Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-25
tSournal ano Courier.
Monday Morning. April 25. 1881.
Local News.
For other Local News see Second page.l
Services at summerfield Church

SS~~SA -S@eA~
 Services at Summerfield Church. Discourse by Rev. MT. Ltvingstone-A
 Good Soldier of Jesus Christ.
 At the Summerield church yesterday morning Rev. Mr. Livingstone, the pastor, preached an interesting discourse from the words found in 2d Timothy, 2d chapter, Sd verse, "A good soldier of Jesus Christ The preacher spoke in substance as follows The spirit of Christianity is that of aggression Sin has always opposed the onward march or Christianity, and there has been no progress until the obstacles have been hurled out of her path. Christians live life of warfare Therefore it was proper that St. Paul should make frequent reference to the Christian warfare. If the Christian is soldier of Christ he must be a willing soldier. Every service performed by a true Christian soldier is performed willingly and gladly. He gladly performs the duty in the service of Christ. Just as soldier fights in the service of his country, so in the service of Christ it must be by glad and willing heart. It IS the heart in the work that makes the work joyous and pleasurable. The student and the mer- chant go about their work gladly, and 1t IS this kind of work that brings with it success. The reason why so many believers go trudg- ing along rather than skipping along IS be- cause their heart is not in their work. The Christian should go to his work as free man in Christ Jesus. When there is willingness of heart then the pathway becomes one of pleasure and not of duty. Just as the willing soldier who enters the strife is successful, so in the same way is the soldier of Christ sue cessful. The Christian soldier should have love for his standard. The good soldier always loves his flag and fights for it as an emblem of freedom So, say, the best Christians are those who have the greatest love for the banner of Calvary. All of the great heroes will be bright and glo- rious forever because they had genuine love for the standard of Jesus Christ. It IS the crying need in the church for men and wo men who love the standard and are in earnest in supporting 1t. Such one IS always ready to respond to every call. Love for the church and love for Christ can do much. It is this love that makes the church strong Too many are like barks the wave without or like the butterfly flying hither and thither. Would the Christian mount up as on wings, he must keep his eye on the standard. The good soldier must be faithful to his commander. The loyalty of the Spar tans made them as a wall of iron. So the good Christian, if he would succeed, must be faithful to his commander. Loyalty to their head, loyalty to Christ and manful Steady
  the world also. He who will may be just such loyal Christian. Loyalty to the Christ often seems magnet to draw men into the church. Why should there be disloyalty? You may study all the ponderous books in the world and study throughout all eter- nifty, and you will find no one so perfect as Jesus Christ. The purest and best men who walk the earth to-day are followers of this Christ. He is the only Saviour who has ever trod this earth and the world can hope for deliverance through Him. Just as long as Jesus stands ready and willing to welcome the wanderer, just so long does he demand loyalty. The good soldier must be unfag ging in his zeal True zeal is persevering, that mighty power which continues through out life itself. Be not discouraged Christian warrior. It demands labor and zeal. The soldier when he returns from the war thinks not of the dangers through which he has passed. He sees the flag of his country float ing in peace. He has the satisfaction of knowing that his work has been well done. So the Christian when he gets honor, if he has been faithful, can look back with joy over his faithful warfare and receive from his father the joyful, 'Well done good and faith full servant"