CHAPTER III. MESSIAH TYPIFIED BY EMINENT CHARACTERS, AND REVEALED IN Joshua.-Josh. v. 13-15; viii. xi. 23. AFTER the death of Moses, we come next 1-26; x. 1-21; to one bearing a name of Messiah, and type of him as a warrior; not that he would come to destroy men's lives, but to save them-no weapon, nothing to injure was ever seen in his hands, yet would he have more frequent conflicts, mightier foes, more protracted contests, than any other being in the whole universe of God. In every age, wicked men, and the hosts of Satan, would be endeavouring to put down his cause and authority. Under the banner of Joshua, the captain of Israel, its armies went forth and conquered; they executed the destruction threatened upon the guilty nations. Previous to the first assault, Joshua stood before Jericho viewing its position; and, whilst engaged in prayer, he lifted up his eyes and beheld a man with a sword drawn in his hand. Joshua, not intimidated, approached, and said, "Art thou for us, or for our adversaries ?" The man replied, "Nay, as Prince of the host of the Lord am I now come." Joshua immediately prostrated himself before him, worshipped, and expressed his submission to his authority. The man received the worship, and commanded him to loose his shoe from off his foot, for the place whereon he stood was holy-rendered so by his visible presence there. He then directed Joshua how he was to act in besieging Jericho (Josh. vi. 2-5). This is another instance of the assumption of the human form by him who is often called the Angel-Jehovah, or "Messenger of the covenant," and, in this place, the Lord. Moses was required to give the same expression of reverence when he appeared to him in a flame of fire in the bush. It was he who gave Joshua wisdom, strength, and courage. It was he who defended the armies of Israel; and whilst Joshua visibly commanded them, it was the Prince of the host of the Lord whose power was above all. After the destruction of Jericho, the men of Beth-el and Ai came out against Israel. Joshua drew not his hand back until he had utterly exterminated them. Again, five kings combined to desolate a city that had made a league with Israel; Joshua marched all night, came suddenly upon them-they fled at his approach; he pursued, he spake to the Lord-then to the sun and to the moon in the presence of Israel; 66 so the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day," whilst they continued to destroy their enemies. That was a remarkable day in the history of the sun and moon; it was the only time the Lord hearkened to the voice of a man so as to alter his laws regarding their motions in their orbits; but he did so to aid Israel, and obtain for them the victory. He persevered in besieging city after city, and slaying the inhabitants, by the command of God; for their iniquities were full, and they only received their righteous doom, dreadful as that doom was. He who created and preserved them could no longer endure their evil deeds; living in hatred to one another, worshipping the most degrading idols, vain and cruel in all their ways of the country they inhabited, he said, "The land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants " (Lev. xviii. 25). Undeterred by the numerous victories the captain of Israel had already gained, a number of kings made another confederacy to oppose his progress; they went out and all their hosts-much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. The Lord delivered them into his hand ; they fled, he pursued until none were left remaining. His triumphs were now complete. He took the whole land, and gave it for an inheritance to Israel. Messiah's conflicts still continue, and are of a spiritual nature-between light and darkness-sin and righteousness-between love of God and enmity to him. They have not been visible as the combats of hostile nations; the devastations of the enemy were often unheeded by the mortal eye; the triumphs of the conqueror were not noticed by the unthinking; yet, even the physical effects were greater than when one earthly potentate deposed another from his throne, and when victorious armies took possession of countries hitherto owned by a now vanquished people. The fame of these exploits resounded over the known world; but few on earth applauded the mighty achievements of him whom the heavens adore. Messiah's triumphs commenced at the return of the first sinner to God; for then was the dark mind enlightened the rebellious will subdued-Satan disappointed of his prey—a being prepared to dwell for ever in perfect holiness and happiness, who otherwise would have had an endless existence amongst evil spirits and unextinguishable flames. According to the plan of mercy the Son of God had undertaken to fulfil, he put forth his power, "took the prey from the mighty, and delivered the lawful captive." He gave Noah strength to persevere in building the ark, although an ungodly world mocked him at his labours and obstructed him in them; Satan also endeavoured to infuse doubts into the mind of the patriarch, as to the wisdom or usefulness of the work in which he was engaged; but his Lord bore him on, and eventually he found the blessedness of doing his will in the safety of himself and of his family. In every case where the righteous cause has prevailed, an evidence has been added of the presence of Messiah's victorious arm; temporal good always accompanies these triumphs. Where cruelty had been, it is replaced by kindness-disquietude and sorrow, by peace and joywant and destitution, by a sufficiency of every needful good. In these latter days, a single monk stood before the rulers of the earth; many had been the victims of their unholy vengeance; there was no human aid for him, yet he stood unshaken; he maintained the authority of the word of God which he had inspired his servants to write for the instruction of mankind; his Lord sustained him, he imparted to him resolution, he directed him how to speak: "He gave him a mouth and wisdom which all his adversaries were not able to gainsay or resist" (Luke xxi. 15). He restrained their rage, he watched over his goings, so that he passed unhurt through the kingdom of his enemies. From that period, a train of human miseries began to depart from the earth-knowledge, righteousness, and prosperity, approached the modern kingdoms of the world. Joshua rested not until he took the whole land of Canaan, and gave it for an inheritance to the children of Israel; neither does the heavenly Joshua, Jesus the Saviour, cease defending his people and conquering their foes, until he puts them in possession of "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." The cities of When Joshua was dividing the promised refuge. Josh. land, and giving their lot to each family, God reminded him to mark out the cities of refuge. XX. It was one of Israel's privileges that their judicial laws were given by him, as well as the moral law, and were |