The National tribune., 1895-08-22

though the plans to be executed appear Hog
icsl, ineffective and even ludicrous, we must do
as hidden. Obedience is the special duty of
soldiers A saying of sailors is, "Obey orders
If it breaks owners; of printers. Follow
copy. il il goes out OF the window" ST. Paul
once said. II was not disobedisnt." And Ben
jamin Franklin declared, "He that caunot
obey cannot command.
Christ wants loyalty aud obedience. He is
our King. One cannot serve two masters We
cannot be subjects of two Governments. We
must maintain our oath Of allegiance to Christ,
and not compromise it by single fracture OF
his laws
7. We must cultivate ability to wait.
Patience Is as necessary as faith. We may
suppose some in the procession wore quite
irri,sted at the delay to see results. Do not
shout till hidden. Be able to keep still. The
reservation of force is sometimes quite as neces-
sary as the expenditure Of energy. There is
time for everything. Prematureness is as
harmful as procrsstinstion. Often there IS
long marching before victory, grooming before
shouting. suffering before exultation.
Israel had learned patience, also, in their
work of faith, for they had to march seven
times around Jericho, and upon the seventh
day seven times. IL they had not persistently
marched on. the wall of Jericho would not have
fallen down. And there is a sovenfold, per-
feet trial of faith for the soldier of Christ in
his path Of obedicnce. And the Lord frequently
passes his people through the discipline of ex-
pectation, as he did Israel. that he may bring
out the qualities of the soldier in them. The
trial Of your faith worketh patience"
IL required much sef-possession to pass IL
times around the city without any apparent
effect as 10 injury to tho walls or victory over
tho enemies. But waiting is often Christian
duty aud grace. Lam, 1926
Calvin says: Tho whole looked like moth
ing moro than child's play, and yet it was no
improper test for their faith, as it proved their
acquiescence in the divine message"
The people were obliged simply to wait and
see what Gods purposes were. Meanwhile
they were to be calm, silent, obedenr, tFustful,
patient.
Beecher said: Patience is but lying to and
riding out tho gale"
Some years ago a German artist represented
in painting the Emperor William on the
throne and the Crown Prince with foot on
the lower step of the throne. The Emperor
forbade tho artist to put the painting into tho
Royal Gallery till changed, saying: Let the
Prince keep his foot off the throne till / leave
it,"
Z. We are to do necessary things on the
Lords day. Battles have often been fought of
Sunday. 1t must be one of the seven sue
cessive days employed in laying siege TO the
city of Jericho was a Sabbath. This is ad-
mitted. as, of course it cannot be denied by the
:. He who had ordained the observation of the
Sabbath. commanded il to be broken for the
destruction of Jericho" It is believed by some
tina, the day OH which Jerlchos walls fell was
the Sabbath. No one is able to show this was
the case, nor to deny it. DR.. Adam Clarke was
of opinion that if the Israeites simply formed
procession and went silently and nndemon-
strably once around the city, it could do no
harm-mght be regarded sort Of religious
procession. We remember Marcion attempts
to show by this incident at Jericho that God is
changeable, commanding Sabbath to be exempt
from labor, and then again ordering the Sab
bath TO be spent in military demonstrations.
DR.. Clarke meets all such objections and false
reasoning by saying: :" 1t is sufficient answer
to all such cavils that the God who commanded
the Sabbath to be set apart for restand religious
purposes, has always authority to suspend for
season the operation of merely ceremonial laws,
or to sbrogato them entirely, when the purpose
of their institution Is fulfilled"
No doubt many Christians would have felt
more comfortable had it been arranged for
Jericho to be destroyed on the sixth day, and
thus save US from the necessity Of trying to ex-
plain difficulty.
The student will do we'll to read Josephus
ABtiq. II, G, 2.
Some of the principal battles OF the civilized
world were fought on Sundays. This was the
case in several instances during the rebellion.
II was on Sunday, June 10. 1864, that the gum
boat Kearsarge ruined the Alabama. Many
similar instances could be cited.
BY way of making our position clear. we say
that our sympathies and cooperation are with
those who to-day, feel some alarm at tho open
violations of Sunday sacredness. and we earn
estly hope all good people will be on guard
against every innovation of the Lords Day.
8. There is spiritual significance in this
lesson. A heart bent ain is as n wicked
Jericho. IL shuts itself up against the entry
of the Holy Spirit. Men hem themselves in
from grace. They think they have provisions
to meet eternal siege of spiritual attack.
But ut length tho walls fall down. Some min
ister blows the Gospel trumpet, some shout
of triumph, as Q. g.. the TIE Deum. the Gloria
in Excelsis some spiritual psalm or hymn is
heard. and down go the obstacles, in comes
grace, the carnsl heart is slain.