Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-01-14

|
%i help. Even so.
good soldier OF
Jesus Christ win
take his place in
the church. There
he can work most
| ~ effectively; there
.--sss$S3 &aas.ssSSS% SSS%SS$ he win have the
help of OF b er
Christians; but, above all. there dwells
his lord and master, whose constant
prayer is, Father, will that they also
whom thou hast given me be with me
where am, that they may behold my
glory"
Nor does the good soldier stop to
inquire whether all the members are
congenial or faithful. If every mem
Der but himself were unfaithful, it
would still be his duty and privilege
to join the church because Christ is
there
Should soldier refuse to put on
the uniform his sincerity would be
questioned. The follower of Jesus
Christ who refuses to join the church
is justly liable to the same suspicion.
Moreover, he damages the very cause
which he desires to help, for an out
slider who ought to be in the church
brings as much reproach upon the
cause as an insider who ought to be
out.
II. A Good Soldier viii Not Entan-
gle Himself With Outside Matters
What would you think of & soldier, who
should report for duty bringing with
him dog and fishing rod and bi.
cycle? He would doubtless be told
that while these things were well
enough in their place, he was expected
to fight and not to amuse himself
1t is said that a soldier who enlisted
In the Civil war took along his kit of
watchmaker's tool and while they
were in camp he did considerable busi-
ness. But one day when the order
came to strike tents and prepare for
battle, he looked around his tent in
dismay and exclaimed, why, | can't
possibly go, for have twelve watches
to repair which l have promised by
Saturday night
That man had forgotten what he en-
listed for. In like manner there are
Christians who entangle themselves
/ with worldly companions and question
able amusements to such an extent as
to greatly hinder< their usefulness and
! influence.
III. A Good Soldier Obeys Orders
He simply goes where he is sent and
| does what he is told to do. Seldom
does he know the full intent of even
! his own movements Like the brave
band which Tennyson has made i'm
mortal:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
! Theirs but to do and die
/ Gallant six hundred.
So the good soldier of Jesus Christ
will obey orders Enlistment means
entire surrender, and henceforth the
great question of life is, Lord. what
wilt thou have me to do?" Nor will he
argue the question of duty, but invari-
ably give his master the benefit of the
doubt. 1t is to be feared that some
disciples have not reached this point
If a thing is not absolutely forbidden,
they think that they can indulge in it.
What is the harm?" is continually
on their lips What is the good"
would be far better. but What would
Jesus do?" is better still.
Said Mary Lyon, the founder of
Holyoke college. THE only thing
live in fear of, is that may not find
out and do the will of God" He who
has that spirit will not only obey God s
will when he knows it, but he will
take great pains to ascertain it. He
will take Joshua's marching orders for
his own, This book of the law shall
not depart out of thy mouth, but thou
shalt mediate therein day and night.
w. A Good Soldier Will Endure
Hardship.-He expects it. Sleepless
nights and weary days, forced marches
and scanty fare, probable sickness and
possible death-these are what he
looks forward to; but if these are the
price of liberty he is willing to pay it.
When Garibaldi was going out to bat
tie he told his troops what he wanted
them to do. They said:
General, what are you going to give
US for all this?"
'I don't know what else you will
get; but you are sure to get hunger
and cold and wounds and death. How
do you like it?'
His men stood for moment in 81.
lence then they cried, I'VE are the
men, we are the men" That is the
spirit of the true soldier, and how
common it is. thank God!
When the first Napoleon was in his
glory, he had what he called his Old
Guard, a body of tried veterans, picked
men from the whole army. He always
held them in reserve; but when dan
ger was imminent he would ride along
the line and say, Soldiers of the Old
Guard, the liberties of France are in
your hands. You have never failed her
yet and l know you will not now. Sol
diers of the Old Guard, forward
march," Instantly from the whole
battalion would come the cry, ''Vive
Napoleon! Vive la France!" and with
one wild hurrah they would follow him
into the thickest of the fight to the
cannon's mouth, anywhere, and always
to victory-always but once.
Soldiers of Jesus Christ. your mas
ter needs an Old Guard in every
church, little company of tried mer
and women upon whom he can always
rely, workers who will not shirk no,
complain, who are willing to do their
own share, and more, too, if necessary
Who will join the Old Guard?