Section 2

SECT. II.

To do some, and gain more service for our God, the text now before us is to be discoursed on.

These words are among the last words of Joshua, the servant of the Lord; they are a devout and a divine sentence uttered by the renowned Joshua in a speech to the Parliament of Israel. The dying words of all great and good men have usually been esteemed remarkable by the survivors; and those books which contain Apothegmata morientium have been reckoned perhaps among the most useful in the world. Though the dying songs of swans have not been such things as the vulgar error has reputed them, yet the dying words of saints have afforded a fit moral for the fable. The speech of a dying saint has as deep a savor of heaven as the breath of a dying man has of earth. But methinks the dying words of a Joshua should be peculiar oracles; peruse them, and you will find them so. He had been first the Lord-General of Israel's army, and was now the Lord Protector of Israel's Commonwealth. In this capacity, a few months before he died, he issued orders for a Convention of States to meet at Shechem, a place about forty miles from his own abode. The Senate, the judges, and the officers, and all the representatives of the people being assembled before the Tabernacle, which on this extraordinary occasion was removed here, this famous prince endeavors to settle and confirm them in the service of the living God. It is likely he feared a secret retaining of idolatry among many while he was yet alive; but it is certain he foresaw an open defection to idolatry hastening upon them when he should be dead and gone. Therefore he lays in against it by a most powerful and pathetic speech, which has in it,

First, a history of memorable providences wherein they had experienced the matchless kindness of God to them.

Secondly, an inference from this history; which is expressed in two things.

First, a counsel. He concludes, Now therefore fear the Lord and serve Him. Therefore! Therefore? Why, inasmuch as you find the Lord so bountiful that you cannot possibly amend yourselves if you leave Him, or excuse yourselves if you grieve Him. Therefore are you to fear Him, serve Him. Every mercy of God has a Therefore in it; it calls for gratitude and obedience. When God has been merciful to us, even common ingenuity, and much more, holy ingenuity will put us upon that enquiry, What shall I render to the Lord? Behold an answer in this, Therefore! We are therefore to fear the Lord and serve Him; we are therefore to put away all our idols, all our follies for evermore.

Secondly, a copy. He gives them a precedent, an example, to induce them hereunto. The pattern of a considerable person has no inconsiderable influence upon the observers of it. Such a one does good or ill even like a Briareus, with a hundred hands. A hundred, and a hundred more will do like him. If he be wicked, he does, according to the language of Solomon, speak with his feet. If he be godly, he is, according to the character of John, a voice. Such a one most effectually bespeaks all about him, as Gideon did once, Do what you see me to do.

Thus Joshua enforces his farewell exhortation here; says he, Be it known to you, that I and my house will serve the Lord; I was once your leader, pray let me be so still. As I led you into the Canaan of the Lord, let me have so much credit with you as also to lead you to the service of the Lord. Be assured, I shall be a witness against you another day, if you do not now receive me as a copy for you.

You have here Joshua's resolution; and it was founded upon such moral reasons that we may take it as written for the admonition of us all. Therefore this is the doctrine which I would demand your attention to.