The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-07

them. as thou art ready to guide me. Teach me, O Master, to say, forgive, as I would have thee say unto me, I for give thee also my child. No man in church life is fitted to be a leader of men until he himself is first ready to be eleansed of sin. Better a smaller church; better three hundred loyal Gideonites than thirty-two thousand men who are not ready to let Christ lead them as he would.
 The Loyal Few.
 But I cannot close my study of this mighty theme of the church as con- quering army without telling you, my people. the object I have in view. First, I want to kindle to holy zeal the scores and hundreds and thousands of churches all over the land which have been for years torn and rent asunder with inter nal strife. Pastors are discoura ged, peo- pie are discouraged. Christian communi- ties are discouraged about them. "Oh," these people say, we are only a little handful We have dwindled down and down until there is hardly any member ship left. What are we to do?' Why, ye discouraged churches, by the grace of God ye can do everything. God has been sitting your membership until the best is left You are now a Gideon's band. United and welded together by trouble you can accomplish wonders. It was not by great numbers that Gideon won. but by the loyalty of a few.
 My second purpose in this sermon is to show you that these conquerors over the Midianitsh hosts were ordinary men. Who were they? We don't know. They were selected at random. Some came perhaps from wealthy homes; some came from the homes of poverty. They were o1I al 1.x, Io Tapped up the water when they drank of the famous brook. So God is going to judge availability to be among his chosen followers by the way we are ready to do. in his name, the little things of life. He will judge whether we are fitted for membership in the Gideonite band by the way we smile a good morn ing; by the way we help upon the car poor woman with her basket; by our willingness to sit by humble sickbed; by the way we lead in prayer in the house of trouble and by the way we for give.
 Under christ's Banner.
 The third purpose: I would show that these three hunderd immortal Gideonite conquerors were all volunteers. Christ's disciples must be volunteers, not con- scripts. One of the most horrible pie lures ever painted was that by M Clair Tn, called the "Conscripts.' It shows an African scene where hundreds of young men are manacled in chains and are being forcibly compelled to enter the sul- tan's army. As convicts they are being driven away to almost certain death But Christs army like that of Gideon has in 1t no conscripts. The Christian soldier of the church must be Q volunteer. Will you enlist under Christs banner? Will you go forth in the name of the church, a united band to march against the Sa- tanic hosts? Will you go forth har- monious company of Christians ready to battle in Christ's name? Will you not realize that all your past trials, whether in church or out of 1t. have been only a means used to fit you for ultimate gos- pei triumph? Will you become a mem- Der of Gideons band?
 Many foe is a friend in disguise
 Many sorrow a blessing most true Helping your heart to be happy and wise, With faith ever precious and love ever
 new. ifa.f,.i
 Stand in the van;
 Strive like n man:
 This Is the bravest, the cleverest plan Trusting In Christ, will you do what you
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