Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-11-15

an easy time and not suffer i'm the
strife of n bloody battlefield? What
commanding general ever placed his
soldiers in line Of battle unless he in
tended them to fight?
l@aneOe.,'s Action.
Furthermore. does he rot place his
strongest ana bravcst soldiers in the
most dangerous places? a regiment
may be 4 small part Of the army en-
gagged. yet the result of the whole bat
tie may turn on the way il acts in
crisis. AS Hancock shouted to his men
Is he rode along the lines at Gettys-
burg when Dicketts valorous columns
came surging upon them, Men, stand
fast; hold the lines; the safety of the
whole army depends upon It; you
must hold the lines" so the Divine
Commander details US to positions IN
the line Of battle where the onslaught
may be directed He says: Take the
stand there. Fight there! Bleed therei
If necessary, die there! Thou art a
Christian soldier, and Christian war
fare Is a time for unlimited sacrifice"
My friend, lf you are not today In a
line Of gospel battle. If you are not
today suffering for Christ's sake. then
one fact is self evident-you are not
doing the work God has given you to
do. Oh, Christian warrior, where are
your scars? Where are the marks of
struggle? Where have you been win
ming triumphs for your Divine Master
and King2 Is your name today upon
the honor roll of those Christian sol
diers who have come through great
tribulation and have had their robes
washed in the blood OF the Lamb?
The Legend of the Tree.
DR.. n. D. Hills In one of his books
tells this beautiful legend: Many years
ago king and his people heard of a
wonderful region in the far east to
which they louged to go and in which
they wished to settle. They decided to
pull down their tents and gather their
flocks and herds together and emlgrate.
But. though many things were willing
ly left behind, the king was loath to
leave famous tree on the side of
which were carved the names of his
ancestors and the deeds of his heroic
people. But the tree was heavy TO
carry. and the king was almost per-
spaded to leave 1t behind. But there
was one youth In his household who
loved the king much and begged the
honor OF transporting the kings treas
ure. 1t was a heavy tree to lift, but
the young man shouldered it. Day att
er day the emigrants journeyed on.
Because the tree was so heavy the
h01 20 ell Hnl
often 1t was late at night before he
reached the camp. But he learned to
love his task. Then it was found that
each day by carrying his burden the
youth grew stronger. Then it was
found that his comrades In the en-
campment who carried the llghtesi
loads grew weaker. Then 1t was found
that the youth who bore the famous
tree was able to carry 1t easily UT
steep mountains, for this magic tree
put forth clusters OF richest fruits t
quench his thirst. At last when the
pilgrims reached the far country I'm nj
the tribe there was no enc so stron;
and happy as the youth who had car
ried the heaviest load. Then said til,
King and his people. Blessed Is he VIII,
hungers for the hardest tasks" S,
God places all his Christian soldiers ii
the line of gospel battle. The mel
who are willing 10 make the creates
sacrifices and do the most valian
deeds for their Divine Commander ar
the Christian soldiers who grow tn
strongest aud are the haruicst la III
dear service. where nrp vour scars
| a. - fs- III
have You bornc for him in the heat O
the dayI
| But though the Divine Commando
may detail us to the most dangerou
! positions IL the line of battle. thoug
/ ae Way allow the conflict of life {
wage iicrceiy about us. though he ma,
let the blows Of the enemy strik
heavy and deep and often fetch tn
hearts blood. yet he VIII never ALLOW
us to be overwhelmed and defeated |
we trust him and do what he want
us to do and rely on his loving care
Whom the Lord Low eth lie chastenett
and scourgeth every one whom he re
eeiveth." That Is the one rule OF sery
ice. That is the divine law which al
| firms that every true gospel soldie
must bear the scars of battle. Blu
the other assurance IS Just as sure an
| far reaching. God is faithful VIII
VIII not suffer Won to be tempted abov
that We are able. but will with tn
temptation also make n way to escap
that We may he able to bear it." Tha
means in plain English when the strul
| giles OF life become so great that 20
cannot bear item I'm your own strengt
| then God wills send forward his diyin
| reserves and his rear guard to succo
you ana bSblg victory where defea
is threatening you on every side. Coul
| there be auJ better or more inspiring
and conselatory word? "For We shal
not so ont with haste nor by flight
for the Lord will so before you, an,
the God OF Israel will he Your rere
ward
The Line OF Battle.
Here is a Aictnre OF the line of bat
| tie. Yonder are the two tanks of tn
army, thoroughly intrenched and pro
| tected from the line OF fire. Here /
the center Of the army made ND o
men with stern faces fighting for thei
lives. Again and again the enem,
charges. The brigade and the division
commanders become frightened. Ava,
their STAFF officers gallop to head
| quarters, begging and beseeching 70
re-enforcelnents. I'VE must have NOR
troops or we are loStr' is the cry, blu
the far seeing eye of the commando
| in chief sweeps the field with his glass
and answers: Not yet! The rear guart