SOLDIERS

Henry Law, London, 1871
 

You come to sojourn for a little while in this your county's capital. Swiftly the hours of your stay will fly. But in this little space, much good or evil you may learn and do. Your feet will tread the upward or the downward road. Heavenward or Hellward you will daily move. Better or worse you will go hence — better or worse you will leave others. But oh! how vast the difference! Accept this welcome as a proof that you have friends who long to guide you to the better way.

Parade and drill are over for the day. The time is vacant. Let us then converse. I cross the threshold of my main design by simply asking, what is the purpose of this visit? Why have you left your quiet cot — your fields — your homestead — your familiar work? Why have you changed your rustic garb for the red coat? Why are lowing herds, and bleating flocks, and vocal groves, abandoned for the noise of fife and drum? Why are the cart and plough exchanged for musketry and guns?

I expect you nobly to reply, that duty calls and you obey.

If I inquire what duty? You will reply, perhaps some foreign foe may threaten to invade, or civil tumult may disturb our peace, or ruffian violence may cause alarm — to be in readiness for defense you must learn the military art, and all the warlike training of the camp — England should boast a peasantry well disciplined in arms and skilled to fight for Queen — for country — for home and all our hearts hold dear — peace is secured when none may dare to break it — a ready soldiery prevents attacks. Thus, zeal for our native land impels to preparation.

I listen and approve. A patriot loves a patriot's ardent spirit. I honor bravery in our country's cause. If occasion called, I doubt not you would heroically face the cannon's mouth — the sword's sharp point — the charging cavalry — the battle's din — and all the horrors of the deathful scene. You would advance with life in hand to screen these shores from wrong; and if you fell, your wounds would be in front.

Brave man! who will not say, God bless you! who will not strive to recompense! Urged by this feeling, I come forth to offer counsel which, if heeded, will bring great reward.

I warn, then, there is a cause of nearer dearness than our country's weal — an aim more glorious far than England's defense — a foe more deadly than invading men — a Captain more worthy to be loved and served than earthly leader — a prize more precious than the hard-won medal — a crown which pales and trifles diadems — a victory more brilliant than arms can win, or trumpets can proclaim.

Surely your heart beats high at this bare mention. To win you to adopt this cause, let me detail it in these several heads.

I. "THE ENEMY."

II. "HIS ATTACKS."

III. "THE CHRISTIAN'S CAPTAIN."

IV. "THE IMPLEMENTS of CHRISTIAN WARFARE."
 

I. "THE ENEMY." A mighty foe meets you at every turn. You never move, but by your side he walks. No place excludes his entrance. Unseen, like air, he floats around you. I thus introduce the devil to your notice — that awful and accursed spirit, who, rebelling against God, and breathing hatred of our race, by his malignant craft has filled this earth with sin, and misery, and death. I warn you of his dread hostility, his nearness, and his arts.

He has his blinded votaries, who ridicule his being — jeer at his name, and think it brave to treat him as a joke. Be not so foolish. No battle is a jest, much less a battle in which souls may perish. The Bible speaks not of him in light terms. He and his legion are portrayed as "principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this world." It names him "prince of this world" — "god of this world." The picture is lifelike — for his sway is world-wide, and crowds yield him the homage of their hearts.

Trifle not when all his perils are so close. Mark how adroitly he entwined his chains around the parents of our race. He met them while strong in innocence — unweakened by corruption, and quickly laid them low. What are the annals of mankind, but hideous stories of his cruel triumphs, and his murderous deeds. Of woman-born the God-man only has escaped his wounds. Then trifle not. He is in earnest. Be you in earnest too.

He wars with cunning equal to his might. Ages of success have taught him how to lead on his troops — what ambushes to lay — how to advance, and how to feign retreat — what weapons to apply — what snares to hide. When all seems peace he springs upon his prey. Suddenly unwary feet are caught. Unguarded bosoms soon yield to his assault. Then trifle not.

He knows the weak part of your heart. He sees what gates are open. No opportunity is lost by him. No place — no age — no circumstance deter him. Against youth — manhood — and old age — against the healthy and the sick — the joyous and the sorrowing — unsparingly he plots. Without one sign of fear he dares the God-man to the conflict. He who respected not the Son of God, will not be scared by anything in you. Such is a faint picture of the foe. Oh! trifle not.

 

II. "HIS ATTACKS." Particulars best specify his work. Minute directions are safeguards. General counsel is as an arrow without aim — rejected by a blinded heart, as suited only to another's case. Let me then approach more closely, and by details unmask the enemy's attacks.

(1.) UNCLEANNESS. Scripture, well knowing his prevailing bias, calls him the unclean spirit. Uncleanness is his hellish element — the life in which he loves to live. In this character he here will severely tempt you. Will he not use this day some guilty comrade to entice to filth! Will he not urge some wretched wanton to lead you to lust's vilest haunts! — Will he not entice your steps to paths in which polluted pitfalls are concealed! The easy slope will seem most gay with carnal joys. Youths follow — fall — and rise bespattered with disgusting mire. He shows, or seems to show, some pleasing flower. They pluck and find a serpent beneath each leaf! The sting is poison — misery — disease — decrepitude and shame. These wounds are frequent seeds of life-long anguish. The smart attends the victims to the grave.

But there it ends not. It is written — "He who is filthy, let him be filthy still." Rev. 22:11. Could you but hear the wailings of the lost, your ears would ring with unclean victims cursing unclean tempters. How many hiss at the seducing Balaam!

If my words fail to check, oh! heed a voice from heaven. "Hearken unto me now therefore, O you children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she has cast down many wounded — yes, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." Prov. 7:24-27. And again, "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body — but he that commits fornication sins against his own body." 1 Cor. 6:18.

Say not these sins are little. Can that be little which endangers souls, and calls down wrath from God? Say not a little sip from the enticing cup will satisfy — I will not drink again. Vain man! Indulgence is the fuel of this fire. The stone in motion soon descends with speed. How huge a ball soon swells from rolling snow! Say not the devil enlists my passions on his side. Doubtless such is his effort. But yield not. Resist him, and his batteries are silenced. I deny not that traitors in the camp will aid him, but I denounce him as a coward, who will flee when you oppose. You are a soldier — will a soldier let a coward beat him?

(2.) DRUNKENNESS. Behold the devil in another form. He sets the open door of beer-houses before you. He shows the entering crowd and asks, Why should not you go in? He tells how round the table the merry laugh, the lively converse, and the cheery joke abound? He whispers, Care stands without; pleasure within holds joyous court; to drink is to be happy. This is a dexterous attack. But listen not. It is all false. He is a liar, and these words are lies. He is a murderer, and this is a murderer's aim. Let common sense speak out. Have you not seen a drunkard? Is he a happy man? No beast is so degraded. Creation's vilest reptile is not lower. Where is his reason — God's dignifying gift to man? Its light is quenched — each mental faculty is marred — each power is crippled — consciousness is extinct — the vacant eyes deceive — the ears distinguish not true sound — the tottering feet keep not straight path. If tongue can speak, it stammers folly, ribaldry, or oaths. Ah! wretched sight! Can that poor object be a man? Is he not rather some foul fiend in human guise, escaped from hell! Would you be such? Then stop! Take not the first step towards this end.

Would you go hence to make a drunkard's home? Picture the scene. Poverty, and filth, and misery, in each form, sit there. The wife ill-used — downcast — heart-broken — may toil, but toils in vain. The children naked — famished and diseased — fret at an empty table. Wages, if earned, supply the means to aggravate the thirst. The drunkard, a curse to self and all around, soon totters to a drunkard's grave. Would you so live and die? You shudder at the thought. Then flee the beer-house door! Let not the devil triumph, and hell sneer, because you add another drunkard to the drink-slain.

(3.) WICKEDNESS OF TONGUE. The unclean spirit is especially foul-mouthed. As such he wars against you. He will draw near to stab your soul, through ill-use of your tongue. In his school dunces learn that speech defiled with oaths is a fine mark of independent spirit. How many dream that it is brave to curse, to bluster, and blaspheme? Be not deceived. What, though it be an all-pervading vice! He has no strength who cannot climb the downward stream. He is a trembling reed, who cannot stand against a common habit. He is more foolish than a fool, who sells his soul for that which is no gain.

The clear commandment of our God forbids vain utterance of His holy name. Threats, barbed with ruin, strive to stop offence. Is it wisdom — is it courage, by cursing to incur God's curse! All sin is folly — but in the list of sins, this surely is the silliest. Where is the pleasure! What sense is gratified! What appetite receives meal! What semblance is there of the slightest gain! Who ever found a grain of profit in blaspheming talk!

Venture not thus madly to incense your God! Use not the tongue, which gives us place above the beasts, and is the glory of our kind, to taint the very air with pestilential sounds, and to invoke just vengeance on your heads.

Wear not this uniform of Satan's slaves. All who adopt it proclaim themselves his fools and tools. Learn rather to revere the name, which is above all names. Never use it but in prayer — in praise — in godly converse — as in his hearing — as at heaven's gate — in deepest sense of its high sanctity.

Akin to cursing is obscenity of talk. The filthy jest and unclean ribaldry are language taught of hell. Tightly bar the portals of your lips. Guard also the ear-gate. Hearing tempts to utterance. We learn to speak by listening to words. Men are apt mimics of the wicked one. Be deaf, then, that you may be dumb. Pure ears are parents to pure tongues. Hearts, too, are barrels of explosive powder. A wicked word cast by a wicked comrade may quickly cause combustion. Be on your guard. Let not the devil slay you through your tongue.

 

III. "THE CHRISTIAN'S CAPTAIN." Say not this warfare baffles hope. A giant enemy appears in giant strength. How weak am I! How can I stand — unarmed — alone! I need some leader skilled to give command — some captain, whom I can love and trust — some voice to cheer me on.

True! what you ask is needful. Without such aid a soldier is a feeble reed; a ship without a helmsman; as chaff, the sport of every wind. But all this aid in boundless fullness is at hand. God, who says 'Fight', presents a Captain to you. While I now cry, 'Behold Him', may the Spirit give you the eye to see — the heart to love — the readiness to follow.

He is well-known — well-tried. His name — His fame resound throughout the world. His noble deeds ring trumpet-tongued in every land.

Behold Him. He is the blessed Jesus — God's co-eternal and co-equal Son — the Lord of hosts — the Captain of Salvation. He bears "upon His vesture and on His thigh, a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Rev. 19:16. All monarchs and all heroes are a flimsy shadow before Him. It must be so, for they are creatures of His hand. He is the hero of innumerable fights. He never lost a battle yet. He never lost a man. His cheerful followers give Him their whole hearts, and laud Him with extolling breath, and boast and glory in His name. At His command they readily advance — they march — they charge — they mount the breach — they scale the fortress — they face all foes — they laugh at forlorn hopes — their cry is 'Onward!', and their shout is 'Victory!'

His arm is mighty in almightiness, therefore invincible is His troop. When I regard His might, it overtops the heavens. When I regard His love, it seems to overtop His might. If words cannot depict His power, so they are weak to tell His tenderness of heart. His soldiers are the purchase of His life laid down — the ransomed of His blood. This day He sends His messenger to sound these tidings in your ear. Let all that He has done for you secure your confidence. Come, follow Him. Come, enlist as His true soldier. He gives no promise of inactive life. He tells not of inglorious ease. His soldiers always move on battle-fields. But service is their joy. And thus to fight is glorious victory.

 

IV. "IMPLEMENTS OF THIS WARFARE." You say you cannot fight unarmed. This Captain knows it, and provides full armor. It is framed of heavenly metal — terrible to inflict wounds — and armor against opposing arms. It has been often proved; and never known, when boldly used, to fail. Let me display some pieces of this armor, and may you learn their value by their use! Out of Scripture shall each thought be brought.

(1.) SWORD. A sword is needed and prepared. There is none like it. It bears the name "Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Eph. 6:17. It has no scabbard. None, who wield it, ever lay it down. No enemy can wrest it from the hand. Keen is its point. No age can blunt it. It is ever bright and sharp. Satan trembles at its glittering edge. In Jesus' hands it vanquished his assaults. Its virtue lives for ever. "It is written" boldly and skillfully applied is quite omnipotent.

You gain this sword by studying the Bible — the armory of God — the gift of gifts — a light for pilgrim-feet — a lantern for your paths — a chart for travelers — a compass for your voyage — a lively comrade for your side — a well of comfort for each hour — a pillow for the weary head — a staff to strengthen toiling limbs — a cordial when the spirits droop — a counselor in all distress — a word in season for each station and all ages. Store well your memory with its mighty truths. When Satan comes, and come he will, brandish this sword. Quickly he will flee. Pursue him and give wounds to his often-wounded back.

(2.) SHIELD. To the sword a shield is added. In ancient camps no warrior could stand without this guard. Worn on the arm, it was upraised or lowered against battering blows. Thus it gave full defense. As such defense, it is now offered for your aid. The devil ever watches to aim blows. His barbed arrows fly in ruthless showers. Unprotected, you will be unmercifully pierced. Be wise, take up the shield.

It is the "shield of faith," Eph. 6:16. As such it is divinely framed, and comes directly from above — the Spirit's workmanship. Thus its protective power is complete. Its name shows its material. Faith constitutes its essence — that grace, which sees with open eye the blessed Jesus and His perfect work — His sin-atoning blood — His wrath-appeasing death — His endurance of the law's curse in the transgressor's place — His resurrection from the grave, the sign of ransom paid — His seat at God's right hand to intercede, and claim fulfillment of the everlasting covenant. This grace flies instantly to Him — and never pauses until sheltered in His wounds. When it is lively and in active use, temptations tempt in vain. Let Satan's every dart be hurled, forked with the fire of hell, they strike this guard, and hissing fall extinguished, quenched, and harmless.

The case is clear. Faith makes us one with Christ. Can He be wounded? Can they be harmed who are enwrapped in Him? Let faith be exercised and you are safe. But rest not with its meager measure. Pray earnestly and cease not, "Lord increase our faith." Its presence brings life to the soul. Its rich abundance makes this life replete with joy — assured of final victory. Thanks be to God for such a shield!

(3.) HELMET. Are your heads left exposed? Oh! no. The Captain crowns His troop with head-defense. Their helmet, too, descends from heaven — invulnerably wrought. Its crest is the "hope of salvation." 1 Thess. 5:8. All hope is bright — lively — sustaining. The heart is glad, in which it dwells. It ever sees approaching good and smiles. It eyes a calm beyond each storm — a light behind each cloud — a better time in rear of evil days. How joyous, then, is the good hope, which has salvation as its prospect — which feasts on promises of heavenly bliss — and ante-dates fulfillment nearing as each moment flies!

Mark the Christian warrior seeking the fight, thus happily equipped. Let all temptations deluge like a flood — he strides above them with thoughts in the high heavens. Can base desires draw him down, while eyeing pleasures at God's right hand! What are the baubles of this world to him? He has prospect to walk beside his Captain — clothed in white clothing — decked in pure righteousness. Can he defile his hands by pitch of filthy sins! This hope must cleanse. "Every man, who has this hope in Him, purifies himself even as He is pure." 1 John 3:3. Beloved, put on this hope. Look onward — forward — upward — heavenward. Enter the fight, knowing "the hope of His calling" — "rejoicing in hope of the glory of God." "Hope to the end." The head thus helmeted can never be laid low.

(4.) THE FLAG. Shame on the soldier who loves not his flag! While it waves high, his buoyant courage mounts. Where it precedes, he follows with undaunted step. The spirit cannot sink with this in view. The Christian Captain lifts aloft a flag. This banner is His "Love." Song 2:4.

Hearts burn like fire, while this ensign is unfurled. It tells that Jesus loves with love unchangeable — free — full — without beginning — without end — with love so vast, so real, that gladly He died to rescue and to save. Soldiers gazing on this flag, shout gratefully, "we must love Him, who thus loves us — through life — in death, we must serve loyally — His friends are our friends — His foes our foes." Let Satan now assail. The flag will cheer, and you will not give place.

Let me add, His soldiers never march with silent lip. Prayer is their constant utterance, and joyous praises are their chorus. They hold incessant converse with their Lord. They tell Him all their needs and cares. They keep back nothing from His listening ear. Answers descend — thanksgivings in return arise. Thus Asa fights to conquest — "Lord it is nothing with You to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God. Let not man prevail against You." 2 Chr. 14:11. Mark the order of Jehoshaphat's array. "He appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever." 2 Chr. 20:21. As they thus prayed and praised, the foe was gone. Similarly wrestle with God, and you will outmatch the devil. These cries bring heaven to the help. The Captain of Salvation answers with victory.

May the Spirit of the Lord most High smile blessings on this effort to train you for conquest! Oh! heed my counsel. Take up these arms so ready for your use. Be resolute — manly — lion-like — devoted — valiant — heroic. Short is the service of this camp. A brief campaign will bring you to the end — the end which has no end. No words can truly paint it, for no thought can comprehend.

I might most rapturously tell of a crown of life, which fades not away — a crown of glory in the heaven of heavens — a hymn of triumph ever swelling without pause — a welcome to the presence of your God. I might describe all labors past — all foes subdued — all victory obtained — all prizes gained. But this is to 'paint the rose' — to gild the sun — to decorate the starry sky — to bring perfume to flowers — to teach new notes to nightingales. The reality — the grand reality! it must be tasted to be known. But this reality may be yours, through grace. I wish you this happiness — this victory — this triumphant glory. I cannot wish you more. Thus may this drill add to salvation's sons, and heaven's loud songs!