The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

SERMONS.to be chafed by a few undifciplined peafants, or timidrabble of a country. But though the heaits of thepeople melted, and became as water, there is no evidencethat they ever fufpeiSt-ed the war to be unjuftneither they nor their gallant commander appear tohave had any fuch thoughts j for when the childrenof Ifrael fled before the men of Ai, Jofhua was furprifed,and thrown into deep diftrefs.p3« And Jofhuarent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his facebefore the ark of the Lord, until the even-tide, he andthe elders of Ifrael, and put dufl upon their heads."It doth not appear whether or not Jofhua was alongwith the party who went up to deftroy Ai. I fhouldrather think that he ftaid in the camp. Howeverthat be, we fee here that aftonifhment, indignation,concern for the public, forrow and fear, boil in thebreaft of that great man. Here are all the outwardfymptoms of the deepefl affli£lion and grief j the generalrent his clothes ; he fell to the earth, on hisface, before the ark, the vifible fymbol of the divineprcfence, till the evening, he and the elders of Ifrael,and put duft on their heads; a ftrong fenfe of fhame,a dread of being difappointed where they thoughtthemfelves fure of fuccefs jdriven backward and deftroyedby thofe whom they expe£led they would eafilydrive before them and deftroy ; and, efpecially, adread left the neig-hbouring kingdoms, obferving thatan Ifraeliiiili army was chafed by fo few, fhould allcombine to chafe them out of the country. But thisforrow, this fear, this humiliation, is of the genuinekind J it brings them to God, to pour out their heartsbefore him ; for Jofhua, after he and the elders had^" rent their clothes, and put duft on their heads, faid,Alas ! O Lord God, wherefore haft thou at all broughtthis people over Jordan, to deliver us into the handof the Amorites, to deftroy us ? Would to God wehad been content, and dwelt on the other fide Jordan,Lord God, what fha.U I fay, when Ifrael turneth