The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-10-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY AND
ABLY CONSIDERED.
Scholarly Exposition OF the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy of Calm Rcnec-
tion-Haif an Hours Study OF the Scrip
tures-Timo Well Spent.

found In the first nine verses of tho first
chapter OF Joshua.
INTRODUCTION.
Tho book OF Joshua occupies a unique po-
| sition in the Old Testament. Ii comes
| directly after the Pentateuch and bears to
Il "a relationship similar TO that borne by
the Acts TO the Gospels. What is promised
| and prophesed in the one is realized and
fulfilled in the other. Realized. we may say
| so far as faith pushed its way. for il Is 20 be
| borne in mind that the land OF the conquest
was never quite the same as the land of
Canaan. the land OF promise being ever
| larger. rs DR.. Pierson has said. than the
| and OF possession. In the lesson before Us
we are introduced to the doughty leader of
| the conquest. a man whom. in various hon
)rable services. we have already met more
| han once.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
| After The death OF Noses. We go right
| on, said the letters OF Pinkerton. the mis-
| 'ionary, received after his sudden death.
Gods cause marches right on. Men pass
| he work progresses. After the death of
| Moses there is but a moments pause, and
| then the voice Of God sounds out, Move
orwardP Tho God whom we serve is an
| everything one. He lets no loss Of human
| strength defeat the purposes OF his grace
We rejoice I'm 1t. When our work is done.
md we are called home. much as we may
| eel 10 appreciate the kindly recollection OF
| hose whom we serve our greater delight is
| hat the work TO which we have given life's
| oil goes on anu lllt ldDOI Oh our ndllOS mas
not been in vain. The last thoughts of Rev.
| Il. w. Coffin, whom the Lord called home
| rom an active ministry very few days ago,
were given 10 the anticipated completion of
he great work he had just begun.
| The Lord spdke unto Joshua. That voice
lad been heard before. This was the ef-
! ectual CALL There was, we remember.
| more than one call in the elevation of Saul
% the kingship of Israel. Q) The call OF
| Providence. which sent Saul on a seem
i II "A I'D
| city. C9 Samuers annunciation C0
| Samuers amounting. G The spirit OF
| prophecy. (5) The public declaration And
| get Saul was not yet Israers king. IL was
| only after the voice of God came to him 10
| cad the people up effectually TO the over
throw of the Amenities that the people arose
md made Saul king before the Lord in
| Iilgal." Joshua's experience was some
what similar. BY series OF steps the Lord
ed him up TO his high estate as the chief of
| he chosen people. and at last in the strong
| leaven- directed deed he proved his leader
| ship.
Noses, my servant, is dead "The king is
! lead: long live the king" is the cry God
wants live man for "A leader TO his host.
| md in Joshua he raises one up. There
| shall always be leader for the army OF the
| Lord. As new conquests are demanded
| and new Jordans cross the path, new leaders
| are called and endued for service. IL is
| Gods ordained succession in the guidance
1 y
| leader seeks to initiate his predecessor in
! loyalty TO the truth and right Said the new
! Emperor William of Germany i'm taking his
| seat: Trusting III God and in my peoples
ability for their uefense. | entertain the
| confidence that il Will be permitted us, for
| IN indefinite time, to defend and assure by
| peaceful effort what my two predecessors
| who are now resting in God won by arms"
| The people Of Germany have been breath
ing more easily ever since that manly utter
| ance.
90 ouer the Jordan. There is a Rubicon
| to be crossed in every great career. The
| waters OF testing flow across the feet Of all
| high endeavor. Arise, GO over this Jor-
| dan, sounds in the ears OF not a few Just
| now who have looked with approving eyes
| over into a land Of promise. Have they
! grace for this test at JOrdans brink 1t is
very similar 20 that touchstone of consecra-
| ton in the temple Enclosure, the altar of
| burnt Offering. Think not to find Gods
presence or partake of the milk and honey
| Of Canaan until this loyal step has been
| taken. Beyond tho Alps lieth thy Italy,"
and beyond the Jordan lies our Canaan.
Erery place that the sole Of your foot
| shall Tread upon Presumption by occupa-
ton. In order 10 take or hold the land the
foot must be placed upon il. BY very
| wholesome governmental regulation land.
in certain localities of this country, at least,
| cannot be reserved except by actual settlers.
| The foot must tread tho land OF possession
| in our great West. As we write these notes,
| in part. en- route on the overland train, a
| poster is handed Us which rehearses the
advantages Of certain Dakota country.
| Good hay" it says. good water good
| churches. good society,"" All very good, in
| deed, we say. but you note that il is every
bit conditional. What they want. as is pres
emily minated, is that people live here and
| improve the land" That will make it good"
| Israel did not find land flowing with milk
and honey until she had put down her enc
| mics and trodden the weeds and briars under
| foot
Your coast. That was brave coast-line
| or border" as the Revision puts il. From
the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto
| the great river, the river Euphrates. all the
! land of the Hittites. and unto the great sea
| toward the going down OF the SUM-" Such
| is the Scripture. Now take your map and
| see how far short Israel came ofthese good
| " dimensions. From the Euphrates TO the
| Mediterranean. No. Israel did not put the
| foot OF faith on all this district. Let it ever
| be remembered that il is unfath and indo-
! lence that circumscribe our possessions
| Bishop Thompson, in last years Bishop
| Paddock lectures, sturdily insists that the
| struggle for earths sublugation, begun at
the gate Of Eden, is still in vigorous pro-
| cess. God gave us this earth to possess and
use. Slowly but surely we are pushing the
| boundaries out and on. Physical man and
| spiritual man are both at work TO realize in
| the course OF the years, heavens larger
| coast-line.
There shall not any man be obte to stand
| before thee. God is speaking to His church
| in the wilderness. Now listen: another
voice speaks out with divinity Fear them
not" There shall not be "a hair Of your
| head perish" "All power is given unto me"
| go we. therefore. and 10 | am with You
| Away" 1t is the church's new equipment.
| No one shall be able TO pluck Gods people
| from His hand. IL only the church of Christ
could go forth in as full an assurance of
| these latter promises as Joshua went forth
| persuaded Of the earlier guarantee. we
| should doubtless see a similar prostration
| OF walls. And where faith has acted, have
we not seen it so? Oh. faith. blessed. God
| given faith Now as then, there shall not
| any man be able TO stand before thee :"
| The Lord hy God IS nth thee. Yes. let
| us keep our Heavenly Father in the midst. ="
| Over on the other side of this Jordan. the
| faith side. there was a significant encoun-
| ter. Art thou for us or for our adversariesY 2
| called ont the voice of Joshua. Nay. but
"a captain of the Lords host am l noto
come" Now" To a Loyal host. 1t was the
angel of the Lord. Shall we not say. Christ
himself2 And IF God be for US. who can be
against us?"
Next Lesson-"Crossing the Jordan"
Joshua 3: 5-l7