The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1864-08-04
Truly Brave People.

Much ia said aud written about bravery,
but very little is krown of its highest order
and truest manifestation. OF military brave
ry We have here nothing to say, except that
il is the easiest, the conmonest, and lowest
ON the scale. TIE highest order Of bravery
7 is often displayed by those " o think moth
ing ebout il. and never lay any claim to it.
Many humble people, humble in position.
and humble in 'pirit, are among the shining
ranks Of the truest and most notably brave.
Many of Gods people fight the great and
long battle. CT life under the pressure Of O
Thousand ineooverierces, sorrows, and en-
durances. Life with them is felt TO be
serious eff1ir. 1t often begins with strug.
gle, and continues Golf ct of ills and OPP
pressive obstacles through their whole ex-
isterce. CnsOm, indeed, and many Of them
never having known any thing higher, ena-
bled them to bear their lot with scrt Of
rude strerglh Bat far beyond and over
this, when We see them bear their Burdens
with steady faith, end with uumurmuriDg
patience and even thankful for the proyi.
DENTAL allotment of them and theirs, wo
behold a heroism as high above the world
as the heaven is high above The earth.
Bat this high quality Of Christian life dis
pleys.its highest force, not amid the clsng
Of arms, norSaDid the shouts Of human glo-
~, nor any of the rousing exciements Of
Che world, hut in tie quiet and ucnoticed
scenes of life. Ii is sometimes found 10 the
&c al
cottages Of the poor as no walls and no
aPlendor can shut ont pain. or exclude the
visitstions of sorrow, so each CHRISTIAN hab-
itaion becomes the theatre of this high
power. The psngs Ct nature. the wastiDgs
of disease, the bereavements OF death; the
i'll doiDgs of relatives, the stings of ingrati-
tude, notifications and sorrows on every
hand, together with the deepest sympashies
with thewoes Of others--all these, and more
than oil these are conquered by the virtue
Of Christian bravery.
There is that noble hearted woman Who
has not known for years what 1t is to breathe
the breath Of health. Her bed has been
her home. Want has at times come near
her dwelling, and thickening calsmities
have oftep fallen around her. Bat that
which would have crushed the strong men
of the world to the dust, has only served to
develop and Illustrate the nature and
strength Of her Christian courage. Not
mnrmur has escaped her lips, nor shadow
rested upon her spirit. The deep founda-
lions of her strength consist in that faith
which overcomes the world, and ever ex-
CLAIMS, "tbe will of the Lord be done" and
though He STAY me, yet will | trust in
Him." This is the Astounding exponent of
that courage that casts all other courage
toto the deepest shade.
The minister Of the Gospel on the Geld
of his labor, with cares, and tolls, and OBJ.
atacles, the weight and number of which
none know but God himself--and in addi-
ton to all this, often stung With the iDgrsti-
tude and Injustice of q people to whose
temporal and eternal welfare he is giving
the oil of time, OF life, and of abilities
which God hath given him. is remarkable
specimen Ct the triumphant power of Chris
titan bravery. In the face of all these, and
far more than ell we can tell, this man
stands bravely up against them all with a
lifelong endurance. Hard as these things
may be to bear, and deep as they may sink
down into human nature and happiness, yet
in epite # al of them, he stands in his lot
and shows the courage of more than mortal
bravery in mortal combat. The stake, the
FIRE, and the wheel, may have their eclat,
bat the life Of many modern minister ia
life long martyrdom, and displays more of
courage and endurance than the temporary
fres of Smith6eld.
These grievances and endurances are
borne nncomplaiDingly and in silence. The
world knows nothing, and cares nothing
about them. But the bitterest drsught that
ia administered to these men, and the hot
test fires that burn them, are prepared and
kindled, not by idO'sters or in6dels, but by
the prOfessed people Of God, TO whom they
are giving their lives. The bitterness of
the drsught and the heat of the fire derive
tbei' intensity from this fact. This is the
recruci6xion If Christ in the house Of his
friends The miracle of men for genera
tons filing up the rank of the predecessors,
to be ever going through the same fierce
trials, is a miracle Of courage, which like
miracles, can only be of Cod.