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who had proved himself able, by his former glorious deeds on their behalf, to crown them with victory over the most powerful enemies. Their entreaties and exhortations were thrown away. The congregation of Ifrael prepared to stone to death these faithful fervants of the Moft High. The divine indignation was awakened. God inftantly deftroyed the ten fpies who had impelled the Ifraelites to tranfgrefs: and pronounced this aweful fentence on all among the rebellious congregation who had attained the age of twenty years, that they should wander until they died in the wilderness, and should never fet their feet on the promised land. But to his fervants Caleb and Joshua, who had fully followed him in fledfaft obedience, he repeated his gracious affurance, that they fhould enter into the land and poffefs it.

The events, which on this occafion took place in the hoft of Ifrael, bear a striking refemblance to thofe, which at the prefent day are frequently feen to occur on the fubject of religion. We perceive numbers pursuing the example of the ten fpies and their difobedient countrymen. And fome, through the bleffing of God, we behold walking in the fteps of Caleb and Joshua. On the conduct of perfons of each of thefe two defcriptions

I propose separately to offer fome obfervations: and shall afterwards endeavour to furnish you with the means of judging for yourselves which of the two claffes of men it will be your wisdom to take for your pattern. May the divine grace render what you hear conducive to your edification!

I. Let me in the first place call' your attention to a class of men very numerous in the world; men who allow that piety is commendable, and even profess that they are defirous of paying what they term a reasonable regard to religion: but, having no true love of holiness in their hearts, are continually taking alarm at difficulties, and on the watch to raise objections. Obferve how nearly the character and conduct of fuch perfons refemble those of the ten fpies. The ten fpies acknowledged the excellence of the land which they had fearched. They faid unto Moses; We came unto the land whither thou fenteft us, and furely it floweth with milk and honey: and this, added they, while they pointed to the figs and the pomegranates and the wonderful cluster of grapes, this is the fruit of it. So the profeffed Chriftians of whom we speak are ready to fay: "We know what religion "is; we have examined it, and we understand

"it. We admit that the Scriptures are excel"lent books; and that the gospel gives many ❝ admirable directions. We are fully of opi"nion that chriftianity is well adapted to

produce tranquillity and good order, and "honefty, and charitable 'actions, and other "valuable fruits among men. And we doubt B6 not that it fecures great rewards in re"verfion to all who lead exemplary lives." On the spiritual nature of true piety, on the intrinfic odiousness of fin, on the neceffity of a radical change of heart, and on other diftinguishing features of the doctrine which is according to godliness, fuch perfons commonly are filent. They commend religion, as the ten fpies commended the land of Canaan, loudly as to fome particulars, but with various objections in referve: objections which in their cafe weigh, like thofe of the spies, much more than all the fubjects and circumftances of their praise,

Nevertheless, faid the ten spies, Nevertheless the land through which we have gone to fearch it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof. The heart now began to unfold itself. The real difpofition began to produce its natural effects upon the conduct. These men had no fure confidence in God. They placed no firm reliance on his promife of protection.

they ftudiously represent it as unattainable, and labour to render it unacceptable. Intent on framing apologies for declining to devote themselves to God; and folicitous to vindicate themselves by the authority and fupport of companions in fin: they fcruple not to delineate the Father of mercies as a hard Master; and his fervice as difficult and toilfome beyond the ability of man, and therefore, as in forgetfulness or contempt of the promised grace of the Holy Spirit they blindly and prefumptuously pronounce, exceeding in its prescribed extent the bounds of human duty.

II. But my fervant Caleb, faith the Lord, bad another Spirit with him, and hath followed me fully. He filled the people before Mofess and faid, together with Jofhua; Let us go up at once and poffefs the land: for we are well able to overcome it. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into the land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord: neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defence is departed from them; and the Lord is with us. Fear them not. Caleb had no apprehenfions; he looked not around for objections; he raised up no diffi

culties

culties. And why? Because he followed the Lord fully. He placed entire confidence in God. He knew that whatever God promised, he was able to perform. The ftrong people that dwelt in the land, the cities walled and very great, the fons of Anak who were giants, he regarded as nothing. He beheld with the eye of faith the Lord of hofts going before him to battle, and cafting down all enemies under his feet. His heart was with his God. He delighted to obey the divine commands. Only rebel not ye against the Lord. This was his main defire both for his countrymen and for himself. To the protection of the God whom he loved, he committed himself. Confequences he left to Omnipotence. His own concern was duty. "All the labours, all the fufferings, to which "it may please my heavenly King to summon me, will be lightened by his never-failing goodness, and will be abundantly overpaid by his promifed inheritance." His heart fpoke thus; and was at reft.

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Through the grace of God, and it is through that grace alone, there are those among the Chriftians of our own days who are animated by the spirit of Caleb and of Joshua. They follow the Lord fully. Reli

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