The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-31

enthusiasm of Oliver Cromwell. who standing
before his sick and famine-stricken yoldterl
at Dunbar, saw the sun rising out OF thu
morning mist and, pointing to 1t with
his sword, uttered prayer which hurled
his men upon the crushed foe like sky
full Of thunderbolts: ssArise, O Godl
Let thine enemies be scattered" With
the ear Of faith catch the sound OF the
latter day glory. Church of Christ, un.
sheath thy sword and this moment into the
battle! In the name Of Christ, march on!
| bankers desk and merchants counter, upon
every chemists laboratory and astronomers
tower, upon shepherds hut and woodsman's
cabin, upon ships deck and sailors ham,
mock, far out on the sea and high up In the
mountain, before the gaze Of nations, under
the plaudits Of heaven. "in the name Of
God We will set up our banners"
My subject has taught you that In this con-
test we are not without ensigns and colors.
All we want now Is men to carry them. Be-
fore I sit DOWN. must propose to each OF you
not 80 ignoble thing as many have thought
It. "It makes man stoop," you say. !
knowjt, but 1t Is only the stoop Of an heir Of
royalty who on his knees Is to receive q
crown OF dominion. We want standard
bearers in all pulpirs, In all places OF busi-
ness-everywhere. I do not ask you how old
you are nor how young, how weak
or how strong. how dull or how
sharp. nor what your home, nor who your an
cestors. Without any condition, without
any reserve in the name Of the God Of Israel,
I offer you the honor OF carrying the church's
ensigns. Do not be afraid Of the assaults Of
a world whose ranks you desert nor Of devils
who will oppose you with internal might.
It were more blessed to fall here than stand
anywhere else. It we're more OF an honor,
engaged with Christ, to be trampled under.
foot with this army Of banners than, oppos-
ing Christ, to be buried, like Edward l., In
Egyptian porphyry.
You know in ancient times elephants were
trained to fight and that on one occasion.
instead OF attacking the enemy, they turned
upon their owners, and thousands were
crushed under the strokes OF their trunks
and the mountain weight OF their step.
These mighty opportunities OF work for
Christ may accomplish great things In over
throwing the sin Of the world and beating to
pieces its errors, but II we do not WELD
them Alright these very advantages will In
ungarded moments turn terribly upon US
and under their heels OF vengeance grind US
to powder. Rejected blessings are seven
fold curses. We cannot compromise this
matter. We cannot stand aside and look on.
Christ has declared It, "All who are not with
me are against me-" Lord Jesus, we sur
render.
The prophecies intimate that there shalt
before the destruction of the world be one
great battle between truth and unrlghteous-
ness. We shall not probably see 1t on earth.
God grant that we may see It, bending from
the battlements of heaven. On the side OF
sin shall be- arrayed all forms OF oppression
and cruelty, led on by infamous kings and
generals; the votsries Of paganism, led on
BY their priests; the subjects OF Aoham-
mechanism, following the command Of
their sheiks. And gluttony and intem-
largely represented on the field. ALI the
wealth and splendor and power and glory OF
wickedness shall be concentrated on that
one decisive spot and, maddened by 10000
previous defeats, shall gather themselves up
for one last terrible assault. With hatred to
God for their cause and bIasphemy for the
battle cry, they spread out over the earth IN
square beyond square and legion beyond
legion, while In some overhangtng cloud OF
OF sin and darkness for dominion.
Scattered by the blasts Of Jehoyah's nos
trils, plunder and sin AMI satanic force
shall quit the field. As the roar OF the con-
flct sounds through the universe all worlds
shall listen. The air shall be full OF wings
OF heavenly cohorts. The work Is done, and
In the presence OF world reclaimed for the
crown of Jesus and amid the crumbling OF
tyrannies and the defeat of satanic force
and amid the sound Of heavenly acclama-
tions the church shall rise up In the image
OF our Lord. and with the crown Of victory
on her head and the scepter OF
dominion In her hand in, the name OF
God shall set up her banners. Then HIna-
laya shall become Mount Zion, and the
Pyrenees Moriah, and the oceans the walk
Ing place of Him who trod the wave crests
sounding board which shall strike back the
sound OF exultation to the earth till 1t re-
bound again to the throne OF the Almighty.
Angels OF the Apocalypse, fly, fly! For who
will stand In the way Of thy might or resist
the sweep of thy wing2 ..s