Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-31
The Sermon.
AN ABLE DISCOURSE LAST NIGHT.

At 7 o'clock last night the members OF
the G. A. r. Post 10 the number OF htty
and the ladies of the Relief Corps TO the
number of q dozen or more, assembled at
q. A. r. hall and marched to the First
Presbyterian church, the pastor OF which,
Rev DR.. D. A. Cunningham, had been en-
gaged to deliver the Decoration Day ser
mon. The church was well filled with al
interested congregation. -.
The reverend gentleman took tor his
text II. Tim il, g. "A good soldier Of
Jesus Christ" and began by saying 1t had
oeen computed by Edmund Burke that
,hir,y.6ye thousand millions of the human
family have fallen By war ard Its attend
snt evils. and this computation was made
! century sgo. 1t was believed the thirty,
years war reduced the population OF Ger
MANY from sixteen millions to four mil
lions, three out Of every four inhabitants
falling victims IN one way and other.
Thirty thousand villages and hsmlets were
DESTROYED during the same war, besides
cities and large towns. Although twenty
one years have elapsed since the war IN
our own country terminated, yet we do moi
forget the hundreds of thousands of lives It
cost, and We do not wonder that at this dis
,snt day the surviving comrades OF the
dead take pleasure in decorating with flow
era the graves of their heroic companions,
Referring to the words OF his text, DR.
Cunningham said they formed common
and taVorits metaphor, and, like all OF
Psurs comparisons, i vas neither tar
Catched nor fsnciful. When Paul calls the
Christian soldier, it is not merely com
psrison, but almost literal description. A
CHRISTIAN is not only like soldier-he
positively is q soldier. His enemies are
real enemies; his equipments are res
amor; his life is real battle. So, at least
Paul considered them, standing in the
arena of earthly life, hemmed in By mighty
sdyersaries, advancing to carry for Christ
the strougholds of iniquity, he seemed to
himself ss literally q soldier, with helmet
and bresst.plate and spear and sword, as
sny Roman legionsry following the impe
rial eagles to the conquest Of the world.
The speaker instituted comparison be,
tween the soldier enlisted for war, and the
Christian who takes up the service OF God
and said: there is striking analogy be-
tween csrnal and spiritual soldiersbip.
For efficient service in either way enroll
ment is necessary, but alike in both it is
of small moment what company you join.
Christian denominations are finely N anal
ogy with the different regiments, OF an
army they are the infantry and cavalry and
artillery of ths redeemed host, bearing the
same banner and keeRipg step to the same
music and following the same great cap
tain. Let every man, in this matter, be
guided by his own tastes and afhnities.
/ would no more urge al men to De Pres
byterians than / would insist that every
volunteer should shoulder the same weapon
and wear the same uniform
From q consideration Of the second
point of the sermon, e good soldier
looks we'll to the quality and condition Of
his armor," the speaker took up the
,ruism, that "a good soldier is strategist,
using his strength and weapons wisely,
against real enemies, aud advised soldiers
not to use blank cartridges, nor use balls
at q dead target Passing from the
outward acts Of good soldier
ship 70 its inner qualities OF char
scter, he said 6 good soldier must
bes brave man. In regard to things tenn
porsl this was so msnitestly trueism IS
to need no illustration, and courage was
quite as essential to him who would be q
good soldier Of Christ
His fifth point was that = good soldier
engages personally in the conflict and
does not stand an idle spectator. PractI.
cally, many protesting Christians seemed
but loOkefs-on in the battle-a sort Of
home guard"
Finally, he said, the good soldiers great
aim was final victory No true man goes
a Roldieriug for the fun OF the thing, and
whatever thoughts of personal profit or
houor may add to his order, they are all
involved in, as they depend upon. the sue
cess of the conflict.
Concluding, he said;
"Oh men land womeD) of noble heart,
with immortal pulses bounding within you,
and eternal realities rising before you, why
shrink you from path where victory is so
glorions7 Chrit wants you among his
Soldiersl The world is not yet conquered
BY faith, and vice sits snthroned in Its high
places, and prophecy and the signs of the
times call for the establishment of mighty
men for the great battle of God Almighty.
The church wants you The old soldiers
are falling around you, and the places are
vacant in the midst of ~, and We want
your strength, your energies, your zeal,
YOUR love-We want them sl IN this strug-
lie for Christ with revolted world And
you, too, need the reward. Oh, why will
you so strive for this poor world, and the
lowers that die, aud the toys that are
shattered, when Heaven offers you the
.hipgs that are eternalH God made you
'or great things-tha. hand to grasp a
brow to wear iiadem-I
hat soul to be king and