soldier who had heard the Psalm read repeated the verse," He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder: he burneth the chariots in the fire." 5thly. But you must expect to meet with some who do not care to walk in God's ways, who make light of and even scoff at religion. Swearing and profane jests are not, indeed, so common in our barracks, as they were a few years since, yet the voice of the blasphemer is unhappily still sometimes heard; and Satan sometimes makes careless and wicked men means of temptation to those who are walking as true Christians. Should you, then, be exposed to scoffs and sneers, "study to be quiet, and to do your own business 5." The soldier who is a man of mild and peaceable disposition, will not show the less courage when necessary. The Bible teaches you to be diligent in your particular calling, even that of a soldier, differing as it does from other worldly occupations. And by this you will stop the mouths of gainsayers and revilers, who cannot but acknowledge that a pious soldier is a pattern to others in respect to his worldly calling also. The soldier of Christ has an inward peace and firmness, which his brother soldier who cares for none of these things has not. To the last named I would earnestly say, "Under whose banner will you serve, the Lord's or 5 1 Thess. iv. 11. 15 side? An Old Officer's Address to Soldiers. Satan's? Who is on the Lord's Choose you this day whom you will serve." May the fervent answer of your heart be the same as his who addressed these words to the hosts of Israel, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord "." There is no middle course; there is but one way. "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." May the Lord give you grace to enlist under the banner of the Cross; to cast off the service of Satan, and to take to yourself the whole armour of God, as it is described by St. Paul, Ephes. vi. 14-18, "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance." May the soldier who reads this tract be led, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to walk humbly with his God, to be in the fear of the Lord all the day long, that "your light may so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". Then you have good reason to hope 6 Josh. xxiv. 15. 7 Matt. v. 16. that your end will be peace, be it on the battlefield or in the hospital, either from wounds or sickness, or quietly sinking under the infirmities of a good old age. HYMN. OFT in danger, oft in wo, Let your drooping hearts be glad; Onward, then, to glory move; More than conqu'rors ye shall prove; Though opposed by many a foe, THE END. GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE, LONDON. |