Victory!
by J. C. Ryle
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the
world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our
faith. Who is it that overcomes the world, but the one who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5)
It ought to be our practice, if we have any religion, to
examine the state of our souls from time to time, and to find out whether we
are "right in the sight of God" (Acts 8:21).
Are we true Christians? Are we likely to go to heaven
when we die? Are we born again—born of the Spirit—born of God? These are
searching questions, which imperatively demand an answer; and the text which
heads this paper will help us to give that answer. If we are born of God, we
shall have one great mark of character, we shall "overcome the world."
In opening up this subject, there are three points to
which I propose to invite attention in this paper.
I. In the first place, let us consider the name by
which John describes a true Christian. He calls him six times over, in
his First Epistle, a man "born of God," and once, "begotten of God."
II. In the second place, let us consider the special
mark which John supplies of a man born of God. He says that he
"overcomes the world."
III. In the last place, let us consider the secret of
the true Christian's victory over the world. He says, "This is the
victory that overcomes the world, even our faith."
Let me clear the way by expressing an earnest hope that
no reader will turn away from the subject before us, under the idea that it
is a controversial one. I doubt whether any doctrine of the Bible has
suffered so much from impatient dislike of controversy as that which is
contained in the phrase, "Born of God." Yet that phrase contains a great
foundation verity of Christianity, which can never be neglected without
damage. Deep down, below strifes and contentions about the effect of
baptism, and the meaning of liturgical services, there lies in those three
words one of the primary rocks of the everlasting gospel—even the inward
work of the Holy Spirit on the soul of man.
The atoning work of Christ FOR us, and the sanctifying
work of the Holy Spirit WITHIN US, are the two corner-stones of saving
religion. Surely a truth which the last writer of the New Testament
brings forward no less than seven times in the five chapters of one
Epistle—a truth which he binds up seven times with some of the
distinguishing characteristics of the Christian man—such a truth ought not
to be disliked or timidly passed by. Surely it may be handled profitably
without entering upon debatable ground. I shall attempt so to handle it in
this paper.
I. First and foremost, I ask my readers to
notice the NAME by which John describes a true
Christian. Here, and in five other places, he speaks of him as
one "born of God."
Let us briefly analyze this rich and wonderful
expression. The natural birth of any child of man, in the humblest rank of
life, is an important event. It is the bringing into being of a creature who
will outlive sun, moon, stars, and earth, and may one day develop a
character which shall shake the world. How much more important must
spiritual birth be! How much must lie beneath that figurative phrase, "Born
of God!"
(a) To be "born of God" is to be the SUBJECT OF AN INWARD
CHANGE of heart, so complete, that it is like passing into a new existence.
It is the introduction into the human soul of a seed from heaven, a new
principle, a Divine nature, a new will. Certainly it is no outward bodily
alteration; but it is no less certain that it is an entire alteration of the
inward man. It adds no new faculties to our minds; but it gives an entirely
new bent and bias to our old ones. The tastes and opinions of one "born of
God," his views of sin, of the world, of the Bible, of God, and of Christ,
are so thoroughly new, that he is to all intents and purposes what Paul
calls "a new creature." In fact, as the Church Catechism truly says, it is
"a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness."
(b) To be "born of God" is a change which is THE PECULIAR
GIFT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST to all His believing people. It is He who
plants in their hearts the Spirit of adoption, whereby they cry, 'Abba
Father', and makes them members of His mystical body, and sons and daughters
of the Lord Almighty (Rom. 8:15). It is written—"He quickens whom He will."
"As the Father has life in Himself, so has He given to the Son to have life
in Himself" (John 5:21-26). In short, as the first chapter of John teaches,
so it will be as long as the world stands—"To as many as received Him He
gave power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on His name;
who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God" (John 1:12-13).
(c) To be "born of God" is a change which unquestionably
is VERY MYSTERIOUS. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself tells us that in
well-known words—"The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound
thereof, but can not tell whence it comes, and where it goes; so is every
one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8). But we must all confess there
are a thousand things in the natural world around us which we cannot
explain, and yet believe. We cannot explain how our wills act daily on our
members, and make them move, or rest, at our discretion; yet no one ever
thinks of disputing the fact. The wisest philosopher cannot tell us the
origin of physical life. What right, then, have we to complain because we
cannot comprehend the beginning of spiritual life in him that is" born of
God"?
(d) But to be "born of God" is a change which WILL ALWAYS
BE SEEN AND FELT. I do not say that he who is the subject of it will
invariably understand his own feelings. On the contrary, those feelings are
often a cause of much anxiety, conflict, and inward strife. Nor do I say
that a person "born of God" will always become at once an established
Christian, a Christian in whose life and ways nothing weak and defective can
be observed by others. But this I do say, the Holy Spirit never works in a
person's soul without producing some perceptible results in character and
conduct. The true grace of God is like light and fire—it cannot be hidden;
it is never idle; it never sleeps. I can find no such thing as totally
"dormant" grace in Scripture. It is written, "Whoever is born of God does
not commit sin; for His seed remains in him—and he cannot sin, because he is
born of God" (1 John 3:9).
(e) To crown all, to be born of God is a thing which is
of ABSOLUTE NECESSITY to our salvation. Without it we can neither know God
rightly and serve Him acceptably in the life that now is, nor dwell with God
comfortably in the life that is to come. There are two things which are
indispensably needful before any child of Adam can be saved. One is the
forgiveness of his sins through the blood of Christ—the other is the renewal
of his heart by the Spirit of Christ. Without the forgiveness we have no
title to heaven—without the renewed heart we could not enjoy heaven. These
two things are never separate. Every forgiven man is also a renewed man, and
every renewed man is also a forgiven man. There are two standing maxims of
the gospel which should never be forgotten—one is, "He who believes not the
Son, shall not see life;" the other is, "If any man has not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of His" (John 3:36; Rom. 8:9). Quaint, but most true, is
the old saying—"Born once—die twice—and die forever. Born twice—never
die—and live forever." Without a natural birth we would never have lived and
moved on earth—without a spiritual birth we shall never live and dwell in
heaven. It is written, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
And now, before I pass away from the name which John
gives in this text to the true Christian, let us not forget to ask ourselves
what we know experimentally about being "born of God." Let us search and try
our hearts with honest self-examination, and seek to find out whether there
is any real work of the Holy Spirit in our inward man. Far be it from me to
encourage the slightest approach to hypocrisy, self-conceit, and fanaticism.
Nor do I want any one to look for that angelic perfection in himself on
earth, which will only be found in heaven. All I say is, let us never be
content with the "outward and visible signs" of Christianity, unless we also
know something of 'inward and spiritual grace." All I ask, and I think I
have a right to ask, is, that we should often take this First Epistle of
John in our hands, and try to find out by its light whether we are "born of
God."
One more thing let me add, which I dare not leave unsaid.
Let us never be ashamed, in a day of abounding heresy, to contend earnestly
for the Godhead and personality of the Holy Spirit, and the reality of His
work on souls. Just as we clasp to our hearts the doctrine of the Trinity,
and the proper Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, as great foundation verities
of the gospel, so let us grasp tightly the truth about God the Holy Spirit.
Let us ever give Him in our religion the place and dignity which Scripture
assigns to Him. Wherever in the providence of God we may be called to
worship, let our first inquiry be, "Where is the Lamb?" and our second,
"Where is the Holy Spirit?" We know there have been many martyrs for Jesus
Christ and the true doctrine of justification. "A day may come," said a
remarkable Christian, "when there will need to be martyrs for the Holy
Spirit, and His work within the soul."
II. The second thing I will now ask my readers
to notice in my text is, the special MARK which
John supplies of the man who is a true Christian. He says,
"Whoever is born of God overcomes the world." In short, to use the words of
that holy man Bishop Wilson—the Apostle teaches that "the only certain proof
of regeneration is victory."
We are all apt to flatter ourselves, that if we are duly
enrolled members of that great ecclesiastical corporation, the Church of
England, our souls cannot be in much danger. We secretly stifle the voice of
conscience with the comfortable thought, "I am a Churchman—why should I be
afraid?"
Yet common sense and a little reflection might remind us
that there are no privileges without corresponding responsibilities. Before
we repose in self-satisfied confidence on our Church membership, we shall do
well to ask ourselves whether we bear in our characters the marks of living
membership of Christ's mystical body. Do we know anything of renouncing the
devil and all his works, and crucifying the flesh with its affections and
lusts? And, to bring this matter to a point, as it is set before us in our
text, do we know anything of "overcoming the world"?
The three great spiritual enemies of man are the world,
the flesh, and the devil. It is hard to say which does most
harm to the soul. The last day alone will settle that point. But I venture
boldly to say, that at no former period has "the world" been so dangerous,
and so successful in injuring Christ's Church, as it is just now. Every age
is said to have its own peculiar epidemic disease. I suspect that
"worldliness" is the peculiar plague of Christendom in our own era. That
same love of the world's good things and good opinion—that same
dread of the world's opposition and blame—which proved so fatal to Judas
Iscariot, and Demas, and many more in the beginning of the gospel era—each
is just as powerful in the nineteenth century as it was in the first, and a
hundred times more.
Even in days of persecution, under heathen emperors,
these spiritual enemies slew their thousands, and in days of ease, and
luxury, and free thought, like our own, they slay their tens of thousands.
The subtle influence of the world, nowadays, seems to infect the very air we
breathe. It creeps into families like an angel of light, and leads myriads
captive, who never know that they are slaves. The enormous increase of
English wealth, and consequent power of self-indulgence, and the immense
growth of a passionate relish for recreations and amusements of all kinds;
the startling rise and progress of a so-called liberality of opinion, which
refuses to say anybody is wrong, whatever he does, and loudly asserts that,
as in the days of the Judges, every one should think and do what is right in
his own eyes, and never be checked, mall these strange phenomena of our age
give the world an amazing additional power, and make it doubly needful for
Christ's ministers to cry aloud, "Beware of the world!"
In the face of this aggravated danger, we must never
forget that the word of the living God changes not—"Do not love the world!"
"Do not be conformed to this world!" "Friendship with the world is enmity
with God!"—these mighty sayings of God's statute-book remain still
unrepealed (1 John 2:15; Rom. 12:2; James 4:4). The true Christian strives
daily to obey them, and proves the vitality of his religion by his
obedience. It is as true now as it was eighteen hundred years ago, that
the man "born of God" will be a man who, more or less, resists and overcomes
the world.
Such a man does not "overcome" by retiring into a corner,
and becoming a monk or a hermit, but by boldly meeting his foes and
conquering them. He does not refuse to fill his place in society, and do his
duty in that position to which God has called him. But though "in" the
world, he is not "of" the world. He uses it, but does not abuse it. He knows
when to say No, when to refuse compliance, when to halt, when to say, "Thus
far have I gone, but I go no further." He is not wholly absorbed either in
the business or the pleasures of life, as if they were the sum total of
existence. Even in innocent things he keeps the rein on his tastes and
inclinations, and does not let them run away with him. He does not live as
if life was made up of recreation, or money-getting, or politics, or
scientific pursuits, and as if there were no life to come.
Everywhere, and in every condition, in public and in
private, in business or in amusements, he carries himself like a "citizen of
a better country," and as one who is not entirely dependent on temporal
things. Like the noble Roman ambassador before Pyrrhus, he is alike unmoved
by the elephant or by the gold. You will neither bribe him, nor frighten
him, nor allure him into neglecting his soul. This is one way in which the
true Christian proves the reality of his Christianity. This is the way in
which the man "born of God" overcomes the world.
I am fully aware that, at first sight, the things I have
just said may appear "hard sayings." The standard of true Christianity
which I have just raised may seem extravagant, and extreme, and unattainable
in this life. I grant most freely that to "overcome" in the fashion I
have described needs a constant fight and struggle—and that all such
fighting is naturally unpleasant to flesh and blood. It is disagreeable to
find ourselves standing alone—and running counter to the opinions of all
around us. We do not like to appear narrow-minded, and exclusive, and
uncharitable, and uncongenial, and ill-natured, and out of harmony with our
fellows. We naturally love ease and popularity, and hate collisions in
religion, and if we hear we cannot be true Christians without all this
fighting and warring, we are tempted to say to ourselves, "I will give it up
in despair." I speak from bitter experience. I have known and felt all this
myself.
To all who are tempted in this way—and none, I believe,
are so much tempted as the young—to all who are disposed to shrink back from
any effort to overcome the world, as a thing impossible—to all such I offer
a few words of friendly exhortation. Before you turn your back on the enemy,
and openly confess that he is too strong for you—before you bow down to the
strong man, and let him place his foot on your neck, let me put you in
remembrance of some things which, perhaps, you are forgetting.
Is it not true that myriads of men and women, no stronger
than yourself, have fought this battle with the world, and won it? Think of
the mighty armies of Christian soldiers who have walked in the narrow way in
the last eighteen centuries, and proved more than conquerors. The same
Divine Captain, the same armor, the same helps and aids by which they
overcame, are ready for you. Surely if they got the victory, you may hope to
do the same.
Again, is it not true that this fight with the world is a
thing of absolute necessity? Does not our Master say, "Whoever does not bear
his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple"? (Luke 14:27). "I came
not to send peace on earth, but a sword" (Mat. 10:34). Here, at any rate, we
cannot remain neutral, and sit still. Such a line of conduct may be possible
in the strife of nations, but it is utterly impossible in that conflict
which concerns the soul. The boasted policy of non-interference, the
masterly inactivity which pleases so many statesmen, the plan of keeping
quiet and letting things alone—all this will never do in the Christian
warfare.
To be at peace with the world, the flesh, and the devil,
is to be at enmity with God, and in the broad way that leads to destruction.
We have no choice or option. The promises to the Seven Churches in
Revelation are only "to him that overcomes." We must fight or be lost. We
must conquer or die eternally. We must put on the whole armor of God. "He
who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one" (Eph. 6:11; Luke
22:36).
Surely, in the face of such considerations as these, I
may well charge and entreat all who are inclined to make peace with the
world, and not resist it, to awake to a sense of their danger. Awake and
cast aside the chains which indolence or love of popularity are gradually
weaving round you. Awake before it is too late—before repeated worldly acts
have formed habits, and habits have crystallized into character, and you
have become a helpless slave.
When men on every side are volunteering for war, and
ready to go forth to battle for a corruptible crown, stand up and resolve to
do it for one that is incorruptible. The world is not so strong an enemy as
you think, if you will only meet it boldly, and use the right weapons. The
imagined difficulties will vanish, or melt away like snow, as you approach
them. The lions you now dread will prove chained. Hundreds could tell you
that they served the world for years, and found at last that its rewards
were hollow and unreal, and its so-called good things could neither satisfy
nor save.
But who, on the other hand, ever fought God's battle
manfully against the world and failed to find a rich reward? No doubt the
experience of Christian pilgrims is very various, Not all have "an abundant
entrance" into the kingdom, and some are "saved so as by fire" (2Pe. 1:11;
1Co. 3:15). But none, I am persuaded, have such joy and peace in believing,
and travel to the celestial city with such light hearts, as those who come
out boldly, and overcome the love and fear of the world. Such men the King
of kings delights to honor while they live; and when they die, their
testimony is that of old Bunyan's hero, Valiant—" I am going to my Father's
house; and though with great difficulty I have got here, yet now I do not
repent me of all the troubles I have been at to arrive where I am."
III. The third and last thing which I shall
ask you to notice in this text is, the secret of
the true Christian's VICTORY over the world. John reveals that
secret to us twice over, as if he would emphasize his meaning, and make it
unmistakable—"This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our FAITH.
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who BELIEVES that Jesus is the Son
of God?"
Simplicity is a distinguishing characteristic of many of
God's handiworks. "How beautifully simple!" has often been the philosopher's
cry, on finding out some great secret of nature. Simplicity is the striking
feature of the principle by which the man "born of God" overcomes the world.
Perhaps he hardly understands it himself. But he is what he is, and does
what he does, acts as he acts, behaves as he behaves, for one simple reason,
he BELIEVES. He realizes the existence of 'unseen objects'—compared to which
the frowns or smiles, the favor or blame of the world, are trifles as light
as air. God, and heaven, and judgment, and eternity, are not "words and
names" with him—but vast and substantial realities; and faith makes
everything else look shadowy and unreal.
But, towering far above all other objects, he sees by
faith an unseen Savior, who loved him, gave Himself for him, paid his debt
to God with His own precious blood, went to the grave for him, rose again,
and appears in heaven for him as his Advocate with the Father. SEEING HIM,
he feels constrained to love Him first and foremost, to set his chief
affection on things above, not on things on the earth, and to live not for
himself, but for Him who died for him. SEEING HIM, he fears not to face the
world's displeasure, and fights on with a firm confidence that he will be
"more than conqueror." In short, it is "the expulsive power of a new
principle"—a living faith in an unseen God and an unseen Jesus—which
minimizes the difficulties of a true Christian, drives away the fear of man,
and overcomes the world.
This is the principle that made the Apostles what they
were after the day of Pentecost. When Peter and John stood before the
Council, and spoke in such fashion that all men marveled at their boldness,
their vivid faith saw One higher than Annas and Caiaphas and their
companions, who would never forsake them. When Saul, converted and renewed,
gave up all his brilliant prospects among his own nation, to become a
preacher of the gospel he had once despised, he saw far away, by faith, One
that was invisible, who could give him a hundredfold more in this present
life, and in the world to come everlasting life! These all overcame by
FAITH.
This is the principle which made the primitive Christians
hold fast their religion even to death, unshaken by the fiercest persecution
of heathen emperors. They were often unlearned and ignorant men, and saw
many things through a glass darkly. But their so-called "obstinacy"
astonished even philosophers like Pliny.
For centuries there were never lacking men like Polycarp
and Ignatius, who were ready to die, rather than to deny Christ. Fines, and
prisons, and torture, and fire, and sword failed to crush the spirit of the
noble army of martyrs. The whole power of imperial Rome, with her legions,
proved unable to stamp out the religion which began with a few fishermen and
publicans in Palestine. They overcame by FAITH.
This is the principle that made our own Reformers in the
sixteenth century endure hardships even unto death, rather than withdraw
their protest against the Church of Rome. Many of them, no doubt, like
Rogers, and Philpot, and Bradford, might have enjoyed rich preferments and
died quietly in their beds, if they would only have recanted. But they chose
rather to suffer affliction, and strong in faith, died at the stake. This
was the principle that made the rank and file of our English martyrs in the
same age—laborers, artisans, and apprentices—yield their bodies to be
burned. Poor and uneducated as they were, they were rich in faith; and if
they could not speak for Christ, they could die for Him. These all overcame
by BELIEVING.
But time would fail me if I brought forward all the
evidence that might be adduced on this subject. Let us look at our own age.
Let us consider the men who have made the greatest mark on the world for
Christ's cause in the last hundred years. Let us remember how clergymen like
Whitefield, and Wesley, and Romaine, and Venn stood alone in their day and
generation, and revived English religion, in the face of opposition,
slander, ridicule, and real persecution from nine-tenths of the professing
Christians in our land. Let us remember how men like William Wilberforce,
and Havelock, and Henry Lawrence, and Hedley Vicars, and George Moore, the
Christian merchant, have witnessed for Christ in the most difficult
positions, and displayed Christ's banner even in the House of Commons, in
the camp, at the regimental mess table, or in the counting-house in the
city. Let us remember how these noble servants of God were neither
frightened nor laughed out of their religion, and won the respect even of
their adversaries. These all had one principle. "Give me," said that strange
dictator who rode rough-shod over England's Church and Crown in the
seventeenth century, "Give me men that have a principle." These Christian
soldiers of our own day had a principle, and that ruling principle was faith
in an unseen God and Savior. By this faith they lived, and walked, and
fought the good fight, and overcame.
Does any one who reads this paper desire to live the life
of a true Christian, and overcome the world? Let him begin by seeking to
have the principle of victory within. Without this, all outward show of
spirituality is utterly worthless. There is many a worldly heart under a
monk's cowl. Faith, inward faith, is the one thing needful. Let him begin by
praying for FAITH. It is the gift of God, and a gift which those who ask
shall never ask in vain. The fountain of faith is not yet dry. The mine is
not exhausted. He who is called the "Author of faith" is the same yesterday,
today, and forever; and waits to be entreated (Heb. 12:2). Without faith you
will never war a good warfare, never set down your foot firmly, never make
progress on the ice of this slippery world. You must believe if you
would do. If men do nothing in religion, and sit still like
uninterested spectators of a show, it is simply because they do not believe.
Faith is the first step towards heaven.
Would any one who reads this paper fight the Christian
battle with constantly increasing success and prosperity? Then let him pray
daily for a continual growth of faith. Let him abide in Christ, get closer
to Christ, tighten his hold on Christ every day that he lives. Let him never
forget the prayer of the disciples, "Lord, increase our faith." Let him
watch jealously over his faith, and never let its fire burn low.
According to the degree of his faith will be the measure of his peace, his
strength, and his victory over the world.
(a) And now let us leave the whole subject with the
solemn self-inquiry—"What do we know of that great test of religion which
this text supplies? What do we know of overcoming the world? Where are we?
What are we doing? Whose are we, and whom do we serve? Are we overcoming or
being overcome?" Alas, it is a sorrowful fact, that many know not whether
they are Christ's freemen—or the world's slaves! The "fetters of the world"
are often invisible. We are dragged downward insensibly, and are like one
who sleeps in a boat, and knows not that he is drifting, gently drifting,
towards the falls. There is no slavery so bad as that which is unfelt. There
are no chains so really heavy as those which are unseen. Wise is that
petition in our matchless Litany—"From all the deceits of the world, good
Lord, deliver us."
I press this inquiry in all affection on my younger
readers. You are just at that generous and unsuspecting age when the world
seems least dangerous and most inviting, and it stands to reason you are
most likely to be ensnared and overcome. Experience alone can make you see
the enemy in his true colors. When you have as many grey hairs on your heads
as I have, you will place a very different estimate on the praise or the
hatred of this world. But, even now, remember my caution—"If you love your
souls, hold the world at arm's length. Beware of the world."
(b) Reader, you and I meet over this paper for once in
our lives, and are parting in all probability to meet no more. You are
perhaps launching forth on the waves of this troublesome world. My heart's
desire and prayer to God is, that you may have a prosperous voyage, and be
found at length in the safe haven of eternal life.
But, oh, take heed that you are well equipped for the
stormy waters you have to cross, and see that you have a compass to steer
by, that you can depend on, and a pilot who will not fail! Beware of making
shipwreck by conformity to the world. Alas, how many put to sea in gallant
trim, with colors flying, and brilliant prospects, and are lost at last with
all on board! They seem at first to begin with Moses, and Daniel, and the
saints in Nero's household; but they end at last with Balaam, and Demas, and
Lot's wife! Oh, remember the pilot and the compass! No compass like the
Bible. No pilot like Christ!
Take the advice I give you, as a friend, this day. Ask
the Lord Jesus Christ to come and dwell in your heart by faith, and to
"deliver you from this present evil world" (Gal. 1:4). Ask Him to pour out
His promised Spirit on you, and to make you willing to bear His easy yoke
without further delay, and to resist the world. Strive, in the strength of
Christ, to get the victory over the world, whatever it may cost you. Be
ashamed of being a slave, however gilded the chains may be. Be ashamed of
the mark of the collar. Resolve to play the man and be free. Liberty is the
greatest of blessings, and deserves the greatest struggles. Well said the
Jewish rabbis in ancient days, "If the sea were ink, and the earth
parchment, it would never serve to describe the praises of liberty." For
freedom's sake, Greeks, and Romans, and Germans, and Poles, and Swiss, and
Scotchmen, and Englishmen, have often cheerfully fought to the bitter end,
and laid down their lives. Surely, if men have made such sacrifices for the
freedom of their bodies, it is a disgrace to professing Christians if they
will not fight for the liberty of their souls. This day, I repeat, resolve
in the strength of Christ, that you will fight the good fight against the
world; and not only fight, but overcome. "If the Son shall make you free,
you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).
(c) Finally, let us all remember that the Christian
soldier's best time is yet to come. Here, in this world, we are often
injured and hindered in our warfare. There are many hard things to be done
and borne. Them are wounds and bruises; there are watchings and fatigues;
there are reverses and disappointments. But the end of all things is at
hand. For those who "overcome" there will be a conqueror's crown.
In the warfare of this world, the muster on the morning
after a victory is often a sorrowful sight. I pity the man who could look at
Miss Thompson's famous picture of The Roll-call without deep emotion. Even
when peace is proclaimed, the return of victorious regiments is an occasion
of very mingled feelings. That man must have had a cold heart who could see
the Guards march back into London after the Crimean war without a sigh or a
tear.
Thanks be to God, the review day of Christ's victorious
army will be a very different thing. There will be none missing in that day.
It will be a meeting without regret. It will be "a morning without clouds"
and tears! It will make rich amends for all we have suffered in resisting
and overcoming the world.
He who saw our gracious Queen distributing the Victoria
Cross at the Horse Guards during the Russian war might well be stirred and
moved at the sight. But he who saw her come down from her seat to meet a
wounded officer who could not walk, and, with her own royal hands, pin his
decoration on his bosom, will probably remember it as long as he lives.
But, after all, it was nothing compared to the
transactions of that great day, when the Captain of our salvation and His
victorious soldiers shall at length meet face to face. What tongue can tell
the happiness of that time when we shall lay aside our armor, and "say to
the sword, Rest, and be still!" What mind can conceive the blessedness of
that hour when we shall see the King in His beauty, and hear these words,
"Well done, good and faithful servant and soldier, enter you into the joy of
your Lord"? For that glorious day let us wait patiently, for it cannot be
far off. In the hope of it let us work, and watch, and pray, and fight on,
and resist the world. And let us never forget our Captain's words—"In the
world you shall have tribulation—but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world" (John 16:33).