there may be no faith, no love, no holiness within. We may be able clearly to describe the path which leads to heaven, and yet we may not be walking in that path ourselves. Seek, dear reader, seek earnestly to have your heart filled with that grace which quickens, teaches, warms, and saves the soul.

How ruinous is the presence of any allowed sin! Balaam's besetting sin was covetousness-the desire of gain. This warped his better feelings, and soiled his character. He knew what was right-no one knew better, but he clung to what was evil. Though he was ready to say, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord," there was all the while lurking in his heart a desire for that very silver and gold. There was zeal for God on his lips, but war against Him in his heart. His words were heavenly, spiritual, godly; but his deeds earthly, sensual, devilish. He saw what was his duty, and at times felt a strong desire to do it; but the love of gain acted like a strong cord, constantly pulling him aside from the straight path.

How vain sometimes are the most pious wishes! "Let me die the death of the righteous" was Balaam's wish; and no doubt he sincerely desired it. His heart could not have breathed a better wish. Those, in truth, were blessed words, if his deeds had only corresponded with them. But they were strange and sad words, when set side by side with his life and character. And they were awful words, when we think of the day of reckoning, the judgment-seat of Christ, the eternity that is at hand.

It is not enough merely to desire heaven; we must seek an entrance there. It is not enough to feel a wish to die well, we must also seek to live well. It has been often said that "hell itself is paved with good resolutions." Oh that we may be able from our hearts to say, "To me to live is Christ; " and then we may indeed feel that "to die is gain."

JOSHUA;

OR, THE PIOUS OFFICER.

We sometimes see a man so completely fitted for his work, that we say within ourselves, "If he is removed, no one else can be found to supply his place." But God, who "fits the burden to the back," can also fit the back for the burden. He can raise up men for the work which He has for them to do, and His grace can make them both willing and able to carry it on.

Now, who was more fitted for his arduous work than Moses, the Leader of the great nation of Israel towards their promised land? No one seemed so well suited as he was to start them as settlers in their new country, and to rule over them when there.

But God soon showed that if He removed one, He could set up another. And at the death of Moses, there was a Joshua ready to take his place.

I

Who was this Joshua? We hear of him several times during the lifetime of Moses. He had been "Moses' minister" (that is, his constant attendant), and he had caught something of his master's spirit, and had learned something of his master's wisdom. He had been appointed by Moses to head the Israelitish army against the Amalekites; and these enemies he completely conquered, whilst the hands of Moses were held up in prayer for him. He had been permitted too to accompany Moses, when he went up into the Mount and spoke with God. He had also been selected as one of the twelve spies, who were sent to search the land of Canaan; and he and Caleb were the only two who brought back an honest and faithful report.

The people had now reached the very border of the land of Canaan; and suddenly Moses is taken from them, when they seem most to need him. He himself appoints Joshua to take his place; but a greater than Moses also called him to the post. He therefore at once puts himself at the head of the Israelites, and leads them into their long-promised land.

It is a great blessing, when we are engaged in any difficult and trying work, to feel that it is not a self-chosen work, but that God has called us to it; and that we are therefore in the plain path of duty, and can reckon on His presence and help. It was this thought that gave strength and confidence to Joshua; and so it will to us. It was this thought that lightened his burdens, and made him hopeful in the midst of difficulties and dangers. He must have thankfully treasured up in his memory that gracious promise, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee."

We will now look at Joshua as the chosen Leader of God's people. And, oh, what difficulties seemed to crowd into his path! At the very outset a formidable one presented itself. The river Jordan, which at that particular season always overflowed its banks, must needs be passed, before a single Israelite could set his foot in the Promised Land. Here was something to try his faith. But Joshua