The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-27
= soLD1Et,s TRAINING.
Selected for The Times.

(SeIected for The TimeS)
..speak the Word only."-St. Matt.
viii, s.
Who is this speaker-this man of fa1th
He was not Jew, though living IN
.Ju1ea He was Roman, and born
heather. He was also a centurion Ia cap
tain in the army-one who had risen from
the ranks by good service ana sooo
conduct
Before he got his fne-stock, which was
the sign of his authority, over hundred
men. he had marched many weary mlie
under a heavy load-fought, probably
MANY a bloody battle in foreign lands.
That had been his education ana ms
training-disciplne and hard Work-and
now, because he had learned to obey, ne
was fit to rule. He was stationed with
his company at Capernaum to Keep IN
order the unruly Jews.
Whether the Romans had any right to
conquer and keep down the Jews as they
did, is quite another question. But we
have proof that what this centurion dld'
he did wisely and kindly. The elders OIL
the Jews said that he loved the Jews; mad
built them a synagogue or church l sup
pose that what he had heard from them
about the living God, who made all things
in heaven and earth, and given them a
law, SO that all things obey Him till
this day. suppose, l say, that 'iiis
pleased him better than the Roman
stories of many gods, who were caprlclous
and fretful. and who quarrelled with each
other in fashion which ought 10 nave
been. shocking to the conscience anu
reason of disciplined soldier.
There was great DEAL besides, in the
Old Testament which would come home
to a soldiers heart when he heard OF
God of law and order, and justice and
might What was it which had made
him-a poor, common soldier-an officer
governing by his little garrison of hun
dred men this town of Capernaum and
the country around?
1T was this: Discipline, drill and obedi-
ence to authority. The Roman army was
the most admirably disciplined which the
world (till them had ever seen. So, in
deed was the whole Roman Government.
Every man knew his place, and knew his
work Every man had been trained to
obey orders If he was told to go, to go;
if he was told to do, to door to die in
the attempt.
This was the great thought which had
filled this good mans mind-duty, order
obedience. And by thinking of ORDER and
seeing how strength and safety and sue
cess lie in order, and by giving up himself
to obey orders, body and soul, had that
plain man (who certainly had no scholar
ship-perhaps could barely read or write)
caught sight of higher, wider, deeper
order than ever that of the Roman army.
OF that divine and wonderful order by
which God has constituted the service of
men and angels, and all created things
sun and stars, fire and hail, wind, vapor,
cattle and creeping things, to fulfill His
Word
Fulfill Gods Word. That was the
thought surely, which was in this good
soldiers mind, which he here speaks out
I suppose that he thought somewhat in
this way: There is a word of command
amongst us soldiers, and that word of
command is enough. I speak, and I am
obeyed. Shall not God speak and be
obeyed likewise? A word from me will
make men rush upon certain death. A
word from certain other men will make
me rush to death, for am a man under
authority. 1 have my tribune Colonel, as
we should say over me, and he again the
perfect general of the brigade) over him.
Their word is enough for me. If they
want me to do thing, they do not need
| to come under my roof, to argue with
me, to persuade me, much less to thrust
me about and compel me to obey them
| by force. They say to me go and go;
and I say to those under me go and they
go, likewise.
| If / can work by a word, cannot this
Jesus do the same? Is he not a messenger
| from God? Nay, is he not a God himself,
| a God in goodness, mercy? If my word
| word bring a man back to life? Surely
! it can! Lord, thou modest not to come
under my roof. Speak the word only, and
my servant shall be healed.
| By some such thoughts as these had
| this good soldier gained his great faith
| For remember, he is the first heather
| man, of whom we read that he acknowl-
| edged Christ. And the next was the
! Centurian at the Cross, who cried, "Truly
| this was the Son of Cod and the next
| heather who came to Christ, was the
| Centurian at Joppa.
| Surely some truth is taught us here,
| and this is the lesson we learn from it,
F.. The soldier-like habit is one which makes
| a man ready to receive the truth of the
| Gospel And why? Because, to the true
| soldier the first and last thought is
! duty To do his duty by those who are
| set over him, to learn to do his duty to
| those who are under him. To turn his
! whole mind and soul to doing-not that
he fancies, or that is pleasant-but to
| what must be done, because it his duty.
! This is the character which makes a
| good soldier and a good Christian also.
For if you will receive it, the begin