Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-26

Christ are like the noblcst Of all conquerors.
The drunkard is a slave. II some master
stands over him with whip or bludgeon and
forbids his indulgence on pain of instant
beating, then he may abstain, but how mean
and contemptibe are all his feelings. But sup
pose that same Incorporate man to stand erect
aud say, 81 will be slave no longer" Then,
in every struggle which he wages with his ac-
cursed appetite he goes into the battle like a
hero. In the fercest contest be has proud
feeling that he Is the superior and 80 he
bears himself loftly through every struggle
and comes out of it triumphantly like great
conqueror, like the noblest Of all conquerors,
for he has subdued flesh and devil at once.
Such a man, after such a contest, Is trans
figured. He has a new and noble soul in him.
He feels taller, and he is taller; for in the
consciousness of rectiluds he stands more
erect and looks upon men and nature from a
maner brow and with loftier glance. All
the fault lies within him hail him and say to
him, "Now thou art man." And they crown
him with conscious honor. No honor il so
great ~ that which is gained by being SOL
dior of Jesus Christ.
Scattered here and there over the surface of
the earth are fields memorable from having
been scenes OF terrible conflicts. On some
the grass grows greener from the blood and
carnage which years ago enriched the soil.
On others are erected costly monuments, re-
citing the triumphs of the victors, and above
them wave the banners which passed trium
phant through the fight. But there are other
fields where bloodless victories have been
gained, and where many man has proved
himself stronger than he that taketh a city.
There may be no monuments TO mark these
spots. The historians that keep the records
of fields trodden by fierce warriors and slip
perry with human gore may find in them
nothing worthy of their pens, but the angels
Of God know the places where the legions Of
hell have been put to flight, and in the day of
eternity there will be records Of grander vic
tories than earthly heroes have attained,
which have been won by men strong in the
Lord, and in the power Of his might. There
is n crown Of righteousness for the faithful
soldier
You rccoloct that tho old scandinavian
Northmen deemed it a shame and a misery
not to die in battle and il to any one of them a
peaceful, natural death seemed to be approach
ing, he would cut deep gashes in his flesh, in
the vain but heroic fancy that his God would
welcome him to the other world az a warrior
slain upon the field. Many an old North
King, threatened with what he counted an ig.
nominious death upon his bed, has ordered
his body to be laid in ship, the ship to be
sent out to sea with her sails set and slow
fire burning in her cabin, that once out far
upon the pillows, she might scud before the
wind and blaze up in flames, and in that man
ner, as he desired, bury worthily the royal
hero at once in the sky and in the ocean
Now they did it to obtain a corruptible crown,
but for the Christian soldier there is an in
corruptible crown. What are the struggles
and suferings of this short season Of warfare
compared with the peace and joy OF that
blessed eternity, where there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow nor crying. May
we be good soldiers of Jesus Christ This
tan'B realm, recruiting for soldiers of the
cross, and will you not give in your names Z
| have read somewhere that in one of our
regiments on the battlefield the cry was
heard, Another man TO take the colors -
The colors lay on the damp ground, damp
with the blood of the gallant ensign who lay
beside them. The cry was answered, and an.
other waved the colors and the battle ragged.
Again the cry was heard, Another man to
take the colors - and the cry was answered,
for stepping forward one stopped and loosen.
ed the staff from the dead mans fingers and
flung the flag in the face OF the foe. And an
other deadly shower OF shot rushed through
the ranks, and the flag again fell and the third
time the cry arose through the sitting smoke,
Another man to take the colors :" and the
heroism was not lacking, for again the flag
was grasped. And as we read that veterans
now on the field will not continue long by
reason Of death, we say, Another man to
take the colors!" Who will respond to the
cry?