St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-10-27
Reisions Rradins.
"FOund on Guard"
BY REV. JOSIAH TYLER, SOUTH ARR

BY REV. JOSIAH TYLER, SOUTH AFRICA.
A shrewd old Natal colonist, who
was well acquainted with the Zulus
and their modes of warfare, observed
to me the other day, as we were chat
ting about the fearful disaster at lsand-
hlana. ~ said to Lord Chelmsford, as
he sat where you are now, Keep your
troops together, and constantly on the
lookout, otherwise the Zulus will be
sure to surprise you
The sad 22d of January, 1879, found
the British army in Zululand off guard,
with an inadequate number of scouts to
announce the attack of the enemy, the
chief, with large body
of his soldiers, ten miles from his
camp, while the rest were scattered
over "A large extent of broken country.
The Zulus las they inform us) were
not designing to attack the invaders on
that occasion. Superstitious reasons
led them to postpone an engagement
the "red coats" comparatively defence
less, and one of their officers deter
mined to provoke an encounter, they
pounced upon them like so many wild
beasts, and by dint of overwhelming
numbers and indisputable bravery, OBJ
tanned the victory. Found of guard
did the mischief.
How frequently we meet illustrations
of this neglect of watchfulness and its
sad consequences in our fallen world.
Mark that once apparently tiOurishing
church. Its minister was eloquent, its
elders men of repute, its evangelistic
efforts Jealous and abundant. Sud
denly its lights grew dim, its spiritu
ality declined, and that tower of Zion,
formerly so fair and strong, is now al
most, if not entirely, ruined. What
effected this change Error crept in,
alienation ensued, minister and people
could not work together, and Satan re-
iOiccd in the havoc that followed.
Found Of guard is the sequel of this
sad story.
Illustrations abound in the wreck of
individual character. Notice that once
exemplary and amiable young man
Reared in the home of piety, and early
protesting his faith in Christ, he bids
fair to adorn the church of which he is
IA member, and benefit society. He
leaves his home, and seeks employ
ment in distant part of the world.
For time the remembrance of his
early life, the VOWS he made to be vigi-
liant. act as IA safeguard amid the mani
fold temptations which assail him.
One weak spot, however, soon mani
tests itself. He is not sound on the
subject of temperance. He parleyS
with the tcmpter, who plies the insinu-
alton, "No danger; take but Il little /;
many good men do so, and are none
the WORSE etc, and, alas, he is en-
trapped; he loses self-control, and be
comes IA victim of strong drink. Found
off guard explains it all.
The following illustration from Ro-
man history is suggestive. MachGrus
was fortress too impregnable to he
taken by all the prOwess of Rome.
Among its defendants was Il young
man whose strong arm had often scat
tered the assailants, and kept them
back till his cOmpatriotS had regained
their refuge after many successful
just outside the gate. An unseen foe
of great strength, who had been lying
in wait for such an opportunity, grasp
ed him in his arms and bore him off to
the Roman camp. There he was first
mercilcssly and ANONYMOUSLY scourg-
ed, full in the view of those by whose
side, but an hour before, he had been
doing stern battle against the enemies
of his country. Then cross was
brought forward and preparations
made to nail him to it. This was more
than the defenders of the fortress could
bear to witness. They inquired whe-
Their no ransom could avail to save
their young hero's life. No, nothing
short of the surrender of their place of
imprcgnablc strength, in defence of
which his and their blood had been
shed together. The sacrifice was
made. and the conditions hOnorably
observed by the Romans. But what
was the lifelong feeling of the young
Eleazer? All his patriot spirit crushed
and IA sense of shame ever burning on
his cheek that no tears of repentance
could ever cool. All this from one mo-
ment's imprudence. Found off guard
did it all. Young men, take warning,
take warming New York Observer.
I'LL