The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-04-22

cnurcn OF Jesus NnrlSt, jealous Tor the
honor of its sovereign, and determined
to get back those who have been car
ried off captive into the bondage of
Satan, and intent upon the destruction
of those mighty wrongs which have SO
long cursed the earth, are bent upon
the extension of the Saviour's reign of
mercy, in the name of God sets up it's
banner of pro clamation.
The church makes no assault upon
the world. | do not believe that God
ever made better world than this. 1t
is magnificent in its ruins Let us stop
talking so much against the world.
God pronounced it very good at the be-
ginning. Though a wandering child
of God, | see in it yet the Great Fathers
lineaments. Though tossed and driven
by the storms of 5000 years, she sails
bravely yet, and as at her launching in
the beginning the morning stars sang
together and all the sons of God
shouted for joy, SO at last, when com
ing into the calm harbor of Gods mercy
she shall be greeted by the huzzas of
gloritied kingdoms. 1t is not the world
| against which we contend, but its
transgressions. Whatever is obstinate
in the will, degrading in passion,
harmful in custom, false in friendship,
hypocritical in profession - against
all this Christ makes onset. From
false profession He would tear the mask
From oppression He would snatch the
rod. From pride He would rend off the
plumes. From revenge He would exor-
else the devil. While Christ loved the
world SO much He died to save it, He
hates sin SO we'll that to eradicate the
last trace of it's pollutian He will utter
ly consume the continents and the
oceans. At the gate of Eden the decla-
ration of perpetual enmity was made
against the serpent. The tumult round
about Mount Sinai was only the roar
and fash of Gods artillery of wrath
against sin. Sodom on fire was only
| one of Gods flaming bulletins announc-
| ing hostility. Ninevah and Tyre and
Jerusalem in awful ruin mark the track
of Jehovah's advancement They show
that God was terribly in earnest when
He announced Himself abhorrent of all
iniquity. They make us believe that
though nations belligrent and revenge
| full may sign articles of peace and come
to an amicable adjustment, there shall
| be no cessation of hostilities between
| the forces of light and the forces of
| darkness until the kingdoms of this
| world have become the kingdoms Of
our Lord. Affrighted by no opposition,
discouraged by no temporary defeats,
shrinking from no oexposure-every man
to his position, while from the top Of
schools and churches and seminaries
and asylums, In the name of God we
will set up our banners"
| Again. it was the custom in ancient
times, for the purpose of gathering
armies, to lift an ensign on the top of
some high hill, so that all who saw it
would feel impelled to rally around it.
In more modern times the same plan
has been employed for the gathering
of an army. Thus it is that the church
of Christ lifts His flag for recruits. The
cross of Jesus is our standard, planted
on the hill of Calvary. Other armies
demand that persons desiring to enter
the lists of war shall be between such
and such an age, lest the folly of ex-
treme youth or the infirmity of ad-
vanced age be a clog rather than an
advantage. But none are too young
for Christ's regiment; none can be
too old. The hand that is strong
enough to bound ball or trun-
die hoop is skilled enough tc
fight for Christ, while many a hand
trembling with old age has grasped
the arrow of truth, and with dim eye
close to it, taking aim, has sent its
sharp point right through the heart OF
the Kings enemies. Many ofyou have
long ago had your names written on
the roll of celestial troops, and you
like the service we'll, although you now
bear the scars of multitudinous con.
f1icts and can recount many long
march, and tell of siege guns opened
on you that you thought never would
be spiked. But there may be some who
have not yet enlisted. Your being here
implies that you are seriously thinking
about it, and your attention makes me
hope you are only looking for the
standard to be hoisted. Will you not
| q LuHuiCu VI Sou. WIFI dll Iilc dlouSCt
enthusiasm of your nature, come bound
ing into the ranks, while In the name
OF. God we set up our banners?"
Again, when grand victory has beer
won, it is customary to announce it by
flags floating from public buildings ane
) from the masts of ships. They are th'
signal for eulogy and rejoicing an,
festivity. So the ensign which tht
church hoists is banner of victory
: There was time when the religion o
: Christ was not considered respectable
5 Men of learning and position frowne'
| upon it. Governments anathematize
, its supporters. To be Christian wa
to be an underling. But mark tn
difference. Religion has compelle
} the worlds respect. Infdelity, i
: the tremendous effort it has mad
S to crush it, has compliments
! it's power. And there is not no,
a single civilized nation but in it
S constitution, or laws, or proclamation
. pays homage to the religion of tn
r cross. In the war in India, when s.
S Archibald Campbell found in an HOT