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I intreat the followers of the Lord to aim continually to bring a good report upon his truth and service. Honour the Lord and his gospel by speaking in their praise. Say that he is good and that good are all his ways. Try to win others to seek the Lord with you. Encourage all who seem to be enquiring after him, and strengthen the hands, and confirm the hearts, of your weaker and more timid brethren in the way to Zion. Be careful not to throw a stumbling block in the way of any. Going onward yourselves, and pressing to the mark," comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak,” and “ say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not." So will you act as Caleb and Joshua, and so like them will you be honoured of God.

SERMON XXIV.

CALEB.

NUMBERS Xiv. 24.

But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

THE example of others is of singular use. If it be bad, we are warned by it what evils we should shun; and if it be good, we are instructed and encouraged by it how to serve and glorify God. In the last exposition we had an example of the former kind. We saw the Israelites disbelieving the promise of God, and the punishment with which they were consequently visited, and we were thereby warned not to sin after the same In the present exposition we shall see the opposite character and conduct of Caleb, and the honour which was put upon

manner.

him for his trust in God, and we may learn from him how to fix an entire reliance upon the promises of God, and how to remain firm in our faith and obedience, in all circumstances of trial and danger.

You perceive that the text assigns a reason, arising out of the character of Caleb, why God would distinguish him above all the rest of the people. This character and this distinction shall form the two principal divisions of my sermon.

I. 1. Now the first part of the description of the character of Caleb marks a contrast between the spirit of the world, and the spirit of a man of God. I need not enter into the particular history which caused this contrast to be here drawn; that appeared in our last sermon. I will therefore speak generally on the difference of the spirit possessed by a man of God from that which is possessed by the people of the world.

The spirit of the people of the world leads them to mind the things of the world. These occupy their attention and regard; from these they seek their honour and happiness, and

practically constitute them their chief good. The spirit which they have, being a fallen and unrenewed spirit, disposes them to love the world, and the things of the world, while the love of the Father is not in them; it makes them to be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, and to seek the honour which cometh from man in preference to that which cometh from God. It forms no right estimate of the value and importance of the eternal world, or of any divine things. It is not willing to subject itself to any privations, or to encounter any difficulties in the fulfilment of the duty which is owed to God. It is earthly and sensual, unimpressed by any religious motive, impatient of restraint, discontented under sufferings, unwilling to receive the yoke of Christ, disbelieving his promises, and disobedient to his just and righteous commands.

But the spirit of a man of God is another spirit. His mind is at all times supremely fixed upon divine things. It is a spirit of faith in the promises of God, of reliance upon his word, and obedience to his command.

it is ever seeking its rest and happiness in him, and finds its richest gratification in meditating upon his glorious perfections, contemplating his wondrous and gracious acts in redemption, enjoying a spiritual intercourse with him in seasons of private, social, or public prayer, and in doing his will, and glorifying his name, as opportunity may be afforded. Thus I say, it is a feeling and state of the mind and heart which is supremely devoted to God, ready to suffer or dare any thing in his service, and desirous only of honouring and obeying his word. It is a spirit which loves, trusts, and delights in God, and serves him with gladness and willingness of heart.

Let me here observe to you that this spirit of a man of God is a divine gift. It is given by God; and in consequence of the contrast between it and the spirit of the world, which is the spirit that is natural to fallen man, and born with him, it is scripturally called a new spirit. As such it is promised by God unto his people; "A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." So

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