The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-05-28

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heart to a realization that this
is a hard battle and it takes real
fighting to conquer. IF the
righteous scarcely be saved,
where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear?" Our corrupt
nature is food for temptation, as
fat is food for flame. We are
ready to be set on by the fires
of hell. Under such conditions it
takes every ounce of Christian
virtue to conquer in this great
fight.
How often have good men been
fighting on the bad side. How
often has the trumpet summoned
from its distant home and peace
full occupation, those who had no
quarrel to settle, nor wrong of
which to complain, to the work
of blood slaughter; to destroy
each others lives and to mangle
each others bodies, until they
would be in such a horrible
condition that a dear mother
would not know her son. In war
both sides cannot be right Some
one is wrong, someone is going
to be judged as a murderer, the
guild being laid at the right door.
No war is justified, that is waged
between man and man. But as
soldiers of the cross, we have
an immense advantage, that our
cause is Just, and noble, and holy
and good. The Christian battle is
good fight" Our enemies are
not our kindred, bone of our
bone, and flesh of our flesh;
they are enemies of God and
Christ and light and peace;
tyrants that would bind us in
chains worse than iron, and burn
not our houses but our souls in
hell forever. His men are wait
ing to be addressed ere the FIGHT
began. Erect in his saddle with
his gray hair streaming in the
wind, he stretched out his arm
and pointed to the foe in front
and said, ''There are the enemv:
if YOU do not kill them, they will
kill YOU" So with us. if we do
not destroy sin, it will destroy
us.
This fight is not only a good
FIGHT but here victory is inter
mingled with 10y. 1t is not so in
other fights. The laurels that are
worn, are steeped in tears: when
the cannons roar, and bells rino
out victory, and shoutino
crowds throng the stress: and
Examinations turn nioht into dav
Dark is MANY a home where
broken hearted parents and
lonely ones weep for the hrave
who shall never return. Tha"n
are thornS in victOrv's prOudest
crown.
Thank God. our iov over sin
slain. bad passion subdued. Sat-
an defeated has to suffer no
Snch abatementS. Heaven, that
7 can fancy, hidino its ewes from
other battles watches the fortunes
of this with keenest interest,
angels rejoice in our success: nor
are anv tears shed here but such
as poured from the fathers ewes
when kissing the returned p"o-
digal. and foldino him in he
happy embrace. he cried. Let
uS eat and be merry: for the son
that was dead and is alive again.
he was lost and is found"
NV kind friend, YOU that arc
not a soldier in the ranks of
battle. would like to enliet Won
as soldier of the cross. This ie
4 good fight: one that is can
tained hv Jesus. with arms in
the whole armnr Of God: and nc
they shine in the beams of the
S,n Of righteousness. thew mako
Satan trnmh'e: what a hnlmnt
for the head. what 2 shield in
faith. what breast plate in rioht.
| co'lenesS that protects the helinv-
nr'S heart: what sword is that
| Snirit the word Of Cod: what a
oirdle for The body in truth
| what shoes for the feet: and last
| Of al what a crown for the VIC
tori Gear not him who is ahln
70 DESTROY the BODY, hut rafhnr
fnar him who is able 10 daetrov
both hodv and Soul in holl The
IS = fioht for vour enul' it is =
battle for heaven. Break awau
from vour sins inst the ranks Of
tho armv Of Cod, throw YOUR
self into thie battle.
| No doubt II is y hard FIGHT. 7
do not DISGUISE that How can il
be eaSv for man tn overcome
this world and cruelty his own
flesh: h1t # that is hard II &c
harder still to suffer the pains
Of lost Sonl 10 lie down in eyer
LASTING hurninoS. Oh. surely. nv,
| friend it is batter To lose a hand
than have the whole body burn
better to part with some darino
sin than part with .TeSns. Vow
have no choice. The crowns arc
for the saints. not sinners. How
can you conquer unless you
Listen to the words of him who
SAID. Take IN YOUR cross and
follow me-" ''To him that over
cometh I will give to eat of tho
tree of life. which is in the midst
of the paradise of God" Gle that
overcometh shall not be hurt of
the second death" He that over
cometh the same shall be clothed
in white raiment: and I will not
blot out his name in the Book of
life but I will confess his name
before my Father and before his
angels" And still HIGHER honors
ITO him that overcometh, will 7
Grant to sit with me on my
throne"