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

I-OOSERMONS.dreadful puniiliment followed. But firfl Jofliua, andall Ifrael with him, fe«^m to have fat as a grand aflizeTO condemn him. " Jofluia, and all Ifrael with him,took Achan, the fon of Zerah, and the filver, and thegarment, and the wedge of gold, and his fons, andhis daughters," (who it feems had been privy to histheft, and had concealed it) ** and his oxen, and hisafles, and his fheep, and his tent, and all that he had;and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.And Jolhua faid. Why haft thou troubled Ifrael?"The affront which the army had fuftained, in confequenceof the fm of Achan, had troubled and vexedthe congregation of Ifrael. " The Lord," Joiliuaadded, " fhall trouble thee this day." And moft certainlyAchan m.ufl have been vexed to a degree thatcan fcarce be conceived, to fee his tent, his cattle,the monuments of his covetoufnefs, and even his fonsand his daughters, all carried along to the valley ofAchor, to be burned with him in the fame fire ": Forall Ifrael floned him with ftones, and burned themwith fire, after they had ftoned them with ftones."I have faid before, that Achan's repentance feems tohave been fmcere j fo tliat, though he had been fufferedto live, it was not likely he would ever haveb^en guilty of facrilege agam. But it fometimes happens,that, for the intereil of the public, a guilty peribnis to be puniflied in a more fevere, confpicuous,and itriking manner, than the guilt feems to deferve;and this feems to have been the unhappy cafe of Achan.Tlie army, the rude and unformied people, were imp.;effedv/ith fear ;tliey learned to obey their generala id I do not remember, that after this time any ofthem embezzled the things devoted to the fervice ofGod during all die days of Joiliua. They took ftiiJanother ftep to make the fm and punifhment of Achaniubfervient to the public good of Ifrael :" They raii^axI over him a great heap of ftones unto this day."This great heap was like au iiifcription upon his