Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-02-04

trumpet can he used as the symbol OF
the voice of n Christian church protest
Ing against world STEPPED in sin
Plenty of room in every Christian
church for nil repcntnnt sinners saved
by Christ's blood, but no room for any
man who will not accept the sacrificla
blood of Jesus Christ and who will no
protest against sin, wherever found
The Christian church must be uni
In its Calvary belief, and it must be {
unit in its protest against sin.
AS In every other army. the Christian
| army must have countcrsgn. Whpr
| belonged to the United States army
during the Spanish American war
there were certain times | could moi
pass in or out Of the camp without
giving the cOuntersign. SO We fint
that all the Christian churches have {
countersign. That countersign is one
word of five letters. and that one wore
Is Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Jesus
who Is our Saviour: Jesus, who lived
and died and rose again to redeem tho
world and to save his people from
their sins.
he Brave For TIE Right.
The church army must be a har
moniolls army and show Il brave front
There Is sure to be to more or less
extent cowardicc lurking in the hearts
of us all. If one Christian soldier is
allowed, using a common phrase, &c
show the white feather" he will bc
very apt to deinoralize all the ranks
"Whatw you say. Every man to a
more or less extent n cowardf' Yes
my friend. We all have n cowardiy
streak within us. We must therefore
be very careful how we let faint
hearted Christian soldier influence US tc
turn and run.
If YOU do not believe that all men
may become outward towards. read the
memoirs of one of our greatest gener-
ais. than wTnm no Drawer man ever
lived. Yet he tells us that when he
went into battle the first time he tren
blcd like an aspen leaf shaken in tho
wind. He was so scared that he would
have turned and fed but for the fact
that he was afraid his regiment would
run away with him. Then, much &c
his surprise. when he came to where
the enemy had been cncamped he found
that they had been even more frightcn.
ed than himself. During the previous
night. without striking a blow, the en-
envy had turned and fed. Yes. there is
a COWardly streak in all of lis. 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 criticisina
him. DO not talk about your anXietics
lest the church audiences should not
keep up. DO not eXaggerate the re-.
suits of your foolish ina ginations. DC
not. in other words, give free rein &c
your gospel cowardice. If YOU do you
may unkennel and unleash the coward.
~ disposition in us all. If you ever
wish to be q blessing as n church mem.
Der, only sound forth the inspiring
words of hope. God knows there are
enough and too many who are alwayi
ready to sit around in the dark church
corners and croak the miserable, whin.
Ing, grating words of despair
Strength In Unity.
LASTLY. | 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 fled into
the British ranks. was not to be feared
But had Major Andre. his messenger
gone safely through to New York city
aud had he, Arnold. been allowed to
command West Point one week longer,
all hopes of American liberty would
have been destroyed. julius CHsar
could conquer nations but Julius Caesar
could not dcfcnd himself against a
traitors dagger What, Thou, too
Brutus:' tells the whole story of the
Infinite mischief 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 a church enemy by electng
any man 10 Il position of trust unless
he he praycrful man and unless deep
down in his Christlke heart he fully
realizes the solcmnity of his trust.
Never elect any man TO position in
church unless that man is first ready to
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 to
guide me. Teach me, o Master. to
say. 4 forgive, rs would have thee
say unto Inc, 4 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 II 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 l cannot close my study Of this
mighty theme Of the church as Il con.
quering army without telling YOU. my
people. the object | have in view.
First, ! want to kindlc 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 internal strife. Pastors are dis.
Outraged, people are DISCOURAGED,
Christian communities are a scollr;l god