vi. 5, 6). The men of Judah ran well for a time, but half-heartedness hindered further progress (Gal. v. 7). Nay more, the same cause led to their quickly losing again even some of the cities which they had conquered, as Gaza, Askelon, and Ekron. Furthermore, as men are more prone to follow the evil than the good, Judah's past courage was lost sight of, and the example of unbelief and indecision in the end, set by the leading tribe, was followed to its fatal issue by the rest.

2. The lesson to us. Hence learn (1) the unreasonableness f unbelief because of adversaries, when the Lord is for us and with us (Rom. viii. 31-39). (2) The danger of resting on past iumphs of faith, and our sole safety in enduring to the end Matt. xxiv. 13; Rev. ii. 10; 1 Cor. ix. 24-27). (3) The evil fluence upon others which a halting and undecided professor religion exercises (Rom. xii. 1, 2; 1 Kings xviii. 21; 2 Cor. 2, 3).

3. The growing degeneracy of the other tribes, following the ief tribe.-Judah had for a time set an example of decion, by utterly destroying Hormah. That city was long o devoted to destruction, but now at last was finally stroyed (see Eccl. viii. 11--13). Even the Kenites, a nonaelite people, had showed their feeling that Jehovah was th Judah, by coming up from their nomad encampment at e city of palm-trees, and dwelling among the people of God; ordingly they received a present and an abiding reward; e references at ver. 16). But Judah's failure in not destroythe inhabitants of the Philistine cities, both laid up in re for Israel a lasting scourge (and that by the hands of

the very people whom Judah had disobediently spare also influenced other less courageous tribes to make fata promises with the heathen around.

Thus (1) Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusite Jerusalem, but connived at their dwelling with ther It is true, the house of Joseph (2) evinced at first be energy in smiting Bethel, and sparing only the man, w family, who showed them the entrance, and in not a even him, when he preferred the ways of the Hittites, t among the people of God. But otherwise the house of (Ephraim and Manasseh) showed no whole-hearted zeal cause of God: thus Ephraim lost the undisputed posse Gezer by suffering the Canaanites to dwell among the Manasseh, pusillanimously and without a struggle, acc in the occupation of many leading cities and their deper by their original inhabitants, in the plain of Jezree resolute determination of the Canaanites was more match for the languid will of Manasseh. So it will when professing believers shrink from the good fight and will not endure hardship, as good soldiers of C Tim. ii. 2, 13; 1 Tim. vi. 12). The world will not inch to the man who is not resolute and courageous f nay, it will push him back, step by step, from the which he had gained: for one compromise entails a and that a third, and so on, as Manasseh lost town aft Attempt in faith great things for God, and then y confidently expect great things from God. But if, for the honour of God whom you represent, you com religious principle, condoning the world's enmity to consideration of the earthly gain to the church, where world compounds for obedience, as the house of Jos Zebulun and Naphtali, when Israel became strong, c themselves with levying tribute from the Canaanit graces will languish, your lusts will revive, and the this world will regain his hold. The only safe prin the believer is that laid down in Holy Writ (2 Cor. vi "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelie what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteous

4. Asher's degradation was still more humiliating. For the Asherites lived only by sufferance, among the Canaanites; so completely had the latter gained the upper hand: and the reason given is very significant-" for they did not drive them out." Remember, Christian, in thy conflict, not to conquer thy spiritual foes is to be conquered by them. They will push the first advantage thou givest them over thee, until step by step thou art brought down from being their master, to become their dependent vassal.

5. But the lowest point was reached by Dan.-The Amorites would not even suffer the Danites to dwell among them, but orced them into the mountains out of almost all their inheritnce, including even some cities in the mountains (ver. 35), o that they were forced to seek for room in the far away orth at Laish (ch. xviii.). Take care, professor, lest through alf-heartedness thou utterly lose the heavenly inheritance Rev. ii. 5, iii. 15, 16).

III. 1. Jehovah's threat before He punishes.-(1) The ngel of Jehovah by coming up from Gilgal' reminds Israel of is covenant by circumcision there. The same voice speaks to very backslider, "Remember from whence thou art fallen, and pent, and do the first works" (Rev. ii. 5). (2) He reminds the sembled people of His past favours: "I made you to go up out Egypt, and brought you into the land which I sware unto our fathers." The Lord has wrought so glorious a salvation rus in fulfilment of His promise, that all should be conrained by love and gratitude to serve Him wholly. (3) He ninds them also of His commands; for privilege and duty go gether. But they had disobeyed, and leagued with the olatrous people of the land. (4) So now He appeals to themves, "Why have ye done this?" If they had answered truly, ey would have confessed it was through distrust of the word

of Him who had given them such countless proofs of H His power, and His faithfulness to His word. A lioni way always, to the spiritual coward (Prov. xxvi. 13; xxviii. 1). Covetousness too suggested that gain m made by sparing the Canaanites, even at the cost of of God. Compare Saul's sad case (1 Sam. xv. 3, 9, 15, But what real gain can the professor promise hin sparing his lusts, at the expense of his undying sou xxvii. 8; Matt. xvi. 26). The Israelites were speechle

God deigns to appeal What reasonable accou None can be given (Rom.

will the sinner be at last who wraps himself up in for whilst dealing tenderly with, instead of crucifying, t (Gal. v. 24; Matt. xxii. 12). transgressor's own conscience. thou give of thy perversity? (5) The punishment therefore shall follow corresponding sin. Yea, the sin itself shall be the punishment (Prov Jer. ii. 19, vi. 19). The Canaanites spared by Israel, obedience to God, shall be the punishers of that disob You would not drive them out, therefore "I will no them out before you" (Rom. i. 28). The professors w the world shall be given up to the world. The pleasu ambitions, the gains of the world become 'thorns' they "pierce themselves through with many sorrows vi. 10). Moreover, these lusts of the flesh unmortified a'snare,' entangling the soul to its destruction (2 T 10-12).

2. The effect produced by this threat.(1) The peop up their voice, and wept. The place of meeting, S became the place of weeping, Bochim. How sin mars Yet the tears of those who mourn sincerely for sin preludes to joy (Matt. v. 4). Matthew Henry truly s is a wonder sinners can ever read their Bibles with dr The Spirit of God must wound before He heals, but no other way to heavenly joy (Isa. lxi. 3; John Indecision is no light sin, but betrays that double-min which God abhors (Matt. vi. 22-24). (2) They sacrific unto the Lord. Tears cannot wash away sin; for th themselves need cleansing. "Without shedding of bloc

GOD'S EPIPHANIES AND MAN'S APOSTASIES; MERCY REJOICING AGAINST JUDGMENT.

JUDGES II. 6—шII. 11.—(6) And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man into his inheritance to possess the land [repeated from Josh. xviv. 28-31, in 'order to form a link between the books of Joshua and Judges, and especially to bring into sharp contrast the age that had just passed, and the age in Israel's history which was now commencing] (7) And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders [the chiefs of the nation] that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD in enabling Joshua to conquer the Canaanites], that He did for Israel [Joshua's influence for good survived himself (Prov. x. 7). But mainly the remembrance of Jehovah's mighty acts in behalf of Israel acted for good, and kept in the right way the yewitnesses of those acts, still living. This is a resumption. f the words in Josh. xxiv. 31; Ps. cxi. 4, cxlv. 4-7]. (8) And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord [JEHOVAH,