The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-03
SUNDAY-SCH00L LESSON
.fs ExPOUNDED By REV. EDWfRD
J.. PELL.
Shall We Venture To Claim Our Inheri-
lance or shall We Turn Back Into
the wilderness.

august 1ifl.-lut IfIpil OF the spies
Numbers Kill, l7-D. 2S-33.
The Children OF Israel had now come to
the borders Of the promised land. The
goal on which their heart we're set was
just beyond the FOUNTAINS. and nothing
remained TO be- done but TO 90 over and
| possess IL I'm the name OF the Lord. Bat
were they ready TO enter it2 Marvellous
chan ges had taken place IN tn, Sc people
since they were led out of Egypt. a herd
OF sleepy slaves Never had d nation adj
varced with greater strides. In intelii-
gence they had outAripped even their
former masters. for they had knowledge
OF the true God. They had the most mag
nihcent system OF worship the world mad
ever seen. They had a system Of laws
lar beyond the power OF the human mind
| 10 invent. And they were hOuored above
an nations In having Jehovah TO be their
GOD, and the Divine presence TO 20 with
them and direct their steps. But were
they ready 10 lay hold upon the promises
ana claim the land2
IT thcy were unequal 10 the task be-
fore them, now WAS the time to find IL
out With Jehovah at the head Of their
commiasary department they could al
fcrd u postpone the campaign or con-
quest forty years, rather than enter upon
an uncertain conflict. Hence when the
people hcsitatcd TO 20 forward and sug-
gcstcd that Moses send spies 10 search out
tine country. the saying pleased Moses
and was confirmed by the Lord. If they
htSitdtc1 to advance without knowing
what was ahead OF them, there was res-
son 10 fear tnat they would show the
"mie feather If they We're brought sud-
Denly face 20 face with the enemies they
We're TO destroy The highest test of
imth is not darkness. bat light. II is easter
10 80 forward ignorant OF what is be-
Tore u.s. Than to advance with the whole
length OF the journey On fun View. The
man VINO hesitdte6 10 take GOI's hand
ana 70 with Him through the night,
would hardly start az all il he could sec
the Hons that are chained by the way
side.
COO lad declared that the land which
ne mad set apart Tor Israel Was a goodly
HtFtase-a land flowing with milk and
money. In giving the spies their orders
70 search out the country and report 10
Moses diI not mean TO intimate that he
DOUBTED the promises. ID was as N be
had said. You want 10 test Gods word.
20 ana see for yourselves IL what He has
SAID is true As for himself IL was a
matter OF no Importance what the OBJ
stacles were in the way OF conquest
whether the people dwelt i'm tents
or In strOnghOlds. or whether they
were giants or grasshoppers. lie never
lost sight OF the fact that he was on
religious pigrimage-that Israel was
Gods chosen, and that the glory Of God
Forty days OF suspense dragged their
weary lengths away, and the spies re-
turned. NOW came the trial Of faith.
The people swarmed out OF their tents TO
hear the report Their eyes opened wide
and their mouths watered al the sight Of
the great lunch Of grapes. 50 large that
one man could nor handle IL without
crushing II. And they they looked into
the faces Of the spies and waited for
them 10 speak. There were two reports
s|I.HN
portland the majority report came first.
Ten out Of the twelve had gone through
the land prospecting like adventurers'
their minds were sOrdid: they had an eye
70 all the good OF the lana. and they saw
IL. they saw 50 much that their eyes
were dazzled, and they lost sight Of God.
They looked at the land they looked at
the high walls they had built walls IN
Egypt and they knew what walls were,
and they looked at the giants, and they
looked at themselves. and their knees
smote together; and when they looked at
the walls again they seemed 10 reach 20
heaven, and when they looked al the
giants again and back at themselves they
imagined that the giants regarded them
as grasshoppers; and they felt Ike grass
hOppers.
Two men out Of the twelve saw all that
the ten saw-calcuated the height OF the
walks. measured the giants at distance,
and then, instead OF looking at them
selves. looked up at God. And they
straightened themselves up and their
souls filed with ardor, and they SAID.
We are abundantly able 10 overcome
them. for the Lord will fight for u.s.
1t Is easy 10 imagine the sort of report
the ten men, who had forgotten God, but
not the giants. made 10 Israel, as their
grassf0pi er knees smOte together Ana
knowing how the majority report usually
finds aCccpts nee with the majority Il is
tfsy TO imagine how the contagion or
fear spread through the camp. In the
midst OF the uprOar which followed the
minority report had small chance or
hearing. When the people forget God ana
ttin cry-babies they are IN TO humor u
hear such brave words as came from the
lips Of Caleb ard Joshua. These TWO men
would nave been stoned for daring 10
bring in a minority report II the glory OF
the Lord had not suddenly appeared ia
the tabernacle of the congregation before
III the children Of lsr1eL" But If the
rcople rejected them. God ,-ccepted them,
and the majority report was declared 70
be evil and the minority report god.
And thus. after two years or study IN
Gods wilderness school. only two men
had advanced far sno1gh IN ialil 10 De
pronounced by their Teacher NJ TO be
promoted to a place In the promised lana.
This history Is constantly repeating II
self In every Christian life there comes
this testing time on TIE border or the
promised land Of holiness. We have come
through the great and terrible VII incr- |
.be life of blossedncss-tho goal on which |
our eves have Ions been fixed. The Christ |
like hfe-the life OF conservation 20 boa-
is held ont 10 us as a lana nDNinl WIN |
milk and honey. II II the promised lana |
that begins down here. II which heavcA |
l. but AM extension. We know that there |
il no reace. no safety. no happiness this |
sids If IT, \ half Christian T. on half |
rations 4 life outside OF the iol1 is |
life subjected 70 the privations or me
4 a.. H.s
stiu subject to the privations OF the |
II we viii but enter IN. we |
shall be on Gods land. and we shall IN 1
herit all things. But We hesitate on the |
border. We have looked forward 10 such
, life with desire and now that We have
only 10 go over and possess II. We are
fraid 10 venture. We are afraid 10 trust
with both feet on Gods lana.
We send spies to search out the country
ana bring ms word again. our souls go
iorth TO view this life OF conservation
and they return enraptured.
R,,t the intellect-Mr Worldly Wiseman
comes back with "A different report
rven from a purely intellectual stand
I'M n holy life Is a land flowing with
MIX and honey. There Is nothing 10
'o,,al IL But MIR Worldly Wiseman sizes
no the giants. measures the walls, ana
.omes back shaking his head. lmpossi.
lier' he says. mo man III TINS Moiiu
am overcome the enemy so completely
&c IN live a Christ-lke life. II Is a beau |
ifnl IDEAL but il Is impracticable." And
,fr. Worldly Wiseman Is often bigger
nan the soul and his word carries great
,,eioht And SO we stand on the border |
ealing. Which way shall we go? Shall
20 venture 10 claim our inheritance. or
hall we turn back into the wilderness;
EDWARD l.. PELL.
Bandits Defeat C0ssacks.
sT pETERSRURG. Aug. Six Or