one hundred years old, when he was allowed to desist from war, and commissioned to divide the land already conquered. God had Himself ordained, that the conquest of the country should be gradual, lest otherwise the land should become desolate: "thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee." Deut. 7. 22. And here we have a statement of how much of the country remained unsubdued. Yet Joshua is commissioned to divide the whole. And the whole is spoken of, as if it were all now the territory of Israel. For that which God has promised to give us, we may reckon on as already ours. Only we must remember, that in order to have it ours, we are bound to do our part in due season. And it was for want of such faithfulness and zeal, on their part, that the children of Israel made in after years so little progress, towards completing the conquest of Canaan.

We may put the like interpretation on the promise of our heavenly Father, to make the Gospel known throughout all nations, and to give to his blessed Son the utmost parts of the earth for his possession. God did his part abundantly at the first. He is ready to do his part amply still. But He has also set us a part to do. It behoves us to consider well, have we done ours? It behoves us to reflect, whether our neglect does not abundantly account for the very slight progress, which we now make, towards driving out idolatry from the face of the earth. The borders which remain in the hands of the heathen are, alas! more numerous, more populous, than the territories of those who profess allegiance to our Lord. And though God has provided for the division and distribution of all the earth, amongst such as are Israelites indeed, yet where can we find any who are worthy of this title? Where can we find any Christian community, which as a body, taken altogether, seems fitted by its eminence in piety and harmony, in faith and love, to go forth conquering in the name of Christ, and to subdue all the world unto the Gospel? Much may not be expected in this matter, with any reason, from the efforts of unconnected individuals. Men may do much singly for the purifying or the edifying of the church. But it must be the church as a body, thus purified and edified, that will do much to win the world. We must go forth united. must send forth, as from a people united at home; from a people united, not merely in the profession of true doctrine, but also in the practice of true holiness. We must send forth not only preachers of Christianity, but doers of it; not only preachers, but men of every profession, business, or trade, who go forth from us at all to heathen countries, all these we must send forth, fit as patterns to exemplify the truth, and peace, and purity, which are established amongst us at home. Then we shall gain apace upon the borders of the Philistines. Then we shall apace realize the promises of God. And then we shall not long have to mourn in shame over this humiliating fact, that "there remaineth yet very much land. to be possessed."

We

The allotment of land to the two tribes and a half.

15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.

16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;

17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Bethbaal-meon,

18 And Jahaza, and Kede-moth, and Mephaath,

19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley,

20 And Beth-peor, and Ashdoth-pisgah,and Beth-jeshimoth, 21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.

24 And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.

25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and

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half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;

26 And from Heshbon unto Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;

27 And in the valley, Betharam, and Beth-nimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.

28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages. 29 And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.

30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities: 31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families. 32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.

33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

LECTURE 386.

Of contentment in our spiritual attainments.

When the tribes of Reuben, and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, applied to Moses for the land eastward of Jordan, he allotted it according to their request, on express condition, that they should bear their full part in the labours and dangers of the war. This condition they had faithfully fulfilled. And now therefore the grant of Moses is confirmed, and the extent of the grant, and the borders of these two tribes and a half, are particularly described, previously to the allotment of the land west of Jordan to the remaining tribes. The tribe of Reuben was to be situated at the southern extremity of the country east of Jordan. The tribe of Gad was to be placed in the middle of the whole length. And the half tribe of Manasseh was to occupy the portion at the north. Each had their inheritance assigned to them by Moses "according to their families," an extent of country proportioned to their numbers. And all appear to have been amply satisfied with the apportionment thus made, both in regard to its extent and its situation. We read not of any discontent, any murmurings against Moses, any strife with one another. Let us learn to acquiesce cheerfully in whatsoever portion of this world's goods may fall to our share. Nay let us learn further not to murmur against God, if we should not be made partakers of the same religious advantages, and the same spiritual attainments, which God has graciously given to our brethren.

In one sense indeed it may be justly said, that we never ought to be content with the grace we have already; for we ought always to be striving to get more. But in this heavenly ambition there are these two signal features of distinction, no man herein envies his neighbour, no man herein murmurs against God. We desire to be eminent in grace; but we do not desire to rise high by the downfal of others. We desire that amongst the many mansions of our heavenly Father's house we may enjoy one of the most glorious. But we do not grudge, if our brother nigh at hand should exceed in glory. Nay, we are as much intent upon edifying him, as we are upon edifying ourselves. We are assured that in those many mansions there is room enough for all. And it gives us as real pleasure to hope, that our brother will inhabit there, as to hope that we shall there have our own habitation. We feel thus out of our love towards each other. We feel thus out of our lowly estimate of ourselves. We feel thus out of an entire resignation to the appointment of our Father which is in heaven. He it is who gives to each of us our degrees of grace and glory. We know therefore that they are given to each, "without respect of persons." 1 Pet. 1. 17. And when we feel how unworthy we are of the least of all his mercies, instead of murmuring, we are full of thankfulness towards God, to think that He gives us any whatsoever.

In the division of the land Caleb obtaineth Hebron.

1 And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them. 2 By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.

3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them. 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.

7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. 15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

LECTURE 387.

Of pleading God's promises, in order to obtain his blessings. There still remained nine tribes and a half to be settled in the land of Canaan; counting the children of Joseph, through Manasseh and Ephraim, as two tribes, and allowing no inheritance for the Levites, except their cities and the suburbs thereof. In arranging this business, it appears that Joshua was assisted by "Eleazar the priest," and by "the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel." "By lot was their inheritance." That is to say, lots were cast to determine in which part of the country each tribe should be settled. And this was done "as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses." For thus it is written in the book of Numbers, "the land shall be divided by lot." Num. 26. 55. And again, "according to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few." Num. 26. 56. This casting of lots was thus the way of God's appointment in this case. And it is therefore reasonable to conclude, that God so overruled the lots when drawing, as to have each tribe placed where He knew it to be best. And the business of Joshua, and Eleazar, and the elders, was to see that the lots were duly drawn, and to apportion the quantity of land according to the numbers in each tribe. Happy rulers, to have God so nigh to help them, and so willing to direct them, in all their work of allotting the inheritance! Happy people, to be placed exactly after God's directions, in the place which He thought best for each! But whilst the rest had their inheritance by lot, Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, pleaded an express promise of Moses, in virtue of which he laid claim to the territory of Hebron. And though this promise is not fully set forth in the previous history, there is enough recorded to confirm this claim of Caleb; see Num. 14. 24; and Ďeut. 1. 36; and Joshua, who must have known all the particulars, and who must also have been guided by God in his decision, assented to the claim at once. "Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance." The example of Caleb teaches us the duty of reporting the truth, exactly as it is in our hearts. It shews us the advantages of wholly following the Lord. It inculcates the value of a holy courage, to be afraid of nothing so long as the Lord be with us. But more especially it should here induce us to plead promises, when we are desirous of obtaining blessings. "He is faithful that promised;" Heb. 10. 23; this ought to be here our reflexion. He has given us "exceeding great and precious promises;" 2 Pet. 1. 4; this is our sure ground of trust. "Hath he said, and shall he not do it?" Num. 23. 19. No, there is not a word which God has spoken, which we may not be sure that He will bring to pass. The land on which our feet have trodden shall be our inheritance. The holiness in which we have once truly begun to walk shall through God's grace form the happiness of our lives. The heaven, of which holiness yields some foretaste here, shall be ours through God's mercy for evermore.