example, shall be defeated only so long as the arms of Moses are upheld towards heaven. The walls of Jericho are to fall, not by assault and the force of arms, but at the sound of the trumpets, which should be blown by the priests. Whilst, therefore, you look to the Lord alone for strength and victory, be sure that you render to him his full revenue of praise for all his promised and experienced aid. Disclaim all share in the success, and say, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake." Let this be a settled principle in your minds-the grand design of all God's mercies towards you and of his work of grace in you is, that you should be to the praise of his glory. Live and think, and pray and praise accordingly. Having thus considered the Author of this promised victory, we proceed to notice

II. THE MANNER OF ITS ACHIEVEMENT.

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By little and little I will drive them out." Had no reason been given for this gradual success, we must still have concluded that something more than meets the eye, was at the foundation of the peculiarity. Once apprised and assured that the honour of Jehovah was embarked in that warfare, we might naturally have expected that the triumph would have been instant and immediate-that the Lord had but to arise, and his enemies would be scattered. He has not only judged otherwise, but has graciously given us an insight into his wise

designs. These, whilst they relate of course in the first instance to Israel, and their enemies, are capable of the most instructive application to that spiritual warfare in which we are engaged. The motives then which God himself assigns for the method of his dispensations in this gradual deliverance of his people, may be classed under the heads of probation, discipline, correction, and pre

caution.

1. We gather that probation was one design of God in the gradual deliverance of his people. Thus, it is said, "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the Wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no." If warm emotions, or fair promises, or solemn resolutions had been conclusive on this point, or had afforded any satisfactory security for obedience, Israel might have escaped so tedious a probation. Again and again did they avouch the Lord to be their God, and engage to hear and do all that he required of them. Thus they spake, and doubtless, for the time at least, thus they felt. But they knew nothing or very little of their own hearts; God did, and accordingly he says, "I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always."

Self-knowledge, my brethren, is one of the most essential branches of spiritual science; and it is one of the most slowly, and imperfectly, and reluctantly attained. Knowledge of doctrines is easy,-knowledge of the letter of Scripture, easy, -a knowledge in short of the whole form of godliness, easy; but a knowledge of self, of our inborn and inbred corruptions, of the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of our own hearts, is difficult to the last degree, and I fear it is exceedingly rare. There could not be so much spiritual pride, as is every day observable, if professors were better self-acquainted. Far indeed do many of us journey through the wilderness of life before we gain a clear insight into this most humiliating subject; and often do we require to be humbled and proved, to be left to ourselves and baffled, in order that we may be made sensible of our own sinfulness and infirmity. At his first outset in the heavenly course, the disciple is altogether incredulous on this point. Tell him that he has the germ, the first principles, the elements of every conceivable crime in his own heart, and he will be ready to say, "Is thy servant a dog " that thou shouldest thus judge respecting him? But it is when a man has been engaged for years in the warfare, fighting the good fight of faith, resisting unto blood; then it is he becomes sensible that the crucifying of the old man is indeed a gradual process, that it is a lingering death, and then he is constrained to cry out, "O wretched man that

I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death;" and to acknowledge, "I am not sufficient of myself to think anything as of myself, but my sufficiency is of God." Would David, or Hezekiah, or Peter, ever have known what manner of spirit they were of, if their sanctification had been immediately perfect? It was accomplished little and little." The daily conflict between the flesh and the spirit was constantly realized; and they were therefore kept abidingly sensible of their own weakness and their need of grace to help.

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2. A further design of God in thus dealing with Israel was discipline. Thus we are told in the opening of the third chapter of Judges: "These are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them; even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; only that the generations of the children of Israel might know to teach them war, at the least, such as before knew nothing thereof." A remnant therefore of their enemies was left in order to exercise the activity and prowess of Israel to keep them on the alert and on their guard; to inure them to war and discipline them for fight: so that let the enemy come when he would, he might find them ready. Seasons of long continued peace are apt to be regarded as seasons of security. Then, if ever, an indolent and effeminate spirit will creep in upon an army. There is nothing like actual warfare and daily skirmishing for preserving discipline and maintaining efficiency. Thus

in like manner is it with the soldier of the cross. His lingering corruptions tend to keep him watchful, prayerful, dependent. He can never fold his arms and say, "I have already attained, I am already perfect." He is taught by stern necessity to endure hardness. He is reminded by unceasing attacks that he is wrestling "not against flesh and blood, (these might pause and allow some respite) but against principalities, against powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Hence he is constrained not merely to put on, but to keep on “ the whole armour of God." A single insecure joint in the harness may be the inlet to a deadly wound, Thus his graces are kept in perpetual exercise, his weapons constantly bright, and he himself praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."

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3. But further, God dealt thus with his people, delivering them only "by little and little" with a view of chastisement. This they richly merited for their idolatry and departure from the Lord. Accordingly, it is written, that "the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, because that this people hath transgressed my covenant and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died; therefore (it is added) the Lord left those nations without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua."

And when we, my brethren, are murmuring and