The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-12-07 00:00:00

FAREWELL SERMON TO THE
ARTILLERY.

' li. Puget Raker delivered &stirring
On Sunday the R.• • wbp are on the eve of their
address to the artillery, ',rich at West Fordington
departure for India. The little
find r:..'4.1.141- The
conduct of the men was most exemplary, and they were
awislue crof;dtedhosete whoexcess,estradb ingunhaabvietow'. be
ph"
in
the
evidently
occeesion. An th pewter remarked, it would be
du'y impressed with the solemnity of the
extremely probable that many of them would never art
foot on old England's shores again, and the men appare4ll
felt the rather saddening influence of such a Moment.
This feeling is pardonable, &II it is rather MO of patriotism,
than of fear or • shrinking from duty.
The lessons were most appropriate, as well as the
hymns, the first of the latter being the well-known one
"Soldiers of Christ, arise," and the one before the sermon.
"Onward, Christiana, onward go."
The Rev. H. From' Riiccs, chose( or his text the Ind
=.4of the 2nd Epistle of Timothy. 3rd v., "Endure
as *good soldier of JOlllll.l Christ On this the
rev, gentleman founded a very telling sermon. Life here
below, be said, was full of changes; we never know
what a day inisht bring forth, and in every positional life
It is well to be ready. Some here present to-day will
[ doubtless at once feel why I have chosen this as my
text, because there are these about to leave us and to go
forth into a distant tont of our sovereign's dominions
aad the British soldier never shrinks from duty when
' called upon. I desire, then, this morning to give • few
parting words of counsel and advice, which will be a
profit and a benefit to those, whose departure will be a
cause of regret to many in this town and neighbourhood,
and I may also her be permitted to bear my tediums), to
the good conduct sad lbs excellent behaviour of the
battery during the five yeafli it has been stationed in this
garrison, and would earnestly say to each one of you
who are about to dert. "Endure hardness as • good
soldier of Jesus Chr at." preacher thee_ 'pointed out
who was the Captain of our Salvation. HO was well
! qualified for this, because Maud raid all power is given
Rim in Heaven and in ea th. Ile had in *e wa:l3:
the to ickest of the fight ;He fell and died, bat bang God •
' rose again. He overcame, and He now led them on to sure
victory. Now, he :eked them, who was on the Captain's
aide Who would follow where their Captain led before?
Nothing but this was lasting and enduring. He then
went oe to sac :—Take, then, the sword of the Spirit, the
able d of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the
helmet of salvation, and the blood of Jesus, which will
free you from all the consequences of this great fight.
The find standing order of UM day is—endure hardness. A
soldier knows well, when he faces the foe, what that
occasions. It means perseverance, end "he that endureth
unto the end, the cam • chat be saved," The second
standing order is "No fear." Happily no British soldier
knows that word, when he faces the foe, because of allthe
nations of the earth, no soldier has such courage as the
British soldier, and I am not ashamed to.say it, but
proud. The third '' No slumbering. A good
soldier never slumbers when on duty. We shall not get
rest till we are in the grave, for on earth we have to fight
the Lord's battle. The fourth "No loitering "—Onward
Christians onward go, press towards the march of the
prize of the high calling, -nil endure hardness, as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ. How it inspires a soldier when
he is on the winning side, and sees the foe vanquished.
' Only follow the c iptain of your Salvation; lle has
gone before, He I. stormed the heighta, He has over-
come, and a I well be levelled before you, if yen
will only tot ow Him faithfully. There are some here
who, according to the mma coons of nature may
never enter thi, chur-h again, nor after leaving Old
. England's shore, will they *gain tread on Britain's soil
To you, brare soldiers of our beloved Queen, I would
: affectionately my, come boldly to the Throne of Grace,
Jesus is there to plead for you—come for mercy, not for
justice. Look not at your own unworthiness, and trusting
in Jesus you have no cause to fear. Fight the good fight
of faith, and go onwards in the strength of the Lord.
Expect trouble, but at the same time expect also mercy
to help you. Look for the blessed hope of the glorious
appearinr of the Lord Jesus Christ. Time will soon fade
away, and Grace will be swallowed up in eternal victory.
When this life is ended, and when all battles and
conflicts here below are over, may each one of
_you,
having endured hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ, be enab'ed to say—
" in emir rears I shed my blood,
Both for my Queen and country's rood'
In later years it was MY pride to be
Moldier of Him who shed His blood for me."

•-•—
Finally, my brethren, farewell. Be of good comfort, be
stone mind, live in peace, and the God of love and
peace shell be with you. Amen.
The sermon was listened to' with intense sanwistases.
At the close the National Anthem was sung, the men
lousing in it most heartily. The Baindletke was Urea
said and the service concluded.