Morning Star

MISCELLANY.

From the Boston Recorder.

Break your Pitchers.

Did you ever think, reader, how many strange things there were about that affair of Gideon's.

There were the miracles connected with his fleece, designed to give him an entire certainty of success in the enterprise of delivering Israel from the oppression of Midian. There was the reduction of his forces when they had assembled at the call of his trumpet, because God was jealous, lest the multitude should claim to have gained the promised victory without any special obligation to his aid. First, proclamation was made that all the timid among these volunteers should quit the camp forthwith; and behold, twenty two thousand out of thirty two thousand accepted this ignominious leave of absence. But as ancient Thomas Fuller saith, 'the loss of cowards is gain to an army;' so that Gideon's forces, tho' physically weaker, were morally stronger than before. Hence God, who is watchful for his glory, would reduce their numbers still further. They were brought to the water-side as if marching to the attack. The heat of the climate and the scarcity of water, made the inducement so strong, that not one out of the 10 thousand omitted the opportunity to drink. It appears that there were three hundred whose stout hearts forbade them to delay, and they caught up a little water in their hands, and lapped it as they hastened to the onset. The rest went down upon their knees to drink at their leisure, and were set aside as less war-like than the others. Thus this little band, Spartans in all but their Thermopylæ and success, was commissioned to defeat the Midianites and the Amalekites, and all the children of the East, who lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea-side for multitude.
Then Gideon overheard the dream of the Midianite, in which he was likened to a coarse, homely cake of barley-bread, which being hurled at one of the woman's tents overthrew it. This was an intimation that he seemingly incompetent as he was, should triumph beyond all probability.

Then did arrange his stalwart band for the desperate onslaught. He divided the three hundred into three forlorn hopes: that by commencing the attack from different points, at a preconcerted signal, they might give an impression of greater numbers. They adopt a notable stratagem for their midnight attack. Dark lanterns were not then in fashion. So each man concealed his lamp in a good stout pitcher, and provided himself with a trumpet. Thus they drew near to the slumbering host of their oppressors. How admirably was every thing concerted for a surprise and consequent panic! In the twinkling of an eye, the sleepers were aroused by the blast of the trumpets, and the unaccountable crash of the pitchers: they were bewildered by the sudden glare of hundreds of torches, and daunted by that dread war-cry,-"The sword of Jehovah, and of Gideon!" The consequence was, in one word, which sums up the narrative, that the Midianites were defeated with dreadful slaughter, AND ISRAEL WAS FREE!

Now reader. notice.

1. How jealous God is of his honor. He so ordered the preliminaries of this victory as to secure all the praise of it to himself. He is glorified in the weakness and manifest insufficiency of his servants. Remember this. You will be the most honored and prospered as an instrument in his hand, when you most deeply feel that the excellency of your power is of God.

2. How careful was God to make the wisest selection, and the most judicious use of the instrumentality which he had designedly enfeebled out of caution for his glory. Things were so managed, as to make it most manifest that Gideon's little band could do nothing as of themselves; and yet so as if every thing depended upon their heroism. God's servants must do their best, though he be all in all. Each precaution was taken to secure the victory, as much as if the hand of the Omnipotent had nought to do with it.

3. How close the connection between divine and human agency. Who can distinguish what part of this victory belonged to Gideon, and what to the Lord? There was but one sword between them, and both smote and conquered with it. The son of Joash cannot strike without the Lord, and the Lord will not strike without him. So, Christian, when you strive on the Lord's side be both humble and zealous. Feel, as if you were nothing at all: Act, as if you were everything. Feel, as though you could do nothing without him: Act, as though he would never work without you.

Finally; -would you witness a glorious triumph of grace? Then blow the gospel trump, and rouse the slumbering host of the enemy of God. Break your pitchers; -yes, Christians, break your pitchers and let your light shine. Hide it no longer. It is high time to awake out of sleep. There may be trouble in the camp of the adversary, when you 'startle the dull ear' of spiritual night with the blast and the crash -succeeded by the glare of your new trimmed lamps. But take courage, Unsheathe the sword of the Spirit. Wield it as if it were your own: and plunge it, burning, glowing, through the sinner's heart. Victory shall be yours. 'Five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight.' Who can stand before the allied forces of Israel and the Lord? Ye shall be delivered: and He shall be adored.

Asmus.