Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1907-11-16
Caln1age
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaee. ID. ID.

-
Los Angeles, Cal, Nov. 10.-ln this
sermon we learn the great and inspir-
ing spiritual truth that divine re-en-
forcement comes to all who In the
crisis of life place their trust In God
and do their duty cheerfully and faith
fully. The text is Isaiah Ill, y, The
God-of Israel will be your rereward."
An old officer said to me some time
ago: 'Though the details of hghting
may change. yet, after all, the great
formations of battle lines from time
immemorial have been practically the
same. The battles Of the civil war
were specimens of this formation.
First comes the forward line OF sklr-
mishers. These sharpshooters are scat
tered abroad about 3C0 yards in front
of the main body Of men. These are
the men who spy out the land and re-
ceiye the first attack and give the main
troops time to prepare for action. Then
comes the main line Of battle. Shoul-
der TO shoulder the soldiers are formed,
sometimes in one rank, sometimes III
two and even three ranks deep. THIS
line stretches away, with It's right ana
left tanks firmly lntrenched. linen
hack of the main line of battle is what
we old soldiers used to call the reserve
force"
"What is the purpose Of that reserve
force?" I asked. "Well," answered the
old soldier. 1.-THE general in command
with his field glass. takes his position
far TO the rear on some eminence over
looking the entire army. There ne
watches the mobilizing of the enemy
He sees where the attacks are 10 pe
made Then when the crash comes
and the charging troops are hurieu
against any one part of his lines ana
that part threatens to give way tne
commanding general sends forward
his reserve force. Then the waVerihe
troons are steadied and the battle goes
on until at last the victory Is won Oy
one side or the other"
"Weu." answered, 1.-The main pur'
nose of this rear guard or reserve
force is to keep a large part OF Tue
troops back OF the main line OF patu'
TO re-enforce any part OF that iin'
which is being overwhelmed by to'
greot an attacking force" Just tina
and nothing else," my old friend SAID
"It Is absolutely imperative for fh'
Of battle to be kept straight. II on'
mart is defeated all will be defeated
Thns. in order to help the waverini
troops of one part of his line, the com
monding general keeps some OF III
hest soldiers by his side in reserve
, force TO send them forth to succo
: those who are being worsted IN III
conflict" "Ah." answered. "thls IS I'll
first time | have ever had clear col
ception of what Isaiah meant IN
familiar passage In the hity-secon
chonter he exhorts the church 10 g
forth and do the work God has give
; her TO do. and he encouraged her VIII
the promise. For ye shall not go ou
with haste nor by fight, for the Lor
. will 90 before you. and the God q
Israel will be your rereward. I'd
meous the Lord God Almighty VIII o
! reserve force for his people in tn
r hard struggle of life. Now | want
show you how God manipulates n
b. rear guard so as to help us in our nsl
:. against sin and in our battles TOT u
|. redemption Of the world.
!. realize i'm the first place that
' ,yould he useless to have rear guar
for AN army unless mt the same @tlil
Won have a commanding general WI
}, is I'm absolute control OF all the u'
ferent parts of the army. mat ge
r. eral must not only be in supreme col
s mond but he. must be able to deta
;. evnrv ird,yilual soldier Of every boo
If Of troops to just the position he won
e have him take upon the battlefield.
+ the chess player can move forward u
'e queen and knights and pawns, III ora
to overthrow the stronghold or MS Il
fagouisf. so the commanding gener
must have absolute control OF all Z
army or else there is no practical u
for rear gard And 1t is the gehef
le who has the most perfect control
ri all his troops who can make the me
le effective use Of his rear guard.
ii Use of a Rear Guard.
pcrhaps YOU have seen that Wond
#. ful picture of Napoleon at Austerii
There he is upon the hillside, seat
. upon his famous white horse, oyerlo'
ing the field of battle. He is surroul
in cd bv his staff. The field glass is III
ct hands. The orderlies are galloping
erywhither. Of in the distance J
re can see the smoke OF carnage. L
ry can almost hear the shouts OF trium
ve and the groans of the dying Yet
Ao focus YOUR study not so much upon
NJ battlefield as on the flashing eye
Mt the emperor. for you know that ey'
it. part Of that line Of battle has been
lis dered by him. You know that this
% military chieftain can speak W.
er and his troops move in strict oDe
- y, ence to his will. Now, the applicat
~ at Of this fact is this: Upon the gr
so battlefield of life can God, as the
lrt vine Commander. be sure that we 81
sst be and do exactly as he pleases!
he say unto US, Go" and we
Ar.s-.
stop" and we stop; DO this"
we do it? There is no use OF a
guard FOR our succor unless we are
the place where the Divine Comma
er has willed You know what |
position is. You know deep down
your heart what God wants you to
Brother. are you obeying his WIFI
question is not as to the situation
work of other men. but are you
ing in Gods sight to stand In the 2
ton he has appointed for your
But there is another fact which 10
= fself upon me. God not only del
is to certain positions in the iine