Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-07-28

We find these ringing words from
our ardent friend, DR.. A. j. GorGon, in
his memorial m in Boston this
year, referring to the work of the
church
Fight the good fight of faith" the
Bible says, and that is not any holiday
business. 1t takes courage and energy
and the grip of tremendous persever-
ance, for all that. l think the Church
of Christ is full enough of home guards
Christians who are defending the or
dinances, and protecting the doctrines,
and furnishing up the accoutrements
OF the Gospel, but who never go to the
front from n end of the year to the
other. But the enemy is upon us. The
watchful pickets, the men and women
who have their eyes open, will tell you
that the foe is encamped at our very
doors. The rumshops have intrenched
themselves right under the shadow of
our churches, and they are killing off
more men with their battles every year
than the Rebellion killed with it's bat
ties. And the ground is all mined with
the dens of vice, and the liquor league
is completely intrenched in the strong
holds of law and license; and the black
artillery of hell is shaking our streets
every day with its tread-irst the pom
derous beer and whisky wagons, with
the bottles pointing at every angle, and
then the criminal carts, the devils am
balances, carrying the wounded and
the half dead to prison and to Jail.
Oh, Christian there is no ending to
the war for which you have enlisted
no truce, no furlough, no retreat. And
learn from the history of those who are
before you that the country was never
saved by "home guards" The true
home guards were those who left their
homes and went to the front. And the
men and women who are the good
soldiers of Jesus Christ" today, and the
true defenders of His church, are those
who are in the aggressive campaign
against sin, those who are leaving
their cushioned ease and putting off
the holiday uniform of religion, and
are going into the fight, ready to be
pelted with the mud of ridicule, and to
stand the hot fire of GOODNESS and con
tempt from their brethren, because
they hear the clear, ringing orders of
their Captain urging them on.
And can we be soldiers of Christ and
expect no hardships and meet no trials?
The cushioned intrenchment of a pew
and showers of applause from the
world, is this the lot of q good soldier
of Jesus Christ? No! The greatest
peril to which we are exposed is that
of skulking. The sentiment of our
popular Christianity is largely in favor
of it. What is the use," say your
wise and conservative Christians,
what is the use of firing ON the re-
spectacle sins of society, when they
would let you alone if you would let
them alone? What is the use of draw
ing the fire of the rumsellers on you or
bringing on an engagement with the
whisky ring?"
The reproach of the church is that
she has SO few scars and battle marks.
She is more to be blamed for her guilty
silence than for her vehement speech.
She is slow to attack crying sins and
outrages, public wrongs, for fear of
getting the enmity of the world, when
the Master told her distinctly at the
outset, "If the world hated me it will
hate you," and the most dreadful
temptation to which we are exposed is
that we shall compromise with the en-
envy and love our own ease better than
Gods eternal war upon evil. But the
Church's wounds are her glory, the
seal and signature of her fidelity. 1t
was when she stood with a drawn
sword, facing and charging upon the
corruptions of the Roman Empire, that
she stood forth fair as the morning,
clear as the sun and terrible as an ar