The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-29
BY REV. WILLIAM sALrER.


BY REV. WILLIAM sALTER. 4Fs
'Jhave fought good asht."-2 Tim. iv, 81.
Paul was now an aged nan. For more
than thirty years he had performed the labors
and endured the spfferings Of an Apostle ol
Jesns Christ. In the principal countries
and in the chief cities Of the civilized world,
he had proclaimed tho name, which is above
every name. In Antioch, in Rphesus, in
Athens, in Corr ith, and in Rome. he had
laid the foundation Of new social order, and
set influences in operation before which the
splendid temple Of heathenism and the very
throne of the Caesars was destined to crum-
BILE and fall. His work, however, was one
of faith. It respected not the completion Of
the Christian Temple, but its foundation -
He saw not all things put under Christ. He
saw comparatively but few trilmphs Of the
new religion. But in the eternal counsels,
and in the sure promise of future times, he
saw the world regeneratcd and redeemed,
and Jesus crowned with glory and honor,
and made Lord Of all. As a Roman citizen,
and frequently brought in contact with the
soldiers of the Empire, the Apostle was
familiar with military matters, and often
illustrates from them the principles and
duties of the Christian Soldier. And now
his work was done, and It only remained for
him to @ forth from his prison to the place
ofexccuti,n. As he contemplated the scene
before him, he also looked back upon the
past, and in the language Of triumphant
assurances declared :g'I hare fought a good
fght"
The Roman Soldier was in many respects
noble character. In nearly every instance
ip which he appears in the pages of the New
Testament, it is in an honorable light It
was ola Roman Centurion that our Lord
saii, that h. had "not found so great faith,
no, not in Israel" The lofty virtue Of that
man appears in his profound humility, in
his lherllity and kindness to the Jews. who
said of him, "That he was worthy, for he
loveth our nation. and hath built us Syna-
gogue," and in his unhestating confidence
in the power and grace Of the Lord Jesus.
---(Lu. vii, 1-9.) The centurion who had
command OF the force charged with the Cruz
ciixion Of our Lord, seems also to have pos
sesscd magnanimity and virtue Of SOUL
When he saw what was done, says the sacred
history, when he had heard the Saviors last
words, and marked che patience and resig-
nati,p and triumphant faith Of thu sufferer,
and the attending darkness and earthquake,
Le glorife God, AMI said, certainly this
was righteous man. n.--O.u xiii, 40 The
Arst Gentle conversto Christianity, was q
Roman soldier, the noble and devout Cor
nelius. He was "a just man, and one that
f.areth God, and Of good reputc among all
the nation Of the Jews"
Yhesc men were At representatives of the
hest days Of Rome In their characters. we
see exhibited the virtues by which the legions
of the eternal city overmastered the world.
1t is not strange, therefore, that the Apostle
respected and honorcd the Roman soldier.
or that he cherished . high sense Of the
honorableness and dignity OIL his own Roman
citizenship, or that he should on two several
occasions lay claim to its privileges. The
Roman eagles carried with them in their ex-
tended conquests, the protection Of the Ro-
,n,n laws, and in o distant province of the
empire the Apostles appeal to Cesar secured
him immunity from violence, and respectful
consideration. On more than one occasion
h, owed his life to the Intervention Of Roman
soldiers. For courage, valor and fidelity ia
duty, and paariotic devotion. we still turn "a
the heroes of Rome iqr sone Of the noblesi
examp'cs that history affords.
These things may show us. that it was
not unhccoming in the great Apostle, in re.
xiewing the work Of his life, to compare II
10 that OF a so! dior, and to say II have fought
\ good fight" In the prospect Of death he
was ablc to look back upon his life with :
degree Of satisfaction, and with the reflec
iion that he had spent it 10 good cause, and
that his energies had been directed with some
proper correctness and resolution. As 1
christian soldier he hal sacrificed all for his
cause, and counted not his life dear unto
himself. He had fought the battles Of trut
with unfalteripg courage, and with utter dis
regard Of personal consequences. He had
met the enemies Of the Gospel in close con
{ 81 -
Act, aud bare in his body the marks of tn.
Lord Jesus. Thrice vas he beatan with rods
once stoned. Of the jews Aye times received
he forty stripes save one he was ip veari
ness aud painfulncss. in watchings often: il
hunger and thirst: in fastings often in colo
and nakedness in prisons frequent, ,.asd IL
deaths OF. But upon all these suffsrings
and upon AL his labors, he looked with sat
isfacti~ and joy ,of beart; and now as h'
saw the beadsman's sword waiting 10 seve
his head from his body, he had no regrets
..NeAhias feF tAarss petAlagtphwau 81,
Or knock Ahs brssst: % weakness, no csatsup.
ptspraise. or blame nothing bat ven and tAir.
aud a crown Of righteousness IN clear sn'
sortais prospect.