True religion is certainly calculated to inspire men with courage and is not unbecoming in a soldier. Why, then, should it be imagined that the breastplate he wears necessarily shields him from all serious impressions, or that ;he fact of being a soldier should cause him to be profane, licentious, and to -encase himself in the panoply of infidelity?
I would appeal to the soldier, and ask, Are you not an immortal being; and have you not an immortal soul? And if vicious principles have taken possession of that soul, and you suddenly lose your life before your sins are forgiven, will you not carry them with you into eternity?
Soldier, your business is to die. Remember your ex-posed situation, and your continual liability to death at any period-but especially in actual service: you may be cut off in a moment of time--your every calling is the place of danger; you must face the cannon's mouth, and stand before volley of fire. How necessary, then, for you to be prepared; and by a devotion to God, an enlistment into the army of the Lord Jesus, the Captain-of salvation, furnished with an armor that will make you secure under any event.
A circumstance occurred a few years ago at one of our remote military posts, which may be recollected by some soldier whose eye may rest on this paper.
One morning, as usual, the guard appeared on parade, and after undergoing the necessary forms attendant upon such a ceremony, were marched to their proper stations, and in turn were placed upon the posts assigned them as sentinels. Before the expiration of their tour of duty, the heavens gathered blackness, the wind arose, and the calm surface of the neighboring beautiful-lake was in commotion.
The poor Indian might be seen in his light canoe, urging his frail bark to escape the impending storm. He might indeed, find a shelter in the gloom of the forest; but not so the sentinel-his is an important station-many hardships are his lot, and he must encounter them all; he must remain steadfast at his post; he must withstand summer's heat and winter's blast, hail and tempest, the appalling thunderbolt, and the lightning's vivid flash.
In such a perilous and trying situation was--placed at the period to which I allude. The thunder rolled heavily over his head, accompanied by chains of red lightning; peal followed peal, and flash succeeded flash, yet still, he stood apparently undaunted and unscathed. Whether his confidence was placed in the protecting power of Him who holds the great artillery in his hand, and shakes and lights the vault of heaven when he pleases, or whether he looked on and felt indifferent to the awful scene around him, I am not able to say; but a moment came, when the electric fluid touched the point of his bayonet, melted the hardened metal, ran down one side of his body, tearing and burning his coat, and rending one shoe from off his foot, at the same time striking him to the earth, a seemingly lifeless corpse.
Terror and consternation took possession of the minds of those who were witnesses of the scene. The soldier was conveyed to the hospital, where the surgeon or the post, a skilful and efficient man in his profession, after a length of time employed in faithful and persevering efforts, succeeded in restoring suspended animation.
With what interest and excited feelings did his comrade gather around him at the time, lamenting his supposed sudden exit from a world of joy and hope, to appear before the great tribunal of the almighty Judge of quick and dead. Some, perhaps, permitted the question to arise, "Was he prepared?" Others feared that he was cut off without one ray of hope for happiness beyond the grave. But how were their hearts relieved, when the first symptom of returning life was visible in his beating pulse and throbbing heart. Then was the time when they may have felt that the mercy of God was great, beyond their expectation, and adored him for his kindness in sparing a fellow-being, who. but for the skill imparted to his valuable physician, would, perhaps, never again have opened his eyes upon this fair world, nor lived a monument of the power and goodness of God.
When struck by the lightning of heaven, how happy for this sentinel, if he was prepared to die!--if not, and if sensible of his apparent nearness to another world, what would he have given in exchange for the assurance of the salvation of his soul.
Happy indeed is the soldier who is disposed to raise his thoughts to things eternal, and who has declared himself-to be on the Lord's side. God has promised to preserve such as the apple of his eye, and to protect them as within the hollow of his hand.
Soldier, come, then, and enlist under the banner of the Redeemer, engage in his service, and contend for the faith once delivered to the saints--separate yourself, and come out from the ranks of the enemy of God and of your soul, and peculiar blessings shall be yours.
Christian soldier, you have important duties to fulfill, a charge to keep, a heart to guard, and it becomes you, therefore, to be on the alert-declension in duty will produce apathy of conscience and a want of care and watchfulness will extinguish the life of religion in the soul.
Be strong, therefore, and o good courage; strenuously maintain the honor of your King and Saviour; watch continually, pray without ceasing, and never desert the faith by which you stand, and by which you are to overcome the world and all its temptations, nor Jay aside the armor by which you are to gain the victory over all your spiritual foes. Let a constant and lively exercise of faith in the Redeemer excite in you a disposition to be on your guard, for the end of faith is the salvation of the soul.
Your warefare will soon be accomplished-and having "fought the good right, and kept the faith," you shall be permitted to lay aside the tabernacle of clay, and be conducted to regions of infinite refreshment, where awaits you a crown of unfading glory and immortality.
From a Lady at a Military Post
Reprinted by Strother & Marcom, Book and Job Printers, Raleigh, N.C. APPROVED BY ALL THE PASTORS OF THIS CITY. W. J. W. Crowder, Tract Agent.
ARE YOU PREPARED TO DIE?
READER, you are convinced that the time will arrive when you will breathe your last in this world. Should it be today, or the next hour, are you ready to appear before God? Oh, stop and think; examine yourself. Are you a humble and obedient follower of the Lord Jesus seeking to please him in all things? Or have you never thought about your soul, and death, and God, and heaven, and bell-spending your precious season of probation for eternity in worldliness and sin? Oh, let these lines admonish and advise you. Are you determined to add sin to sin, and misery to misery? Recollect, while this is your conduct, you are walking in the broad road to destruction, treasuring up unto yourself "wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." Oh, be wise:' 'wise to-day; lest at midnight or tomorrow it should be too LATE. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. If you seek the Lord this hour, you may and will find mercy; if you delay the important work until the next hour, you may THEN be in HELL.
0 think of a suffering, dying Saviour, whose blood alone can save and cleanse your soul. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Fall down at his feet, with the publican's prayer in your heart and on your tongue, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Believe in his beloved Son, who gave his life a ransom for sinners Embrace the glorious gospel of the blessed God and devote your body and soul and property and time to his service and glory. Then with a clear prospect of a blessed immortality before your eyes, you will be able to exclaim. "0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth ME the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Re-printed by Strother & Marcom Bank and Job Printers, Raleigh. N.C. and approved by all the Pastors of this city.--W. J. W. Crowder. Tract Agent.