Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-02-06

pet In the right hand. The lamp light
ed can be used as the symbol Of gospel
faith, as revealed In Gods word. The
trumpet can be used as the symbol OF
the voice Of q Christian church protest
ing against a world STEPPED In sin.
Plenty Of room in every Christian
church for all repentant sinners saved
by Christs blood, but no room for any
man who will not accept the sacrifcial
blood of Jesus Christ and who VIII not
protest against sin, wherever found.
The Christian church must be q unit
in its Calvary belief, and it must be
unit IN its protest against sin.
AS in every other army, the Christian
army must have a countersign. When
I belonged to the United States army
during the spanish-American war,
there were certain times / could not
pass In or out of the camp without
giving the countersign. SO we hnd
that all the Christian churches have
counterslgn. That eountersign Is one
word of Ave letters, and that one word
Is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Jesus,
who is our Saviour; Jesus. who lived
and died and rose again to redeem the
world and to save his people from
their sins.
He Brave For the Right.
The church army must be a har-
monious army and show a brave front.
There is sure to be to q more or less
extent cowardice lurking In the hearts
of us all. IL one Christian soldier Is
allowed, using a common phrase, 10
show the white feather" he Will be
very apt 10 demoralize ell the ranks.
"Whatw you say. Every man 10
more or less extent a coward" YES
my friend. We all have a cowardly
streak within us. We must therefore
be very careful how we let a faint
hearted Christian soldier influence US TO
turn and run.
IL you do not believe that all men
may become outward towards. read the
memoirs of one OF our greatest gener-
ais. than whom no braver man ever
lived. Yet he tells us that when he
went into battle the first time he trem-
bled like an aspen leaf shaken In the
wind. he was so scared that he would
have turned and fed but for the fact
that be was afraid his regiment would
run away with him. Then, much to
his surprise, when he came to where
the enemy had been encamped he found
that they had been even more frighten-
ed than himself. During the previous
night, without striking q blow, the en-
envy had turned and fed. Yes, there is
n cowardly streak In all Of us. There
fore. Christian soldiers, do not go pub
fishing around your fears. Do not
criticise your minister in public, be-
cause you may start others criticising
him. Do not talk about your anxieues
lest the church audiences should not
keep up. Do not exaggerate the re-
suits of your foolish imaginations. Do
not, In other words. give free rein to
your gospel cowardice. II you do you
NAV unkennel and unleash the coward
ly disposition in US all. II you ever
wish to be blessing as church mem
Der, only sound forth the inspiring
words oe aopes God knows there are
enough and too many who are always
ready to sit around in the dark church
corners and croak the miserable, whin-
ing. grating words Of despair.
Strength In Unity.
Lastly, I remark that church mem
bership should be a united and har-
monious and compact army. One traitor
in the camp can do infinitely more dam
age than FIVE hundred enemies without.
Benedict Arnold, after he had fed into
the British ranks, was not to be feared.
But had Major Andre, his messenger,
gone safely through to New York city,
and had he, Arnold, been allowed to
command West Point one week longer,
all hopes Of American liberty would
have been destroyed. Julius Cesar
could conquer nations, but Julius Caesar
could not defend himself against a
traitors dagger. what! Thou, too,
Brutus?" tells the whole story Of the
infinite mischief a traitor may be able
to do.
1t is Of vast Importance that the
preservation of the sacred honor Of the
Christian church be intrusted to those
who are truly her friends. Therefore,
my fellow church members never try
to placate q church enemy by electing
any man to position Of trust unless
he be prayerful man and unless deep
down in his Christlike heart he fully
realizes the solemnity Of his trust
| Never elect any man to a position In
church unless that man is first ready tc
put all bitterness out Of his heart and
TO get down on his knees and earnestly
and tenderly say: 20 Lord, my God
teach me to love my fellow church
members. Teach me to be an under
shepherd to them, as thou art ready tC
guide me. Teach me, o Master, te
say, I forgive as I would have thee
say unto me, I forgive thee also, my
| child" No man in church life Is fit
ted to be leader Of men until he him
self is first ready to be cleansed OF sin
Better smaller church; better thret
hundred loyal Gideonites than thirty
two thousand men who are not ready to
let Christ lead them as he would
The Loyal Few.
But l cannot close my study OF this
mighty theme of the church as a con,
quering army without telling you, my
people, the object L. have In view
First, want to kindle to holy zeal the
scores and hundreds and thousands oil
churches ali over the land which have
been for years torn ana rent asundei
with Internal strife. Pastors are dis
couraged. people are al discouraged
Christian communities are discouraged
about theman rOh,Y these people say
I'VE are only a little handful. W.
have dwindled down and down unit