The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-17


 does not send us forth as Christian sol ders for a dress parade. He does not want us to while away the pleasant sum- mer days in a seaside encampment. He places us upon the line of battle to fight in his name The Christian soldier, like every other good soldier, must struggle and suffer and bear the bangs of hunger and thirst and prove his valor by the honor marks of many wounds. The Christian life is not a time for sport. It Is an opportunity for conflict and for warfare and for attacks and for bleeding wounds and for suffering and agony and for grave trenches And yet to hear some people talk you would never sup pose that Christ spoke with any meaning when he said: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, but a sword' Or in that other passage when he said Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and prosecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you false ly for my names sake" Does that imply that God is expecting his Christian sol diers to have an easy time and not suf- fer in the strife of a bloody battlefield? What commanding general ever placed his soldiers in line of battle unless he in- tended them to fight?
 Hancock's Action.
 Furthermore. does he not place his strongest and bravest soldiers in the most dangerous places? regiment may be a small part of the army engaged, yet the result of the whole battle may turn on the. way it acts in crisis. As Han cock shouted to his men as he rode along the, lines at Gettysburg. when Pickett's 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 there! If necessary. die there! Thou art a Christian soldier and Christian warfare is a time for unlimited sacrifice''
 My friend. if you are not today in a line of gospel battle, if you are not today suf- fering for Christs 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 winning triumphs for your Divine Master and King? Is your name today upon the honor roll of those Christian soldiers who have come through great tribulations and have had their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb?
 The Legend of the Tree.
 Dr. N. D. Hllis, in one of his books, tells this beautiful legend: Many years ago king and his people heard of won derful region in the far east to which they longed to go and in which they wished to settle. They decided to pull down their tents and gather their aocks and herds together and emigrate. But. though many things were willingly left behind the king was loathe to leave a 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 persuaded to leave it behind. Tlttt fv, Ri I,N1A who loved the king much and begged the honor of transporting the kings treas ure It was heavy tree to lift, but the young man shouldered it. Day after day the emigrants journeyed on. Because the tree was so heavy the youth at first had to fall behind. and often it 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 lightest loads grew weaker. Then it was found that the youth who bore the famous tree was able to carry it easily up steep moun- tains, for this magic tree put forth clus- ters of richest fruits to quench his thirst. At last when the pilgrims reached the far country in all the tribe there was no one so strong and happy as the youth who had carried the heaviest load. Then said 'hC hih6 dhd iio pSOpiCs DiCSSCu IS Ht who hungers for the hardest tasks" So God places all His Christian soldiers in the line of gospel battle. The men who are willing to make the greatest sacri- fees and do the most valiant deeds for their Divine Commander are the Chris Ntian soldiers who grow the strongest and are the happiest in His dear service Where are your scars. O Christian sol diers? What burdens have you borne for Him in the heat of the day?
 But though the Divine Commander may detail us to the most dangerous positions in the line of battle. though He may all low the conflict of life to wage fiercely about us. though He may let the blows of the enemy strike heavy and deep and often fetch the hearts blood. yet He will never allow us to be overwhelmed and defeated if we trust Him and do what He wants us to do and rely on His loving care. Whom the Lord loveth He chase eneth, and scourgeth every one whom He receiveth." That is the one rule of service. That is the divine law which affirms that every true gospel soldier must bear the scars of battle. But the other assurance is just as sure and far reaching. God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may he able to bear It. That means in plain English. when the struggles of life be-