The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-11-13
TERMS
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Waterman! What of the Nights

A WORD OF CHEER TO A SON IN THE ARMY
Eighteen months ago, you left the pa.
rental roof followed by a fathers anC
mothers blessing, and bathed in the tears
Of loving sisters. Ia answer to their
prayers regularly offered for brother,
you have been mercifully cared for by your
Heavenly Father, and thanks to His name
yoOr life and health have been thus fal
preserved More than all, you have, &C
cOrding to the testimony Of your companions
been enabled by Divine grace to maintain
your Christian character, aud while doing
your duty as as soldier of your country,
have not forgotten your duty as q soldier
Of the cross. In the meantime, your saint
ed mother has finished her course on earth,
and has been one year in that heaven
"where the wicked cease from troubling
and where the weary are at rest. Her
pure spirit before the throne Of God, and
the prayers of those she lief. behind, are
thus engaged for your continuance in the
Divine favor. Let me, then, say few
words to my dear boy, by way of encourage
ment. They are put in print, because there
are in our noble army no doubt many in
circumstances similar to your own, and with
Gods blessing, they may be profitable to
them likewise.
First 1 viii say, that the hearts Of Chris
tians throughout our Southern Confederaey
have been greatly cheered by knowing that
q deep religious influence is peryadiug our
army at the present time. Nothing ike it
has ever been witnessed before in the his
tory of wars and camp life. This has been
due, under God, to the faithful labors Of
Christ's servants, and to the noble example
of some Of our commanding officers. These
have been raised Up by kind Providence
for the double purpose of ensuring success
to our righteous cause, and of viudicating
the truth and faithfulness of our covenant
keeping God. That man wou,d be w0rse
than an inGlei wb5 did no. zee the hand Of
God in giving ms st this time a President
who constantly recognizes His hand in our
national affairs; who, in the hour Of dark
ness and disaster has been prompt in call
ing the nation to humiliation and prayer !;
and in the day Of deligerauce has been
equally prompt in calling our people to
Thanksgiving and praise. And who has not
been struck with the singular propriety and
felicity Of the language Of his proclama-
tions What soldier's-wbat Christians
what patriots heart has not been moved
by his eloquent address to the troops in the
Peninsula, closing with those words worthy
to be printed in letters of gold" Defend
ers Of just cause, may God have you in
his holy keeping' And who can read the
dispatches of that Christian hero, Stone
wall Jackson, announcing his brilliant
successes, without thanking God for having
given Us such a commander. At one tine
bis simple announcements is" God has mer-
eifully crowned our arms with success. At
another time he says: Sc By G d's blessing
we gained a signal victory to-day"
Hear also our distinguished commander
in-chief announcing the brilliant victory at
Manassas on the 20th Of August, with the
same deyout recognition of the Divine hand,
and saying" To God and to the valor of
our troops, nations gratitude Is due. "
All of these things have meaning; and
our people accept them as token of God 5
favor towards our cause; and Of our final
deliyerance from our unnatural and cruel
enemies. We're it not so, they would be
less hopeful of success against the mighty
odds of numbers and appliances of war
which the North has at its command. When
God tells us in his Word, that one shall
chase a thousand, and two shall put ten
thousand to fight" be does not mean it of
every class Of men, bat of the goaly and
prayjRg man, and this not in their own
strength, but by His mighty power. Take
courage, then, my dear 10y, and all other
soldiers engaged in your country's defence!
IF God be for US, who can be against
US poet has said "thrice is be armed
who hath his quarrel just" but Pauliu the
9th chapter OF Ephesiaus tells US Of bet
ter armOr even than that" Wherefore
take unto you the 1rt0Ls armor of God, that
We may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and, having done all, to stand. Stand,
therefore, having your loins grit about with
truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness, and your feet shod with the
preparation Of the gospel of peace: above
all taking the shield Of faith, wherewith ye
shall be able to quench all the fiery darts
Of the wicked. And take the helmet of
salvation, and tha sword of the Spirit, which
is the Word Of God praying with all prayer
and suppica.ion in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with al perseverance" Believe
with David, that the Lord of Hosts is
with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge,
and YOU viii then be able 20 say with that
man Of war, and yet true child Of God
Though an host should encamp against
me, my heart will not fear."
You and your comrades in arms are your
country's precious Jewels, and while ''we
wait to welcome you home" we are above
all anxious that you should be returned to
US untarnished by vices of any kind. Re
member that the most heroic courage, and
the most devoted patriotism, although the
highest Of worldly virtues, do not constitute
Il ly,2E These may serve to save your