Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-12
A GOOD SOLDIER OF CHRIST.

A Brilliant Discourse By DR.. Parker
OF Hartford, from she Pulpit or shc
United Church Yesterday Morning.
The Christians Life IL Battic ana
Faith L. It's Standard.
"a good soldier of Jesus Christ, " as 10 pro-
pounded in Timothy II, 2. was the text of an
eloquent and brilliant discourse from the
pulpit of the United church yesterday morn.
ing by the gifted DR.. Parker of Hartf ,rd.
Too often soldier of renown has been
bad man, profane, sensual and without re-
ligion, said the preacher. st. Paul had
abundant opportunity to watch and study
soldiers. He was thrown constantly among
them. Since his day, soldiers have furnished
also many noble examples of Christian char
acter. Mr.. Froude has said, in O recent
work, at has been observed that If soldier
falls at all under spiritual influence the effect
is particularly strong" Whyi Consider
for what the soldier fights. It Is either for
outlawry or for a noble cause under a noble
chief. In the one cause, his energies are
misapplied. In the other, they are directed
towards the noblest development OF character
and the highest ends Of life.
Instead of working or countenancinR eff
feminscy, Christianity encourages man liness
and the highest virtues In life. The music of
the gospel, In my Judgment, Is not of the
lutte and harp but of the trumpet, bugle and
drum-beat calling to arms continually. We
are all bound to serve the highest and best
wherever IL be. As Jesus Christ represents
this, we are bound to serve him. His claim
before us is supreme. Remarkably the
terms of christianity are those of warfare.
We speak of the battle of life. Paul says,
Eight the good fight of faith" 1t was not
because he was In love with military life that
Paul drew SO many images from 1t. It is q
battle of light and darkness, holiness and
sin, truth and error. Man must fight
for his own salvation and the
establishment of Gods kingdom in the
world. We are not called to achieve a mean
little victory for ourselves. A soldier fight
ing for his home only is corrigible. He fights
for his own home in fighting for his country.
Livingstone served God by opening up the
heart of Africa. Wilberforce TO u9ht the bats
tie of the slaves. Howarth fought the battle
of the furious. John Bright struggled for a
cheap loaf for the British workmen. Olois-
tered christianity is out Of date. Men and
women no longer can nurse pious feelings.
Put on the armour and work against sin and
wickedness In the world. Be good soldiers
who keep your armor bright not by scrub
bing 1t but by usingi 1t.
Failure In any one of the characterl links
of the chain epoils the soldier. As years go
| by and men grow old in service, and the
| fight slackens not, while personal strength
i uOeS lMip Wuhb 10 W buotuih oho Al ohshuoA-
asm, courage and endurance Of manly bur
densa One has said, "There is none SO old
as he who has outlived enthusiasm" And
| the converse ia equally true: No one is old
/ who has enthusiasm. What shall overcome
the strong tendency in us to outlive this vir-
tuei "The impossibles," says Christ, "be.
come possible through faith" st. Paul cried
aloud with clarion voice as from the midst OF
battle, "Fight the good fight of faithl" Have
not Cromwell's Ironsides and Lincoln's col
diers fought stubbornly and won through
faith. A man who has lost faith has losi
everything of courage and endurance.
Intelligence Is an important factor of Q
good soldier. The old idea was not so. II
was of blind duty and machine like obedi
ence. The Russian and Turkish soldier Is Of
this type. The idea Is now giving way II
both military aud theological science. A late
writer on military science says that the sol.
der Is no longer expected to obey the letter
but must enter into the spirit of the master
of legions. The subordinate must enter into
J the mind and spirit of the commander. In
this mood the spirit of Christ takes posses
sion of him, and love of Christ rules his end
But II is not sparkling deeds of heroism tha
are the noblest. Innumerable names will
shine on the pages of Gods book of life
which will not appear on any of the cata
logues of human history. Be, therefore
good soldiers Of Jesus Christ and fight thu
good fight Of faith.