Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-05-24
For tho Yorkville Enquirer.
To the Volunteers from York District.

hitherto urged as plea for fidelity to God,
as the spirit requisite for the true soldier,
another may be added as drawn from the
proposition submitted as the third proof.
3. IL inspires the man pith genuine Hero
ism. 1t is not denied that there may be
courage and even patriotism, in the bosom
of him who does not fear God, nor regard
His laws. Some men arc naturally and con-
stitutionally couragcous-being insensible
to fear. There is apparently much of pat.
riotism which has no alliance with religion.
That it is genuine, disintcrested patriotism,
might, in many such cases, be doubted, for
it is too closely identified with selfshness.
But even admitting it to be, what it so near.
ly resembles, yet the spirit of the irreligious
patriot does not possess that peculiar excel
lence which trust in God imparts to the
soul. A man constrained bya due fear and
love for God, will be ever controlled by
sense of his responsibility. By such one
the summons to arwill be duly weighed
the causes of it properly estimated, and in
his mind the question will be decided,
whether the conflict is just or not. Hav-
ing these things clearly ascertained and his
judgment and conscience approving the
contest about to be engaged in, the Chris
tian will step forth with an impelling mo-
tive stronger than animal courage and self
ish love of country, or the impulse of pas
sion; it will be the intelligent, conscien-
tious conviction that he contends for the
right, and to this even his religion gives
him moral incentive. Just here let it be
observed that fanaticism may operate to
produce an effect similar to true religious
fervor, and hence as evidenced in the his
tory of the crusadcs Of Europe, and the
conquest of the Mahommedans, whereas in
both cases, a spurious and fauatical reli.
gious sentiment controlling the mind, an
almost supernatural power and spirit of da-
ring and endurance were exhibited. So in
all other cases, where either a true or false
religion operates to instigate the warrior,
the contest is fierce one, for let the man
feel that his cause has religious sanction,
and his feats of valor will be amazing.
Again, especially if his religion be real
and properly developed, the friond of God
and champion of truth and right, will also
be stimulated by tie promised presence OF
God. With confidence in the power of
Jehovah to vindicate the cause Of justice,
and with firm belief that his is such
cause, and knowing the promise to be appro-
pirate to himself and his attempt, the valor
of the Christian patriot rises to an unex-
ampled height. See what Oliver Cromwell
with his immortal Ironsides achieved i
With firm confidence that theirs was the
cause of God and truth and righteousness,
before they would engage in a battle they
would commit themselves in prayer to the
God of battles, and chanting an inspired
Psalm, they would make that dashing
charge which always brought defeat to the
army Of Charles
You may dcnounco this example as be-
ing simply Il specimen of religious fanati-
cism, but even if it was only this-against
which VIC protcst-yct it aptly illustrates
the point. for if religious dclusion would
do so much to fortify the heart and arouse
the spirit, how much moro genuine spirit
of piety iu just and holy cause? Thus
it is designed to teach that religion supplies
stronger, because purer aud higher, motives
to prompt to deeds Of valor and heroism
such motives as confidence in the rcctitudc
of ones cause, and conscientious belief in
the willingness Of God to aid and sustain
such cause, impart Let not the quibble
be made against this that all religious men
are not brave men, and some not so valor-
GUS as reckless and wicked and abandoned
men. The writer has admitted natural
and constitutional bravery, and of course
the same kind of timidity; but what is now
conteuded for, is that trust in God always
impartS additional moral courage to any
soul hence if man by natural endowment
be stranger to fear, such one will be
made braver still should he have the love
of God in his heart, and be subject to all
the inspiring influences of religion. Other
things being equal, the Christian hero will
be always the most valiant and unconquer-
able of soldiers. The powers Of endurance
which arc supplied to him whose mind has
all the supports and consultations of religion,
would also eYincc the point in hand