Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-02-01
The Soldiers Discipline.

There are certain duties In which the
good soldier of Jesus Christ must become
thoroughly instructed before he can be en-
,irely ready to enter upon his warfare.
1. Trust in your leader. Without suffi-
uient skill and power on the part Of the
officers of an army, all the efforts of the
soldier Will be vain and he will be over
come by superior force or strategy. Thus
IL It also in the christian warfare. The
soldier must battle bravely as though all
depended on him and his efforts, and get
he must repose his trust in his Leader re-
lying upon Him so to order and direct his
efforts and support him with sufficient force,
that he may not be driven back before the
foe and compelled to yield.
This trust we term faith. The soldier of
Jesus must do all he is able to do and fight |
with unyielding courage; and yet he must
rely in faith upon his great Commander,
so to lead and sustain him in his contests, !
so to encourage and strengthen him that
his labors may be efficiently applied. If |
he feels that without this Leadership he is |
unable and unfit to meet the enemy, who |
is always well differed and strong he will |
most assuredly trust to his Leader to bring |
him through. This confidence he must re- |
pose in Jesus, and on Him continually, and |
constantly rely before he can become a
good and useful soldier, for he cannot win |
or gain the battle by his own strength !
alone. This is to fight the good fight Of
faith" and to trust upon the Lord at all /
times.
Having this trust, the soldier will learn
TO yield implicit and exact obedience to
those commands which were given to him.
It is his first duty to obey, he being for the
time the active agent or instrument to work
out the unknown plans Of his Leader
Upon this obedience the result Of the con-
test greatly depends. Disobedience may
bring on ruin to the cause, and therefore
it is so severely punished. Thus in the
word of God il is said that the Lord order
eth the steps of His followers, and "leadcth
him in way that he knoweth not Of -
The command of the great Captain is,
Follow me, not doing your own will but
doing the will of God from the heart. ~
And he promises to bring his soldiers to
certain success, if they obey his commands
and make those movements which he or
ders. But he that will not obey is given
over to death and everlasting shame.
The order then is, forward march When
they see duty before them then, or hear
the voice of conscience, or of declared
truth, which are his under officers repeat
ing to them his orders, they must not hesi-
tate nor turn back They must move right
on, for while they delay the battle may be
lost The soldiers duty is onward against
sin and temptation, in the midst of trials
and difficulties. Forward, is the command,
and forward he must courageously move,
to brave resistance, to overcome obstacles,
and whatever is before him to be found
actively and fearlessly obedient in the cri-
sis when great results are at stake, and the
victory waivers. His only hope is in this
obedience, when the voice Of his Leader is
heard shouting the command.
Being on guard one Of the duties of the
christian soldier most necessary to his sue
cess is constant watchfulness against the
enemy. 1t is always u disgrace TO be sur
prised and found unprepared. The guard
or Waterman found sleeping at his post 0
duty, and thus exposing his camp to un.
suspected attack is condemned to death
He may also be captured and slain by tn,
enemy. He must therefore be always pre-
pared for attack, and watchful whether h,
be stationed as guard about the camp o.
not he must be constantly on the aler
and vigilant. Temptations and sins whicl
are the scouts and pickets of the enemy ar
ever lurking near, ready to rush in upo
him whenever he may be off his guard, t
disarm him, and lead him captive, an
thus to attack his friends and comrades IN
forewarned.
Hence our Captain has thus given us on
commands, What | say unto you | sa
unto all, watch" Watch We, stand fa
in the faith. quit you like men, be strong.
Watch and pray lest we enter into temp
alton"
The careless sleeping soldier of Chris
not only exposes his own soul to the grea
est dangers, but may also bring lasting di
grace upon the name and honor ofhis lea,
err, and deep injury to the whole army an
cause. 1t is true very much depends upo
the sentinel W. A. ANsDEN.
South Walden