The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-24

you found these wers harmless apparitiona.
And it is the great mission OF the church OF
Jesus Christ to come forth 'clear as the
SUM-" to illumine all earthly darkness, to e1.
plain, as far as possible, all mystery, and to
make the world radiant in its brightness;
and that which you thought vas an aroused
lion is found out to be a sumbering lamb;
and the sepulchral gates Of 20 ur dead turn
out to be the opening gates OF heaven; and
that which you supposed was flaming
sword to keep you out OF paradise is an angel
Of light to becEon you in.
The lamps on her altars will cast their
glow on your carkest pathway and cheer
you unti, far beyond the need Of lantern 1. or
lighthouse, you are safely anchored within
the veil. Oh, sun Of the church. shine on
until there is no sorrow to soothe, no tears to
wipe away, no shackles to break, no more
souls to be redeemed! Ten thousand hands
OF sin have attempted to extiuguish the
lamps on her altars, but they are quenchless,
and to silence her pulpits, but the thunder
would leap and the lightning would flame.
The church o: God vii! yet come to full
meridian, and in that day all the mountains
Of the world will be sacred mountains,
touched with the glory OF Calvary, and all
streams will flow by The mount OF God like
cool Sloan, and all lakes be radiant with
Gospel memories like Gennesaret and all.isl.
ands of the sea be crowned with apocalyptic
vision like Patmos and all cities be sacred
as Jerusalem, and all gardens luxurious as
paradise, with God walking in the cool O
the day. Then the chorals Of grace viii
drown out all the anthems of earth. The,
the throne of Christ will overtop all earthl,
authority, Then the crown Of Jesus vii
outaame all other coronets. Sin destroyed
Death dead. He'll defeated. The church
triumphant. ALI the darknesses Of sin, al
the darknesses Of trouble, all the darknesse,
OF earthly mystery hieing themselves to
their dens. "Clear as the sunl Clear AZ
the sunr'
Further, "Terrible as an army with ban
ners." Take one more step in this subject
and say that IL you were placed for the de.
Tense OF feeble town, and a great army
were seen coming over the hills with flying
ensigns, then you would be able to get some
idea Of the terror that will strike the hearts
OF the enemies of God when the church at
last marches on like IAN army with ban
nersn
You know there is nothing that e1citss
soldiers enthusiasm so much as an old Gag.
Many man almost dead, catching glimpse
OF the national ensign, has sprung to his feet
and started again into the battle. Now. my
friends, don't want you to think. Of the
church Of Jesus Christ as defeated instltu.
tiou, as the victim Of infldel sarcasm-some-
thing to be kicked and cuffed and trampled
on through all the ages Of the world. 1t is
''an army with banners" It has an in
scription and colors such as never stirred
the hearts OF an earthly soldiery.
We have our banner of recruit, and on it
is inscribed, "Who is on the Lords side"
Our banner Of defiance, and on it is in
scribed, "The gates Of hell shall not prevail
against usp Our banner OF triumph, and
on it ls inscribed. Victory through our
Lord Jesus Christi and we mean to plant
that banner on every hilltop and wave 1t at
the gate of heaven.
With Christ to lead us we need not fear.
will not underrate the enemy. They are
tremendous host. They come on with acutest
strategy. Their weapons by all the inhab-
itants Of darkness have been forged in fur
naces Of everlasting fire. We contend not
with flesh and blood, but with principalities
and powers and spiritual !Vickedness IN
high places; but if God be for us who can be
AGAINST us? Come on. ye troops OF the Lord
Fall into line, Close UP che ranks! On,
through burning sands and over frozen
mountain tops, until the whole earth sur
renders to God! He made it; He redeemed
it: He shall have 1t. They shall not be
trampled with boots, they shall not be
cut with sabsrS, they shall not be crushed
with wheels. they snail not be cloveu with
battle axes, but the marching, AMI the onset,
and the victory will be none the less decisive
for that.
With Christ to lead us, and heaven to look
down upon Us, and angels to guard us, and
martyr spirits to bend from their thrones,
and the voics Of God to bid US forward into
the combat, our enemies shall fly like chah
in the whrlwind, and all the towers OF
heaven ring because ths day is ours. l di-
vide this army with banners into two wings
the American wing and the European
wing. rhe American wing will march on
across the wilds OF the west. over the table
lands anG come to the ocean, no more
stopped by the Pacific than the lsraelites
were stopped by the Red sea, marching on
until the remaining walls OF China will fall
before this army with banners, AMI cold Si-
IBERIA will be turned to the warm heart OF
Christ and over lofty Himalayan peaks
shall go this army with banners until 1t halts
at Palestine.
The European wing will march out to
meet it, AMI Spanish superstition shall be
overcome, AMI French lnfidelity shall be
conquered, and over the Alps, with more
than Hauuibars courage, shall march that
arrny with banners, and up through the
SHOWS of Russia, vaster in multitude than
the hosts that followed Napoleon into the
conflict. And Hungary and Poland, oy the
blood Of their patriots AMI oy the blood OF
Christ. shall at last be free. And crossing
on sinai, and Christ in the person OF bis
ministers will again preach on Oliyet anu
pray in Gethssmane and exhibit His love on
calvary. And then the army will halt In
front Of the other wing, the twain having
conquered all the earth for God.
Wnen the Prussian army came back from
their war they were received in 1855 at the
gates of Berlin, and choir stood above the
gates, and as the first regiment advanced
and came to the gates the choir, In music,
asked them what right they had to enter
there. And then the first regiment, in song,
replied. telling over the stories OF their con-
ilcts ana victories. Then they marched IN,
and all the city was full OF gladness anu
triumph. But oh! the great JOY when tho
army with banners shall come up to the
gates of our King!
1t will be choir TO choir music to music,
hosanna to hosanna, halleluiah to hallelulan.
Lift up your heads, ye everlasting ga6es
and let Them come in. There will be spread
the banquet Of eternal victory. and tne un-
fallen ones OF heaven will sit at it and all
the rausomed of earth will come in and cele-
brate the jubilee with unrading garlands on
their brows telling OF earthly conquests. -,
All Ihe walls OF that celestial mansion will
be a-glitter with shields won in victorious
battle and adorned with the banners OF GOD
that were carried in front OF the host. harp
shall tell to harp the heroism in which the
conuuerors won their palm, and the churcn
that day will sit queen at the banquet. der
wapderings over her victories gained,
Christ shall rise up to Introduce her 70 al
the nations OF heaven, and as she pulls aaloe
her veil and looks up into the face or her
Lord the King, Christ shall e1claim, This Il
she that looketh forth as the morning, fair