my temporal and spiritual welfare, for I know that wisdom, power, and love, are watching over me, and how certain it is that my Almighty Father will cause by his providing care that all events shall issue well for me. And so the truth of our text becomes again a principle of action. It makes all true children of God happy and active, from the persuasion that He will overrule all in goodness and faithfulness for them.

SERMON XIX.

JOSHUA XXIII. 14.

AND, BEHOLD THIS DAY I AM GOING THE WAY OF ALL THE EARTH: AND YE KNOW IN ALL YOUR HEARTS, AND IN ALL YOUR SOULS, THAT NOT ONE THING HATH FAILED of ALL THE GOOD THINGS WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD SPAKE CONCERNING YOU; ALL ARE COME TO PASS UNTO YOU, AND NOT ONE THING HATH FAILED THEREOF.

THESE were the words of Joshua, the captain of Israel. He was now old and stricken in age. In his early days it had been his lot, and a happy lot it was, to act as the personal attendant on Moses, the man of God. He was Moses' minister. And when Moses died, Joshua was appointed by the Lord to succeed him, and to him was given the honor of leading the tribes of Israel into their long promised inheritance. Under his guidance they crossed the Jordan. At his direction they compassed Jericho seven times, till the walls of the city fell down to the ground. At his desire the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, while Israel fought with the Amorites, and hasted not to go down until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Under his command the armies of Israel went forth

conquering and to conquer; one city and people after another being overcome, till they found themselves masters of the land of Canaan, and all that God had sworn concerning that land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they saw fulfilled in themselves.

"The Lord gave unto Israel," it is said, "all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them: the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

About seventeen years had since elapsed, and Joshua found himself declining. He felt that he had not long to live. And loving his nation most truly, he resolved to make one more effort to serve them, by calling them around him, and delivering to them a parting charge, an affectionate and faithful exhortation.

"He called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers," and then in the midst of the assembled congregation, he proceeded to address them, reminding them of what the Lord had done for them, bidding them to remember what He had promised still to do on their behalf, and entreating them, as they prized the favor and protection of their God, to cleave unto Him with purpose of heart. It is at the close of this ad

dress that we meet with the words of our text. "And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in all your hearts, and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof."

Now the main thing to be noted in our text is the subject of the appeal which it records. What is it? It is the faithfulness of God. My Christian brethren, how precious a matter then for holy meditation is there here for you! The faithfulness of God! You have staked your all upon it. A testimony therefore like that of Joshua before us comes with peculiar weight and value to your hearts. It tells you what is the character of that God to whom you have committed yourselves for time and eternity. And you behold in Him one on whom you may safely rely. He is One who cannot fail those that trust in Him. He is One who ever has made good his word unto his people. He is One that changeth not. They that know thy name," said David, "will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee."

In aiming then to make use of our text, for the comfort and edification of believing souls, let us notice

I. TO WHOM JOSHUA WAS SPEAKING. To whom did he make this appeal? The question

will serve to remind us of some important facts and truths, as regards all true Christians.

It was to Israel that Joshua spoke a people whom Jehovah had chosen to Himself, and separated from all other people on the face of the earth.

They had been in captivity. They were bondsmen in Egypt. The Lord sent to them his servant Moses. By him He commanded them to come out of Egypt. He bade them set forward on a journey through the wilderness that lay between Egypt and Canaan. He told them that Canaan was their's. He had engaged long Now therefore he called

since to give it them.

on them to arise, and go forward to their inheritance. Forty years did they pass in the wilderness, and all that time did He undertake to feed, and guide, and to defend them: leading them on safely so that they needed not to fear, until He should have brought them to their rest, and guided them in his strength to his holy habitation."

Believer, how much is there here which serves to picture your condition. You were in bondage, a captive to the prince of the world, serving sin. God sent to you. His Gospel was the message of his love. Thereby He called you to come out of the world. He bade you seek a better portion. He opened before your view the heavenly land. Arise," said He, "for this is not your rest." "Seek the things that are above. I have prepared for you a city." And He gave you grace to listen, and obey. You set

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