Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

ence it winds its crooked way, until finally it loses self in the stagnant waters of the Dead Sea, which Occupy the spot where once the well-watered "plain of Jordan" yielded its luxuriant pasturage, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah stood. During the harvest-time of Palestine, the river occasionally overflows its banks to a considerable distance; and Its ancient celebrity, as a Scripture river, is derived From the miraculous passage of the Israelites at the time of this overflow, as related in the third and fourth chapters in the Book of Joshua. When Moses died, Joshua (who had been his servant, and the leader of the army in battle) was appointed his successor by the Lord. He was a good man; and his faithful and upright character had won for him the esteem of the people. It was left for him to conduct the Israelites into Canaan, and establish them in that promised land. They had reached Shittim, their last encampment before entering Palestine; and were not far from the river Jordan, which separated them from the land toward which they were directing their march. Here it was that God intimated to Joshua the manner in which the river was to be crossed. He was commanded to prepare the people for the passage; to bid them strike their tents, and march toward the river's bank. The camp was accordingly broken up, and the vast congregation moved toward the Jordan, and encamped opposite to the city of Jericho, until the morrow. The next morning, Joshua, at the bidding of the Lord, caused proper directions to be given as to the manner of marching. The Priests

removed the ark of God from the midst of the can and carried it before the people, whose first rar

had been

I followed it at the distance of three-quarters olerael mi mile. As soon as the feet of the Priests touched their fa water, the stream which was flowing down sudde them g

turned back, without any visible agency, as affrighted, to its source; and the waters below point ran off to the Dead Sea, leaving the bed

de utmost terror

thes; who

the Jordan dry for several miles. When the rbeneath the I had thus so miraculously parted, the Priests Weites down with the ark into its deepest bed, and the possession of t their right hand. The whole congregation see from this nar forward, with haste to cross over, with their cat God. He can act

remained, with the heaped-up flood like a walk

and substance; nor did the waters move, until strements, as

people had all passed safely over.

Joshua then $ is omnipoten

a man from each tribe again into the river, to

it successfully! O

I place where the Priests yet stood; who gatherer feel His w twelve stones from the bed of Jordan, and carry the deliverance of them to Gilgal, the place where they encamped Him to "make set up in the river, on the spot where the ark s children to be remained, so that there might be a memorial, in preclude deliv

night. At the same time, twelve large stones weim Bike

river itself, of the wonderful passage of the Isra

ites.

ent help in time

the Israelites into

When all this was accomplished, the Priests we of the Divine pro Idirected to come up from their position; and dared to Abrah

up rush

sooner had they reached the upper bank with t ark, than the waters which had stood

es that land; a

years, every wo

down in a mighty overwhelming torrent, towarHis word fail to

the Dead Sea, and overflowed the banks of river as before. On reaching Gilgal, Joshua reare

ration to every co

find the blessed

ad in Him, Ame

the twelve stones which had been carried ther, so that the children of Israel might pertuate the miraculous passage of their fathers, and at the nations surrounding them might thereby ve a constant testimony to the omnipotence of d. This event struck the utmost terror into the arts of the Canaanitish tribes; who lost their nted bravery, and easily fell beneath the victorious ord of Joshua and the Israelites, who were eedily established in the possession of the greater art of the promised land.

Dear children, we may see from this narrative how eat is the power of God. He can act and work ther with or without instruments, as may seem est to Himself. If such is omnipotence, how can inners hope to resist it successfully? O, submit to fis love; that you may never feel His wrath! How asily can God effect the deliverance of His people! t is a little thing with Him to "make a way for Ir escape," whilst we love and serve Him. Nor ill He ever permit His children to be brought into ich circumstances as to preclude deliverance. He indeed " a very present help in time of need."

In the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan, we ee the fulfilment of the Divine promises. Long efore, God had declared to Abraham that his hildren should possess that land; and now, after early five hundred years, every word is exactly ulfilled. Nor can His word fail to you. Believe His promise of salvation to every contrite believing oul, and you will find the blessed testimony to be 'ia Christ, yea, and in Him, Amen." And, forget

not that there is the narrow stream of death betwe you and eternal glory, which you must one

cross.

40" Her ster

men de came to

Seek the guidance of Jesus, the great Hi very much Priest of Christianity. He will go before you, a will be with you, until you have fairly reached shores of the better land; where, exulting in y deliverance, and exalting your Deliverer, you enjoy its glories, and possess it as your own inhe ance, for ever.

Lerwick, Shetland.

"BUT DID JESUS KNOW?"

W. P

[ocr errors]

We knew all about
Leer on this and

SOME time since, two very thoughtful little gi

(whose names have already appeared in Early DaRTL SPIRIT

EA.G.

[ocr errors]

at boleh to do, do it with thy might.”

and perhaps may do so again)—Ada and Amy-w studying the life of Christ, and reading and talki about His sufferings and death. They were grea delighted and astonished at the love of God giving up His only and well-beloved Son to suf

wed, and hath nothing, but the

and die for sinners, and equally amazed at the loance seriously expostulated glory, His Father, and the holy angels, and to end had badly performed. "I of the Son in being willing to leave His thronehich she had neglected, the punishment due to our sins. These children he cannot; I can't do any page have; nor had they been told before of th This girl thought she spoke not been to Sunday-schools, as many readers ofther have a minute to spare;' I and one day Miss Amy-after a little silence-aske instance: If she sat at work They loved to think about not know the true meaning "But did Jesus know before He led what she was well able to "but why do you ask?nkind had she been accused "Because I can hardly think He would have bee with her head resting on h

great love of Jesus.

the writer,

heaven what would happen to Him here?" dear," it was replied;

Yes hour, she would have though

Then the table, or, what was as oft

ling to come, if He had known." Her sister erved, "It shows us more plainly how very much loved us." Miss Amy: " But did He know that n would hate Him-the very men He came to e? and did He know that they would beat Him, I even spit in His face, and then run the nails ough His hands and feet, and hammer them into :wood?"

Yes! reader.

The Saviour knew all about it

fore He came! Reflect on this, and think what. turn you can make for such love.

E. A. G.

A SLOTHFUL SPIRIT.

"Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the rd."-Rom. xii. 11.

**Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." **The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the ul of the diligent shall be made fat."

An idle school-girl was once seriously expostulated ith about some duties which she had neglected, id others which she had badly performed. "I innot help it, I am sure I cannot; I can't do any ore than I do; I never have a minute to spare;' I n always at work." This girl thought she spoke e truth; but she did not know the true meaning f the term idle. For instance: If she sat at work or an hour, but only did what she was well able to ccomplish in half an hour, she would have thought t very unjust and unkind had she been accused of fleness. If she sat with her head resting on her ands, her elbows on the table, or, what was as often,

« ForrigeFortsæt »