men in the matter of searching out the land of Canaan, and bringing word concerning it, was amply fulfilled, and that the threatenings denounced upon the faithless and rebellious were equally carried out.

It is impossible to read the story without perceiving that, in choosing the way of difficulty here, these faithful men were at the same time choosing the way that leads to peace at the last. They had another spirit in them; a spirit which made their will different from that of the ten other men. Their hearts were devoted to God in truth, obedience, and trust, and they therefore saw the same thing differently, with a different spirit, and with a different will from those who chose such ease as they could obtain in a condition not particularly prosperous, rather than the prompt, vigorous, and faithful effort necessary to secure a more advantageous The latter were swallowed up of the fears of the slothful, long before their carcases fell in the wilderness, in which they had chosen to remain. It is true in all times that

one.

"Cowards die many deaths before their time!

The valiant never taste of death but once."

Joshua and Caleb had resigned their will to that of their Leader; being bound, they were most free; being weak, they were most strong. Let us discern the lesson of their example, being ourselves also persuaded that for us there is a better thing in store, and that our path must lead onward, beyond difficulties and foes, to an exceeding good land. I think not at present of heaven, which indeed will be best of all, but of the land which lies to be possessed even in this life, which we must claim and conquer in the strength of God for ourselves and our fellows. Let us have a will like that of Joshua; a will given to God, to all that is good, to "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report." Joshua's was also in kind the will of St.

1 Philippians iv. 8.

Paul, who said, "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Joshua had the will to "speak the truth in his heart ;" to "let his eyes look straight on,"1 and not rest on imaginary difficulties-difficulties that may never come-nor even at real ones. For what is danger to the brave? He is ready to say,

"What is danger

More than the weakness of our apprehension? valiant men
Were made the masters of it."

And who so valiant as the man of faith? Men frequently show themselves brave in great danger; but the man who believes is supernaturally brave. He will believe in miracles rather than not go forward. He will see things as they are, speak the truth in his heart about them, and do accordingly. So says Herbert

And,

"Let thine heart be true to God;

Thy mouth to it; thy actions to them both."

"In brief, acquit thee bravely, play the man."

Joshua had also the will to obey. And, "obedience," it has been said, "is the grandest, most beautiful thing that walks the earth." "Blessed is he whose feet sound the echo of God's arise!" He had the will to be strong. And this is a great Christian duty. God may help the weak one who cries to Him for strength to help his feeble effort; but for him who does not brace himself-who makes no struggle, but sits down in his weakness contentedly-where is there help to be found? Nay, our duty seems to be to "stir up our wills;" to arise, to obey in things great or small; to go swiftly, steadily on, knowing that there is yet very much land to be possessed.

1 Psalm xv. Proverbs iv. 25.

"Thou must believe, and thou must venture,

In fearless faith thy safety dwells;

By miracles alone men enter

The glorious land of miracles."

All men agree that, even in this life, as well as a world of evil, there is a world of good, which we may strive to make our own. The way to it lies through daily duty, in thought and word and deed. Every hour we may climb towards the better land. The Christian's principle of life is not reserved for great actions only. We need our hero-strength for our hourly thoughts and words and deeds.

"All common things, each day's events,
That with the hour begin and end,

Our pleasures and our discontents
Are steps by which we may ascend.

All thoughts of ill; all evil deeds

That have their root in thoughts of ill;
Whatever hinders or impedes

The action of the nobler will;

All these must first be trampled down
Beneath our feet if we would gain,
In the bright fields of fair renown,
The right of eminent domain.

We have not wings, we cannot soar;
But we have feet to scale and climb,
By slow degrees, by more and more,
The cloudy summits of our time.
The distant mountains that uprear
Their solid bastions to the skies,

Are crossed by pathways that appear,
As we to higher levels rise.

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night."

And we do not need philosophy to tell us that this life is

very short.

1

Christianity assures us of a better life, in which

Longfellow. 'The Ladder of St. Augustine.'

those who have overcome by faith in their Saviour and Leader shall receive the promise, and shall be made perfect. Then shall be rest; all toil repaid beyond our thought by knowledge, by holiness, by peace in the presence of Him whom we love for evermore. Here we are placed between two estates; easily discouraged, easily debased, easily overcome by sloth and all evil, except we brace our minds and hearts by knowledge, prayer, and effort in all things, and in all times, to choose the nobler part, and live our life to God, and in His strength.

Are there two in twelve of us who have the will, the obedience, the strength, the trust, the truth of heart of the faithful spies?

R. ELLIOTT-LOCKHART.

Follow Me!

From ANGELUS SILESIUS.

Save Christians, follow all!

AITH Christ our Captain, Follow Me!

Deny yourselves, forsake the world!

Obedient to My call!

Take up your cross, nor trouble shun,
Believers follow, every one!

I am the Light! I lighten you
And show you virtue's way,
Who comes to Me and follows Me

Can ne'er in darkness stay;

I am the Way, to all I show

How they should truly forward go!

My soul is ever full of love,
My heart of lowliness,

And evermore My lips o'erflow
With words of tenderness !

I serve My God with all My pow'r,
His face beholding evermore !

Is't often hard? I go before,
I'm at your side alway,

I fight Myself, I ope the path,
I'm foremost in the fray.

A wicked servant he who stands

And views the fight with folded hands!

Whoe'er his soul desires to find,

Will lose it without Me;
Whoe'er for Me to lose it seems,
Brought safely home shall be.
Unworthy he My joy to share
Who after Me no cross will bear!

Then let us each take up his cross,
And follow Christ our King;
With courage trustfully stand firm
In all our suffering.

Who will not here the conflict share,

The crown of life shall never wear!

THE TRANSLATOR OF PAUL GERHARDT'S 'SPIRITUAL SONGS.'

The Five Alls.

IN walking one day through a village in an inland
county, I passed a public-house with this sign:
"THE FIVE ALLS." What a singular sign! I
thought and it set me thinking.
:
What did it

mean? If it had been "The Five Awls"—a w l, it would have indicated the calling, probably the neighbourhood of the shoemaker. But it was "The Five Alls"-all. What could this mean? Was it suggestive-not intentionally perhaps, but really-of the Five Alls that are so closely associated with the habit of excessive drinking? For what publichouse is there where intemperance is unknown? Is the public-house generally conducted on a plan likely to prevent intemperance, or rather to promote it? I recalled to remembrance one remarkable case indeed, so remarkable that it may be interesting if, before I go farther, I record it.

The keeper of a village inn not far from a celebrated