ment upon its guilty inhabitants, was to be manifested in detecting Achan's sin, and in evoking from the very depths of his convicted heart the confession of his terrible guilt. He, in common with all his brethren, had heard Jehovah's solemn charge: "And ye, in anywise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make"-not merely any one individual's tent, but- -"the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord." All this was plain enough. No one could mistake it. It only needed an attentive ear and an obedient heart. It was as plain as the commandment delivered to Adam and Eve amid the bowers of Eden. But Achan, like Adam, transgressed the plain and positive command. Instead of hiding it in his heart, that he might not sin against God, he trampled it under his feet, that he might gratify his sinful desires. He fixed his covetous gaze upon the accursed thing, in itself nothing but a wretched pile of dust, but through Satan's power and Achan's erring heart turned into an occasion of sin, shame, and sorrow. Oh, reader, how sad, how sorrowful, how terrible a thing it is to allow the poor heart to go after the wretched things of this world! What are they all worth? If we could have all the garments that were ever made in Babylon, all the gold and silver that ever issued from the mines of Peru, California, and Australia; all the pearls and diamonds that ever glittered on the kings, princes, and nobles of this world; could they give us one hour's true happiness? Could they send a single ray of heavenly light into the soul? Could they impart to us one moment's pure spiritual enjoyment? Not they. In themselves they are but? perishable dust, used of Satan, a positive curse, misery, and degradation. Not all the riches and material comforts which this world could offer are worth one hour's holy communion with our heavenly Father and our precious Saviour. Why should we covet this world's wretched wealth? Our God will supply all our need, according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. Is not this enough? Why should we put ourselves within the range of Satan's power, by setting our hearts upon the riches, honours, or pleasures of a wicked world which is ruled by the arch-enemy of God and of our souls? How well it would have been for Achan, had he rested content with what the God of Israel had given him! How happy he might have been, had he been satisfied with the furniture of his tent, the smile of Jehovah, and the answer of a good conscience! But he was not; and hence the appalling scene in the valley of Achor, the record of which is enough to strike terror into the stoutest heart. "So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan, the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had; and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? The Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called the valley of Achor [that is, trouble] unto this day." Joshua vii. 19-26. How deeply solemn is all this! What a warning note it sounds in our ears! Let us not attempt, under the false influence of one-sided notions of grace, to turn aside the holy edge of such a passage of scripture. Let us read, with earnest attention, the inscription on that awful monument in the valley of Achor. What is it ? "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of his saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him." And again, "If any man defile the temple of God, him will God destroy." And, further, "Our God is a consuming fire." Much Weighty, solemn, searching words these! needed, surely, in these days of flippant, easy-going profession, when the doctrines of grace are so much on our lips, but the fruits of righteousness so little seen in our lives. May we learn from them the urgent need of watchfulness over our hearts, and over our private life, that evil may be judged and nipped in the bud, so that it may not bring forth its sad, shameful, and sorrowful fruit in our practical career, to the gross dishonour of the Lord, and the grievous sorrow of those with whom we are linked in the bonds of fellowship. (To be continned, if God permit.) "ONE THING I DO." TRUSTING in the Lord thy God, Holding fast His faithful word, Not denying His worthy name, Has He called thee to the plough? Night is coming, serve Him now- Faith and love in service blend, Has He given thee golden grain? Sow, and thou shalt reap again— To thy Master's gate repair, Has He said the end is near? Onward go. Serving Him with holy fear, Onward go. Christ thy portion, Christ thy stay- In this little moment then 215 THE WAY OF HAPPINESS. "ARE you happy, my dear girl?" said a visitor to a young friend who seemed to be drawing near her latter end. "Yes, quite happy," was the reply. And raising her hand, she pointed to a Bible which was lying on her bed-side, and again repeating, "I am quite happy; I have Christ there." Then laying her hand on her heart, she said, "And I have Christ here." And again, pointing upwards, to where the object of her faith, her affections and her hopes were all centred, she repeated, "And I have Christ up there." What a source of happiness! we may well exclaim. A happiness far exceeding that of the brightest hosts on high who have never sinned. They know nothing of Christ as did the dying girl. She knew nothing else. It was all Christ! only Christ! But it was the Christ that loved her as no one else did or could, the Christ that died for her on the cross of Calvary, in presence of all intelligences. His love she could never deny, though she might be suffering the most excruciating pain; the whole universe is witness to His love. It may seem strange to nature that One who so loves should measure out to His loved ones such days and nights of weariness, and who, by a touch of the hem of His garment could dry up the deepest fountains of disease; but faith approves and would not have it otherwise until it be His holy and blessed will to come in with His healing power. The vessel that has to bear in heaven " a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," must be morally fitted here to bear that glory for ever. Besides, the Lord in His love can make His suffering ones |