The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-08-29

"By faith the walls OF Jericho fell down,
after they were comprised about seven
days" Heb. xii:30.
As DR.. Parker shows so clearly in his Peo-
ple's Bible this whole procedure was de-
signed as Immediately disciplinary to these
Israelites, and, remotely as a lesson to Gods
people in all ages.
From a military point of view, all the ar
engagements were impracticable and absurd.
| give a synopsis OF Dr.. Parker's application.
l.. God designed to teach them the art OF
self control. They were armed but not al
lowed to use their arms. what a difficult
thing is this for a soldier to do-to stand in
the face Of the enemy and not discharge a
gun. And this is the discipline Of life; to be
wonderfully endowed and hold our powers
in allegiance. To have the strength to ac-
complish our purpose but not to resort to the
tyranny OF using 1t. "Some things are to be
accomplished by submission, patience,
meekness; knowing the righteousness OF the
cause, we await the issue with imperturble
calm.'
2. Self-control in suppressinE excitement.
They were to be pertectly quiet and not shout
till Joshua gave the word. How difficult to
these enthusiastic soldiers who had so re-
Gently demolished the strongholds on the
other side. and had passed dry shod through
Jordan's waters. Progress Is kept back
by shouting men. The whole kingdom OF
heaven is hindered in some instances be-
cause people will not hold their tongues.
They are people who see a little part Of the
case and rush out into the war as II they were
fully equipped soldiers; they are excitable,
vehement, quick; they call themselves sensi-
tive, but they are extremely disagreeable
anGe cumbersome. Silence in the midst of
| great crises is simply invaluable"
8. Self-control in abstaining from the spoil
ing of the city. Everything in the doomed
city was under a curse, and they we're prohib-
tied from touching the accursed thing. IAN
the silver and gold and vessels OF brass and
iron are consecrated to the Lord; they shall
come into the treasury Of the Lord" What
q temptation was this to an impoverished
soldiery as they marched through the streets
ana entered temples enriched by the
precious metals. The wonder Is that there
was not more than one Achan in the camp!
The severest discipline Of life, perhaps, is to
be in the midst OF plenty and not touch 1t
9Th 10 the continual difficulty Of life. To
walk past bread that we could eat, and that
we feel We need, and yet say, We must not
touch it, Is a lesson not easily learned.
This is a part of the mystery Of Providence.
IL enters into the whole of a human life.
Tho person next door TO you has all you
want-but he is next door; and a deal parti-
ton an inch thick is an infinite separation
where morality is concerned. What relates
TO property relates to pleasure, enjoyment,
everything. We are in reality what we are
In critical circumstances, 1t is the excep-
tional hour that is the key to the lifetime.b
4. Patience In much detail. Around and
order, and on the seventh day they seem to
indicate some little Impotence in that they
''rose early about the dawniny of the day )"
for this was the day the shout of victory
should be heard. And 50 it was, the critical
moment had come, the order could not be
misunderstood, and Jericho must fall. So
must we learn to be patient In all great
enterprises; satisfied to do the same things
over and over. AS sure as we are in the
right and the thing we oppose is wrong,
and we continue to walk around and around
It, in the use OF the God-appointed means OF
opposition, continue to elbow our rams
horns" the shout OF victory will at last
come and the doomed iniquity will fall fiat to
the ground. at is not for us to take the
Lords work out of his hands. Be patient
In the detail. 1t seems long since we began
going round this awful he'll. 1t seems TO be
encroaching upon US, rather than we seem
to be encroaehing upon its heat. Travel onI
1t is the nfth day; tomorrow is the sixth
day; the day after is the seventh day. The
Lord shall suddenly come to his temple"
These quotations are all from DR.. Joseph
Parker's Peoples Bible.