The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-21
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
THE STORY or JOSHUA EINEWrNG
THE cOyESfNr
E1poundcd by Rev. Edward l.. Peli-An
Impressive scene ana Fun OF
Beautiful Lessons.
September z2d.-JoshuI Renewing the
Covenant.-JoshIa XIV, H..


stricken I'm age" As In the case OF
Aoses-as in the case of all great lead
ers-his last days were burdentd with
ANXIETY for the future Of his people. lie
knew his people, he kne" how weak
they were, he knew now quick they We're
TO forget God. ana how tcnaciously they
clung 10 the idols of their fathers he
knew their past, and he tremnied for
their future. And now, realizing that
the time OF his departure was at hand,
he determined 10 spend his remaining
strength in a final effort To bind his peo-
s,le 10 the Lord. And Joshua gathered
all the tribes OF Israel unto Snechem.
ami they presented themselves be-
fore Coo
We cannot dwell upon the impressive
sccna here pictured, though ~ Is Iuil Cd
beautiful lessons, We are more imme-
d.atelv concerned with the address-the
etblims effort of the Whlte-hared old
warrior. who, with his almost dying
breath. warns his people on thc dangers
which bcsct them, and socks 10 stir
them up 10 renew their cofenlht with
the Lord.
IL Is a mast, rpie,e. With cons inmate
arr tho old man eloquent aWakens the
memories and surs the hearts OF his
audience. tie begins by recalling their
humble origin They had rot always
been the recognized chosen people There
was "A time when they were in darkness
Ike thc world around them, and to tine
Lord alone were they indebted Tor what
obey now were. aud for all that they
low POSSESSED. There was no room for
h0asuug. j. is "a good thiNs to recall
the rock from whence We were NcNn,
the hole from whence We were dug. So
long as the children of Israel remember
ga what they came from they walked
hLmbly, and 500 long as they remember
cdjwho brought them they Kept ms
commandments. II is when we FORGET
our former wrotchod condition that we
become proud. and when We are proud
our eyes never catch glimpse of God
Having shown his people to whom they
ara indebted and having brought them
to am humble frame of mind he Insists
that II is Nighttime they were deciding
whether they would give the Lord the
supreme devotion which bee required
They are now I'm quiet possession OF tht
land the Lord gave them. and Or they are
going to acknowledge the Lori OF the
land as their supreme ruler now Us
the time TO do &c. The matter had been
rut Off long enough. They have rro-
fossod 20 Doe the Lords people. they have
worshiuucl the Lord after fashion,
but All tire while they have cherished
secret affection for the idols Of their
fathers. u has been like pulling eye
teeth 20 throw away all their idols, ana
dopcnd upon one God only. They want
20 serve God. but they want 20 worship
idols. They have been slow 20 learn tnat
God is a Jealous God. and that be dee
mands OF his people the supreme. undi-
vidod affection that husband demands
of his WIFE This miniodness.
this insnccrity. has been the cause Of
their troubles IN the past, and 10 Us evil
dent 10 Joshua that II they do not over
come 10. 10 VIII result I'm their eternal
ruin 1hoy must come % decision.
They must choose between the God OF
Israel and the idols Of their fathers, and
thov must decide amphaucally. publicly,
out loud: they must bring their fists
down with a whack, and declare once
for an what they are going 10 do.
They must get on the fence They
must come 10 point, or they will never
come tc anything
I'm bringing his people 10 the point
Joshua himself leads the way lie had
come 10 the point long before. but ne
SIS not ashamed 20 take his stand any
where or at any time as am example 10
others He says "Nou car choose Whom
YOU will. but as for me and my house
we will serve the Lord" He ia not un-
concerned about their choice. bat he
hcres by thus expressing himself 10 en-
courage others 10 take the same stand.
IL Is a matter which they must decide
for themselves. he cannot decide Tor
them but at the same time hc ~ u con-
trihute all the force Of his example and
influence 10 get them 20 decide Alright
As for himself and his famiy-so FAR as
Doe can train ana influence them-thcy
win serve tho Lord he believes That re-
liei0u is q personal natter bur ne also
believes that s. IS a family matter lie
does not give mp the right 90 choose for
his children between religious and
ron-relieious training any moro than he
would give mp the right Co choose Tor
them the moral or social or physical at
m0sphere they should breathe.
Having announced his own choice
the speaker pauses To- give the people
"a chance 20 express themselves. But
their answer does not satisfy the OH
warrior. They are not yet fully awake
to the situation. To was Dious talk from
the lips outward. they spoke as n tneF
were already sincere worshippcrs or Coz
when Do knew that they had idols in
their homes.
''You cannot serve the Lord TN your
rrfsont frame ~ mind" cries Joshua
Tor he is a holy God. and YOU are not
acting with sincerity he is a jealous
God. and YOU are not giving him un-
divided affection: be- will NOT overlook
YOUR transeresslons; YOU must not think
that Won can 20 ON SHINING WITH impuniiy
under the impression that bee win blot
OUT your sins as fast as YOU commit
them" The burning words sank into
the hearts Of the people. and woke them
no. "Nay. hut we viii serve the Lor1N
they cry Now they are where Joshua
would have tfrm. "Nfry well. then;
remember. now YOU are witnesses 10
this choice YOU have made" And the
giconle cry. eve are witnesses" Now
saws Joshua. "put away tho strange
gods which are among YOU" rhey
have committed themselves, they have
publicly declared that they viii serve
the Lord and him alone and the very
act Of deciding has inspired them with
courage. Now II is an easy matter %
destroy their IDOLS
$50 Joshua made a covenant with the
people that day. and ser them n statute
and an ordinance i'm Shochem."
EDWARD l.. pELL.
CTBfN RETOLyTTON INyINCTBJ y.
..,.,.f, Ntu.e.'- Keaufifui Letter To "A