The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-08-23

we fear, lies dying. Gentlemen, carry
this spirit through your whole lives.
You have obtained an honorable dis
charge from the army Of the Potomac
or the army of the Gulf; / trust you
desire no discharge from the army OF
Jesus. There can be no honorable dis
charge from that army; there can be
no discharge at all but for traitors and
deserters. You have saved your coun-
try-will you lose your souls? You
were loyal in temporal things, will you
not be loyal on the wider plane that
takes in both time and eternity? This
is no time to temporize or to loiter.
Our enemies have drawn the sword
and thrown away the scabbard; let us
devote every throb Of our pulse, every
thought Of our brain to God and to
humanity. The home implores our
protection from improvidence, intem-
perance and immortality; property and
labor alike look to us as champions OF
their just rights; the hosts of boys and
girls that are just learning the use of
hands and eyes and heart and brain ap-
peal to us by their very ignorance OF
danger, to save them from idle
ness and irreligion, and the
Macedonian cry, "Come over and
help us, walls piteously from many
broken heart, from many a pauper
home, from many heathen country.
Come. thinkers and artisans, come,
wealthy and poor, come, mothers and
maidens. Work for Jesus and work with
Jesus. The issue of our tolls and strug-
giles is not doubtful. ! ascend the
mount of vision; stand beside Gods
prophets-God lets me share the light
Of their inspiration--I look away into
the future and see the consecrated bands
that .'follow the Lamb on white horses,
clothed in fine linen white and clean"
i see the strongest fortresscs Of
cruelty. ignorance and dilrcligion crum-
bling before them-I see victory sue
ceeding victory, each victory making
the world better And then-therc
comes a pause. The most distant pick
cts do do not hear SO much rs the fir
ing of random gun. The most adj
venturous scouts find no trace Of an
enemy. Councils Of war break up,
having nothing to do. But | hear
..great voices in heaven saying. the
kingdoms Of this world are become the
kingdems of God and of his Christ, and
he shall reign forever and ever" Christ's
soldiers have fought till there is no
more need Of fighting; they have de-
stroyed till not an evil survives: and
an old prophecy, long perhaps regard
ed as the language Of hypcrbolc has
received its full accomplishment.
They shall not hurt or destroy in all
my holy mountains for the earth shall
be full of the knowledge Of God, as the
waters cover the sea-"
That time has not come yet. But it
is on its way. Nothing can stop it.
But you may hasten it. Our Lord
Jesus Christ is waiting just now to for
give you. to enlist you, to equip you,
to sustain you, to command you.
"Wake, soldier wake. The trumpet's sound
Breaks on the breathing stiffness round,
And starting from the trembling ground
Messiah's hosts are marsha ling.
Arm, soldier. arm. From top to toe,
In all Gods burning armor glow,
For far and near the keen-eyed foe
His fiery sword Is brandishing'
Fight, soldier. fight! No earthly rest
BE thine by mortal foe opprest
With lifted sword and waving crest
Thy captain leads TO conquering.
Fall, soldier, fall! for worse betide
The servant Of the crucified
Who shames his Masters wounded side,
And shrinks from mortal suffering.
Die, soldier, die! Take now thy rest:
Cross thy pale hands upon thy breast
Thy sun is sinking in the west,
Thy latest gloom Is gathering.
Rise soldier, rise. hy fight Is done,
Thy war-wOrn soul its heaven hath won,
And, brighter than the noon-d ~ sun,
Shine, soldier shine-immortally!"