Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-11-15
CaGnoaoG
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmase, ID. ID.

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., II. 1.-THE
God OF Israel will be your rereward."
An old officer said to me some time
ago: Though the details of fighting
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 Skin
mishers. These sharpshoOters are scat
tered abroad about 800 yards in front
of the main body of men. These are
the men who spy out the land and re-
ceive the first attack and give the main
troops time to prepare FOR action. Then
comes the main line of battle. Shout
der to shoulder the soldiers are formed,
sometimes in one rank, sometimes in
two and even three ranks deep. This
line stretches away, with Its right and
left TANKS firmly intrenched. Then
back 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?' asked. WELL" answered the
old soldier. "the general in command,
with his field glass. takes his position
far to the rear on some eminence over.
looking the entire army. There he
watches the mobillzing Of the enemy.
n NNh hn OF 10 he.
made. Then when the crash comes
and the charging troops are hurled
against any one part of his lines and
that part threatens to give way the
commanding general sends forward
his reserve force. Then the wavering
troops are. steadied and the battle goes
on, until at last the victory is won by
one side or the other"
Well" | answered 'the main pur-
pose OF this rear guard or reserve
force is to keep large part of the
troops back OF the main line OF battle
TO reinforce any part of that line
WHICH is being overwhelmed by too
great an attacking force?' "Just that
and nothing else" my old friend said.
ut is absolutely imperative for a line
OF battle to be kept straight. II one
part Is defeated ali will be defeated
Thus, In order to help the wavering
troops of one part of his line, the COM
manding general keeps some of his
best soldiers by his side in n reserve
force 10 send them forth to succor
those who are being worsted In the
ceaffict." "Ah," answered, this is the
first time I have ever had q clear con-
Of .haN srl,
familiar passage" In the fifty second
chapter he exhorts the church TO go
forth and do the work God has given
her to DO. and he encouraged her With
the promise. For We shall not so out
with haste nor by flight. for the Lord
VIII so before you, and the God of
Israel will be your rereward." That
means the Lord God Almighty Will be
reserve force for his people in the
hard struggle of life. Now 1 want to
show you how God manipulates his
rear guard so as TO help us in our fight
against sin and In our battles for the
redemption of the world.
l realize In the first place that II
would be useless to have a rear guard
for an army unless at the same time
YOU have commanding general who
is in absolute control of all the diff
ferent parts of the army. That gen.
eral must ret only be In supreme COM
mand, bat he must be able to detail
every individual soldier of every body
Of troops to just the position he would
have him take upon the battlefield AS
the chess player can move forward his
queen and knights and pawns, In order
to overthrow the stronghold OF his an
tagonist, so the commanding general
must have absolute control Of all the
army or else there is no practical use
for rear guard. And it is the general
who has the most perfect control OF
all his troops who can make the most
effective use OF his rear guard
Use of a Rear Guard.
Perhaps you have seen that wonder
fnl picture OF Napoleon at Austerlitz.
There he is upon the hillside, seated
upon his famous white horse, overlook
ing the field of battle. He is surround
ed by his staff. The field glass is in his
hands. The orderlies are galloping ev-
erywhither. or in the distance you
can see the smoke OF carnage. You
can almost hear the shouts of triumph
aud the groans of the dying. Yet you
focus your study not so much upon the
battlefield as on the flashing eye OF
the emperor, for you know that every
part or that line of battle has been Or
dered by him. You know that this one
military chieftain can speak q word
and his troops move in strict obedi-
ence to his will. Now, the application
or this fact is this: Upon the great
battlefield OF life can God. as the Di.
vine Commander. be sure that we shall
be and do exactly as he pleases? Can
he say unto us, 60" aud we 90:
stop" and we stop; do this" and
we do 1t? There is no use of a rear
guard for our succOr unless we are in
the place where the Divine Command
er has wiled, You know what that
position Is. You know deep down in
yonr heart what Cod wants you to- do.
Brother, are You obeying his will? The
question is not as to the situation and
work or other men, but are You will
Ing In Gods sight to stand In tie posi-
ton he has appointed for your.
But there is another fact which forces
itself upon me. God not only details
IS to certain positions in the line OF
battle. but he expects Rs< to bear our
part well in the heat az the struggle
aud he ready to suffer with fortitude
In the conflict. He, does not send us
forth as Christian soldiers for a dress
parade. He does not want us to while