wherein he is called." Dear brother, allow me to remind you, that you hold a high commission, such as no temporal potentate could place in your hand. You are commissioned by the "King of kings"-you wear His uniform-you wield His sword-you defend His cause you combat with His enemies, and beneath his banner you are fighting your way to "glory, honour, immortality, and eternal life." You will, as a Christian man, desiring to "do that which is good and right in the eyes of the Lord God," find your present path painfully trying to your principles. The circle in which you move, the companions with whom you associate, the etiquette which you are expected to observe, the customs which you are compelled to respect-in a word, the whole routine of your profession must exert an influence upon your Christianity adverse to its spirituality and its growth. Thus, the temptations to inconsistencies of Christian profession, to a shrinking from the offence of Christ's cross, to conform to the habits, and to compromise with the religion of the world, will assail you on every hand, and with no ordinary power. Hence the necessity and importance of your being clad with the entire panoply of truth, "of putting on the whole armour of God," that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, against the seductions of the world, and against the carnality and deceitfulness of your own heart-perhaps, my brother, your greatest foe. Thus armed and harnessed, your next step will be to draw truly and distinctly the line of demarcationthe Word of God has already drawn it-between your Christianity and the world. And then, having done this, to take your position as a "good soldier of Jesus Christ." In taking this decided, bold, uncompromising stand in the army as a Christian man, you must be prepared for suffering. See how faithfully the Holy Spirit forewarns you of this: "If any man will live godly in Christ Jesus he shall suffer persecution.” "Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." Our dear and blessed Lord on several occasions reminded His followers, that a profession of attachment to His person, to His cause, and to His truth, involved a "yoke," a "burthen," a "cross," implying obedience, sacrifice, suffering. All this you must expect. But it will be your joy, your boast, your glory, as it was with the disciples of old :-" And they went out rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." Your choice will be that of Moses, "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." And oh, how great the reward, how verdant the garland, how bright the crown, that awaits the faithful soldier of Jesus, the "Captain of our salvation!" Who would not enlist in His ranks? who would not wear His armour? who would not fight under His standard? who would not fall, if need be, upon the field, sacrificing life itself in His cause? Permit me to remind you, my brother, that the great secret of your advance in the divine life, and of your victory in the Christian warfare, will be found to lie in the habitual closeness of your walk with God. Be a man of secret prayer, and you have a coat of mail proof against all the assaults of your enemy. Prayer will make you skilful in the fight. Prayer will make you "valiant for the truth." Prayer will polish your armour, and sharpen your sword, and make you to your foes "terrible as an army with banners." Through the channel of prayer will flow into your soul all needed grace from Christ's inexhaustible fulness. Going, in simple prayer, empty-handed to Jesus, you shall return laden with all blessings, as from a rich armoury, as from a full storehouse, as from an overflowing fountain. Living out of yourself, and above yourself, and in simple prayer and faith upon the fulness of all grace treasured up in Christ, you will be strengthened in all weakness, shielded in all assault, comforted in all sorrow, and be enabled to "deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." Fight on the Lord, He it is who fighteth for you. Fight on all your enemies Christ hath conquered. Fight on the Captain of your salvation has secured to you the victory. Fight on! like "Gad, a troop may overcome you, but you shall overcome at the last." Fight on heaven is before you; the crown glistens, the palm waves, and the shout of victory is already upon your lips. Fight on! and soon, with an aged Christian warrior, who, with sword in hand, fell gloriously upon the red battle-field, you too shall exclaim-"The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge will give me at that day." Then, over your grave, how sweet will sound the song of the Christian warrior triumphant in death : "Servant of God! well done; Rest from thy loved employ; The battle fought, the victory won, He started up to hear A mortal arrow pierced his frame; He fell but felt no fear. "Tranquil amidst alarms It found him in the field, A veteran slumbering on his arms, His sword was in his hand, Still warm with recent fight; Through rock and steel to smite. "It was a two-edged blade, Of heavenly temper keen: And double were the wounds it made Where'er it smote between : 'Twas death to sin;-'twas life To all that mourn'd for sin; "Oft with its fiery force His arm had quell'd the foe, Bent on such glorious toils The world to him was loss; He hung upon the cross. "At midnight came the cry, 'To meet thy God prepare!' He woke and caught his Captain's eye; His spirit, with a bound, Burst its encumbering clay; His tent, at sunrise, on the ground, "The pains of death are past, Labour and sorrow cease, And life's long warfare closed at last, BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH, |