grace, without which we can do nothing. The children of Israel received, as the reward of their labours, the safe possession of the land of Chanaan: we shall receive, as our reward, the eternal possession of the kingdom of heaven.
Application. You should seek to know what God has done, and is still doing for you, and what He requires of you. You can learn this by your instructions in the Catechism and Bible History. But are you not lazy and negligent about such instruction? Do you always learn the lesson set you? Do you always pay great attention to what you are taught?
III. EPOCH:
JOSUE AND THE JUDGES.
(About 1450 — 1095 B. C.)
Chapter XLV.
ENTRANCE OF THE ISRAELITES INTO THE PROMISED LAND.
[Jos. 1—24.]
AFTER the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Josue: “My servant Moses is dead; arise and pass over this Jordan[1], thou and the people with thee. I will deliver to thee every place which the sole of your foot shall tread upon. No man shall be able to resist thee all the days of thy life.” Encouraged by these promises the people advanced towards the Jordan. When they reached its banks[2], Josue ordered the priests to take the Ark of the Lord, and go before the people. As soon as the priests, carrying the Ark, stepped into the Jordan, and their feet touched the water at the bank, the waves that came from above stood heaped together, and swelling up like a mountain, were seen afar off; but the floods, which were beneath, ran down into the sea,
- ↑ This Jordan. This river is very rapid, because between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea it has a fall of nearly 666 feet: its breadth is from 66 — 100 feet, and its mean depth 10 feet.
- ↑ Its banks. The Jordan was swollen. It was a short time before the Pasch, and the snow on the mountains was melting.
