The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-14
TO THE SOLDIERS.
DR.. Campbell Preached an In
teres.ing Sermon Sunday.

First Prosby terian Church tv the Roam.
oko Rifles. who attended in body in
fatigue uniform and occupied front
subject of the sermon was Joshua, til"
Pious Soldier" DR.. Campbell said, in
| substance:
Joshua was one Of the greatest, if not
the greatest, commander the world has
ever seen. This is said in view of the
forces opposed, and tho forces and means
at his command by which these great
odds were to be overcome.
Joshua WAS not only great, he was
good, and this respect deserves a place
among the great moral heroes the
tho world has produced.
Joshua gives us q striking illustration
of a man who depends in the most alb
solute sense upon God, and VINO depends
upon himse f. In this respect he gives
us the picture Of what is the basis of
all true success, dependence upon God,
and dependence upon ones self. My
sermon to- day is simply AN exhibition
of this idea as presented to us in the
life of this eminent soldier.
lie had the most implicit confidence
in God. When he said to him, Il will
forsake thee: the Lord thy God is with
thee whithersoever thou goest; he be-
lieved every word the Lord said. If
he ever considered the disproportion be-
tween his own army and it's resources,
and the army and the resources of tho
enemy, he never makes it known.
when the Lord commands him to
cross the River Jordon at that season
when it was swollen beyond its banks,
he unhesitatihgly prepares to cross over.
When the Lord commands him to
march the priests and his army about
the walls of Jericho for seven days,
promising him that at the end of that
time the walls shall fall down, he
marches his army about them, believ-
ing that tho Lord will do all he prom.
Used. When tie Lord told him TO de.
stroY everything in the cities he cap.
tured, he obeyed that command to the
letter. Nobody ever heard of this old
warrior being tempted 10y any of the rich
booty or the captives to disobey tho
Lord When commanded by the Lord
to circumcise tho people, while in great
peril, he obeyed, leaving all conse-
quences to the Lord. When assured by
the Lord that he should conquer the
great armies that at different times
were marshalled against him, he mus
tie. When his last days have arrived
he testiiies to the goodness of the Lord
and points out to his countrymen the
fact that not single promise made TO
them by God had been unfulfilled.
Among his latest declarations was that
noble one uttered only little while be-
fore his death: Let others do as they
will; as for me and my family we will
serve the Lord
eve notice again the most absolute
dependence upon himself. If absolute
dependence upon God begot careless
ness in the individual, we might look
for it here But Joshua is careless
about nothing that would in tho least
minister to his success. Trust in God
makes man careful and watchful. 1t
does not weaken powers. Itgives them
new direction. moro confornable with
truth. 1t gives the individual the
highest possible motive for action. 1t
elevates the powers of mind and heart,
and constrains the individual to pat
these to the highest use.
"We notice his prudence. Before cross
ing into the land he sends out spies.
This enables him to know something
of the topography OF the land. lie uses
the report they bring concerning tho
terror tn 1t had fallen upon the people
HE exhibits the most consummate
wisdom in planning his campaign. He
did not begin at either end, but marches
around the land along its eastern border
until he reaches tho middle portion, and
then drives his army like a wedge into
the center, dividing the land into two
parts and whipping out the enemy in
detail
when he has crossed tho river he
finds himself before the walled city of
Jericho. He wisely determines to re-
duce this, realizing as wise comm ander
would that Il fortress like this in his
rear would be constant menace to his
success.
when he marches against tho city of
Al in the second campaign he lays out
his plan in the most careful manner,
emitting no detail that would in any
gay contribute to his success.
"We notice again the celebrity of his ac-
ton. When the great confederacy from
the South was formed and word was
brought that the army OF the enemy
was encamped at Beth .horon, he imme-
diately gathered his army together, and
marching all night, although tho place
was eighteen miles distant, he suddenly
appeard the next morning. by daylight
before the enemy, and hurting his army
upon them, before they had recovered
from their surprise. he routed the whole
army, and while his forces were flushed
with victory led them from city to city
until the whole southern country was at
his feet.
His plan of operation against the
mighty army OF the northern nations,
which was then encamped at the waters
of Mormon with 100000 iootmen. 10. 600
cavalry and 10000 chariots, was siml-
lar. IL he could whip them he must
surprise them, and make them fight in
a place in which chariots and cavalry