established securely in the possession of their long-wished-for inheritance.

The closing scene of the christian's life has often been compared to the passage of the Jordan. For death alone separates him from the heavenly Canaan. All beyond is bright and lovely. The paradise of God-communion with him, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the spirits of the just made perfect-joys ineffable and eternal-await the believer, as soon as he leaves the body and enters the future world.

How should the example of the Israelites inspire him with an unwavering faith in Jesus, as he passes through the valley of the shadow of death. Having Joshua for their leader, and the ark of the covenant to precede them, they moved fearlessly over the Jordan, relying on the protection of Jehovah. And the presence of God, the consolations of the Spirit, the supporting arm of the Saviour, will be with the christian in his dying hour. Let him be assured of this, and be strong in the faith which will call down these blessings; so that he may be able triumphantly to exclaim with the apostle, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

CHAPTER V.

The rite of circumcision administered, and the passover observed at Gilgal, Joshua is commanded to take Jericho.

The inhabitants of Canaan were filled with great terror at the passage of the Israelites across the Jordan. It was such a miraculous interposition in behalf of this formidable people, as to show in a fearful light the power of the God whom they worshipped, and the protection he would afford them. The natural barrier which the river presented to their approach, was overcome, and the further progress of the invaders seemed irresistible. A general panic pervaded the country, as the news spread far and wide from the Jordan to the coasts of the sea; so that, in the strong language of the Scriptures, the heart of the inhabitants melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

In consequence of this, there was no rallying of the forces of the Canaanites to attack the encampment at Gilgal. It remained unmolested; and thus Joshua had an opportunity, in accordance with the divine command, of causing the rite of circumcision to be administered to those who, in

their progress through the wilderness, had failed of receiving it.

It was the removing, by doing this, of the reproach that rested upon the Israelites, on account of so many of them remaining without circumcision, which gave its name to the place of their encampment; Gilgal signifying "a rolling away." To this place, which was situated between Jericho and the Jordan, about two miles from the former and six from the latter, Joshua and his army constantly returned, after their expeditions against the Canaanites. Here the manna ceased to fall. Here the first passover was celebrated after the entrance of the Israelites into the promised land. Here, probably, their women, children, flocks and goods remained during the continuance of their wars. Here the ark of the covenant had its residence till, after the conquest of the country, it was fixed at Shiloh. And here was the place where Saul was, many years afterwards, proclaimed king over Israel.

It was on the fourteenth day of the month at even, that the Israelites kept the passover at Gilgal. This was the third occasion of celebrating that sacred feast; the first being on the eve of their departure from Egypt, and the second at mount Sinai, the following year. On the day succeeding the passover, they ate of the old corn, (or grain,) of the land, which they probably found

in the storehouses that the inhabitants had abandoned in their flight, and also of the new corn yet standing in the fields. The manna, then, fell no more. Such a supply was now no longer necessary; and its sudden and entire disappearance furnished incontestible evidence that it had been miraculously given.

About this time, as Joshua was, one day, alone, at some distance from the camp, probably approaching near the city of Jericho, to observe, if possible, its situation and the best mode of attacking it, a strange vision burst upon his sight. A human figure, with a drawn sword in his hand, stood in front of him. It would have intimidated a person of less intrepidity than Joshua. But he fearlessly approached the unknown individual, saying; "Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?"

It was no earthly being. "As Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come," was the reply; and Joshua recognizing in him a divine personage, fell on his face to the earth, worshiping him, and inquiring, "What saith my lord unto his servant?" He, then, directed Joshua to loose his shoe from off his foot, "for the place," said he, "whereon thou standest is holy;" a command which was immediately obeyed, and the same with that which was given to Moses by the Angel in the burning bush. Indeed, we have every reason to believe that, as in that case, so in this, the Being thus

manifesting himself was the Son of God, who, afterwards, appeared in our world, as Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind.

The unexpected vision, and the words which were soon after uttered, were doubtless intended to allay any apprehensions which might yet linger in the breast of Joshua, and to inspire him with renewed confidence in God, as to the result of the attack which he and his army were soon to make upon Jericho. "See," said Jehovah, "I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once: thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout: and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up, every man straight before him."

Another miracle was to enable the Israelites to overcome another obstacle. The Jordan had just been passed by a peculiar divine interposition, and the first powerful and strongly fortified city which opposed their progress, would soon be made ac