Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-11-14


ming triumphs for your Divine Master
and King? IL your name today upon
the honor roll of those Christian sol.
diers who have come through great
tribulation and have had their robes
washed I'M the blood of the LAMB
The Legend Of the Tree.
Or. ~ d. Hills in one Of his books
tells this beautiful legend: Many years
ago king and his people heard OF n
wonderful region in the far east to
which they longed to 20 and in which
they wished to settle. They decided to
pull down their tents and gather their
nocks and herds together and emigrate.
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
suaded 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
IRE. 1t was a heavy tree TO HIT. but
the young man shouldcred It. Day aft
er day the emlgrants journeyed on.
Because the tree was so heavy the
youth Mt first had to fall behind, and
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 1t was
! found that his comrades In the en-
campmcnt 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 mountains, for this magic tree
| put forth clusters Of richest fruits to
! qucnch 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 car.
I ried the heaviest load Then said the
king and his people, Blessed Is he who
hungers for the hardest tasks" SO
/ God places all his Christian soldiers in
! the line of gospel battle. The mon
who are willing TO make the grca test
]
! deeds for their Divine Commander are
the Christian soldiers who grow the
strongest and are the happiest in his
dear service. Where are your scars,
! O Christian soldiers? 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 allow the conflict of life to
wage ticrccly about us, though he may
| let the blows of the enemy strike
heavy and deep and often fetch the
| hearts blood, vet 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 chasteneth
and scourGeth every one whom he re.
ceiveth." That is the one rule of serv-
ice. That IS the divine law which af-
firms 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
that ye are able but will with the
temptation also make way to escape
that We may lie able to bear it." That
means in plain English when the strus-
giles Of life become so great that yon
I cannot bear them m your own strength
then God will send forward his divine
reserves and his rear guard to Succor
you and bring victory where defeat
IS threatening YOU on every side. Could
there be any better or more inspiring
and consolatory word? For yc shall
not go out with hast" nor by digit.
for the Lord will 20 beforc you. and
the God of Israel will be your rere-
ward
The Line of Battle.
Here is a picture o. he line of bat
tie. Yonder are the ;Wu tanks Of he
army, thoroughly utienchCd and pro.
tected from the line Of fire Here is
the center of the army made up Of
men with stern faces fighting for their
lives Again and again the enemy
charges. The brigade and the division
commanders become frightened, Away
their S!uu olllCelS sdIlop 10 htau
quarters, begging aud hcSeechins for
re endorsements we must have more
troops or we are lost" is the cry. but
the far seeing eye of the commander
in chief sweeps the field with his glass
| and answers mot yet, The rear guard
must he held in leash TOR awhile. Not
yet. Go back to your generals and tell
them to hold their positions little
longer" Still the battle RACES. But
just as the enemy have concentrated
their fires and moved forward on Il
grand charge, then the commander
says: "Order up the rear guard. This
is the psychological moment Now let
the great forward movement be
made" Then the reserve force, like
a great avalanche. sweeps on, and the
charging force Is halted. Then the
enemy IS driven back. Then the
charge is turned into "A rout and a fly
ing mob. SO it is with the Divine
Commander. He lets US struggle on
and on. He let's US struggle until all
seems lost. Then With Il mighty clar-
ion call he moves up his reserve force
and turns our impending defeat into
a glorious victory, for the God OF
Israel shall be your rereward." O.,