The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-06-02

His wrath to correct and discipline the
impenitent and the presumptuous the
man of action who executes the law and
the leaders in the worlds progress whose
deeds of valor are the noblest, most en-
during memorials Of b uman history. The
philosopher, inventor, teacher, poet, re-
former and statesman are all to be hon.
ored for their works under God; the
prophet, priest and philanthropist COM
mand our reverence for their services of
love; but it Is after all the true soldier
who carries forward the banner OF prog.
ress; who defends the cause of truth in
the conflict Of the ages; and who gives
his strength and life to make the good
which others have thought. and talked
of, and prayed for, and hoped for, effect
i've. The great movements of our modern
times in particular have had their con-
summation in great and godly men who
have been the leaders of patriotic, faith
full and Intelligent armies of citizen SOL
diers. Washington, Lafayette. Grant,
Gordon, Kitchner, Garibaldi, and Have
lock, / can only mention few names,
but they are the true and living monu-
ments of history, names that are immor.
tal,-the symbols Of the victory of Chris
tian faith and courage.
These few thoughts have been suggest
ed to me by our text.
''And / saw heaven opened; and be.
hold, 8 white horse, and he that sat
thereon, called Faithful and True; and
in righteousness he doth Judge and make
war"
The visions of St John, the Divine, are
like moving picrures of historic events OF
spiritual meaning, both in heaven and on
earth. The real history of the world is
the warfare Of Christ against sin and
Satan and evil in all it's forms. Jesus the
Saviour Of men is the great Divine Leader
and Captain OF the Armies Of God,
whether here Or there. In a preceding
chapter of the Revelstion we read
Sand there was war in heaven: Michael
and his angels going forth to war with
che dragon; and the dragon warred and
his angels; and they prevailed not,
neither was their place found any more
In heaven. And the great dragon was
cast down, the old serpent, he that ia
called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver
Of the whole world !. he was cast down to
the earth, and his angels were cast down
with him." There was war in heaven,
and there is war upon earth. 1t Ia the
same old conflict Of the ages. But Christ
has power to overcome all His enemies,
and he will at last reign supreme over
all things ON earth az in heaven. And
He it is, ''called Faithful and True,'
who judges the world In Righteousness,
and He it is who makes war whenever
the moral and spiritual progress and vel
fare Of the world demand the sacrifice
OF eiood and treasure to vindieate the
truth and His Holy love. The white
horse is the symbol of purity and power,
without which there. can be no real vic.
tory and no lasting peace. The Son OF
God is the worlds Conqueror. The
Soldier OF the Cross Ia the divine ideal OF
the perfect manhood.
We are living in the midst Of events OF
world wide interest and significance
Christian soldiers are literally fighting
and giving their lives to redeem their
enemies from ignorance, oppression and
degradation, that they may give them
the highest privileges Of the most en-
Heightened nations Of Christendom. It is
a sacrifice in the name of God for the
good of the sin-cursed world.
The GROWING event OF our century Ia
che Peace Conference OF the Christian
nations. Great standing armies which
have seemed to threaten wars, but per-
maps have really been the reserve power
OF peace, are waiting with deepest inter-
est the conclusion OF this most remarka-
BILE meeting. Let as hope and pray, with
all our hearts, that the time IL near at
band when the vision of the prophet
shall be fulfilled: .And he ahall Judge
between the nations, and shall reprove
many peoples; and they shall beat their
sWords into plowshares, and their spears
Into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift
up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more" lisa. 2:4).
-. - = . - "a.
s s.s,. =. 1',a " 2..s ...!: s's