Delivered on a Sunday morning, June 26, 1870,
By C. H. Spurgeon,
At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.
“A good soldier of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Timothy 2:2,3.
Many people, many opinions. When it comes to defining what a Christian is, there have been numerous and diverse viewpoints. Some believe that a Christian is someone with very refined tastes. This person cannot worship unless they are in a place with perfectly Gothic architecture, or else their sensitive soul will be offended. They find it difficult to pray properly unless their devotions are accompanied by the finest music. Even then, they may not succeed unless they are assisted by gentlemen whose lineage can be traced as clearly as racehorses and whose clothing is tailored according to the latest ecclesiastical fashion guidelines for each season of the year.
If this is what it means to be a Christian today, it must be admitted that Paul said little about such a delicate and artistic type of person. Unless, of course, he was referring to it in Galatians 4:9-11, which you can read at your leisure. Even Paul’s Master would not acknowledge this kind of Christian.
To some, a Christian is a spiritual gourmet. He attends sermons only to be spiritually fed. He strongly disapproves of any sermon aimed at converting sinners, viewing the Bible solely as a source of personal comfort. The more any doctrinal teaching promises him exclusive blessings and excludes others, the more he enjoys it. For him, part of the delight is believing that only a select few can share in these blessings.
For him, living is about enjoyment, not service. To satisfy his selfish desires, he would erase the free invitations of the Gospel. He is not just a hearer but certainly not a doer. He is merely a hearer and a consumer of the Word of God, in a rather crude sense, and nothing more. This is not Paul’s ideal of a Christian. Paul envisions a Christian not with a napkin in hand, sitting at a banquet table, but with a sword strapped to his side, ready for battle.
To some, the pinnacle of being a Christian is to be a great reader, a profound student of the best books, but only for the purpose of composing spiritual riddles. He reads with no practical end in mind. He is a picker of words, a scrutinizer of syllables, a magnifier of minute details, an expert in biblical hair-splitting. The more a passage confuses others, the more certain he is of its meaning. He values things with the least practical relevance and is a peeper through spiritual spyglasses, believing he can interpret what wiser men leave to God. He chases after spiritual trivialities that, even if caught, would never be worth the effort, while he holds more important matters in low regard. This is not Paul’s vision of a Christian, as the Apostle was no lover of foolish and unlearned questions that lead to strife.
Unfortunately, I must also add that, for some, the ideal Christian is someone who can sleep through life in blissful serenity—a man who, having believed or professed to believe in Christ, thinks his life’s work is complete. From then on, he says to himself, “Soul, take it easy; you have much stored up for many years. Eat, drink, and be merry in the Gospel.” But as for feeding the hungry or clothing the naked, he asks, “Am I my brother’s keeper? What does that have to do with me? Look after yourself, and if you are right, let fate, Providence, or Sovereignty take care of the rest.”
Paul did not envision true Believers as lazy individuals, comfortably sleeping on the softest beds. Instead, he described a Christian as a soldier, which is vastly different from a religious dandy who delights in music and fine clothing, a theological critic who nitpicks at every word, a spiritual glutton who only seeks lifelong enjoyment, or a churchgoer who only desires personal peace. Paul portrays a Christian as a soldier, and that is a completely different matter.
What Is a Soldier?
What is a soldier? A soldier is a practical person, someone with hard, demanding work to do. While he might sometimes wear the fineries of war during moments of ease, real warfare is different. It involves dust, smoke, and bloodstained garments. Hacked swords, dented armor, and bruised shields—these mark a true, dedicated soldier. To truly serve God, to genuinely display Christian virtues, to accomplish a meaningful life’s work for Christ, and to win souls—this is the fruit worthy of a Christian.
A soldier is a person of action, not just words. He must fight and struggle. During wartime, his life is far from luxurious. In the dead of night, when he is most exhausted, the trumpet may sound, calling him to action, just when he would prefer to rest. Similarly, the Christian is a soldier in enemy territory, always needing to stand guard and contend, not with flesh and blood, but with far worse foes—spiritual wickedness in high places.
The Christian, like the soldier, must be self-sacrificing. To protect his country, the soldier exposes himself to danger. To serve his King, he must be ready to lay down his life. Surely, anyone who has never felt the spirit of self-sacrifice cannot call himself a Christian. Living for oneself is living for the flesh, which leads to corruption. Only those who live for God, for Christ, for the Truth, for the Church, and for the noble cause—only they can truly be considered soldiers of Jesus Christ.
A soldier is a servant, not living for his own pleasure. He follows strict laws and rules, with each hour of the day dedicated to prescribed duties. He must obey the commands of others rather than his own will. Similarly, Christians serve the Lord Jesus Christ. While we are no longer enslaved by human expectations, we are devoted servants of Christ, who has freed us.
A soldier often endures suffering. There are wounds, hardships, and frequent stays in the hospital, sometimes facing injuries so severe that they threaten life itself. The Christian soldier must also be ready to suffer, enduring hardships, not seeking worldly pleasures, but finding joy in sacrificing for Christ’s sake.
Moreover, a true soldier is driven by ambition. He seeks honor and glory, earning accolades on the battlefield and gaining renown amidst countless dangers. The Christian, however, is driven by higher ambitions than any earthly warrior. He sees a crown that will never fade and serves a King who is supremely worthy of service. He is motivated by a divine spirit, propelling him to noble deeds and self-sacrificing actions.
Thus, the Christian is a soldier, and a key aspect of the Christian life is to contend earnestly for the faith and fight valiantly against sin.
What Type of Soldier? A Good Soldier
Paul does not urge Timothy to be just an ordinary soldier, but to be a “good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Not all soldiers, even true ones, are good soldiers. Some are barely soldiers, succumbing to temptation and becoming cowardly, idle, useless, and worthless. A good soldier, however, is the bravest of the brave, courageous at all times. He is zealous, performing his duties with heart and earnestness. A good soldier of Jesus Christ, through Divine Grace, strives to become as capable of serving the Lord as possible.
He seeks to grow in grace and to be perfected in every good word and work, making himself fit for the roughest and sternest service in his Master’s battles, ready to bear the brunt of the fray. David had many soldiers, and good ones too, but remember, it was said of many, “These attained not unto the first three.” Now, if I understand Paul correctly, he wanted Timothy to strive to be among the first three, to be a good soldier.
This morning, I would encourage my dear comrades in Christ’s little army gathered here—let each of us strive to be among the first three. Let us seek to be numbered among the King’s mightiest, doing noble work and honorable service, bringing fresh glory to our Master’s cause. Let us earnestly desire the best gifts, and as we have been forgiven much, let us love much and prove that love through our actions.
Before I fully delve into this metaphor, let me clarify that although we will use military terms and stirring language this morning, we must remember that our battle is not against people. The weapons we use are not meant for the deadly conflicts of mankind. A Christian’s wars are against principles, sins, the miseries of humanity, and the Evil One who has led man astray from his Maker. Our battles are against the iniquity that keeps man an enemy to himself. The weapons we wield are holy arguments, consecrated lives, devotion, prayer to God, teaching, and setting an example among our fellow men.
Our battle is for peace and our fight is for rest. We disturb the world to bring it tranquility and turn it upside down to set it right. We pull down strongholds to prevent them from destroying the Zion of God. We overthrow the mighty so that the humble and meek may be established. We have no sympathy for any other type of war and consider it an evil of the direst sort, no matter how it is disguised. With that caution in mind, let nothing I say suggest that I love or excuse ordinary warfare—for nothing is more abhorrent to a Christian than widespread violence and killing. We long for the promised era when men shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Now, let us proceed with the work of this morning. First, we will describe what makes a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and then we will exhort you to become one.
I. First, then, this morning, we shall endeavor to describe a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
We must begin with this fundamental point—he must be loyal to his King. A soldier of Jesus Christ acknowledges the Divine Redeemer as his King and confesses His sole and undivided sovereignty in the spiritual kingdom. He abhors Antichrist in all its forms and every principle that opposes the reign of the Beloved Prince of Peace. To him, Jesus is both Lord and God. On the day he enlisted, he symbolically put his finger into the print of the nails and said with Thomas, “My Lord and my God.”
This was his enlistment declaration, and he remains true to it. “Christ is All” is his motto, and winning all men to obedience to Immanuel is his life’s mission. Until he sheathes his sword in the final victory, the Crucified One remains the sole monarch of his soul. He lives for Him and is willing even to die for Him. He has entered into a solemn league and covenant to uphold, against all opposition, that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Moreover, the Christian soldier not only acknowledges Jesus as his King, but his heart is also full of loving devotion to Him. Nothing makes his heart leap like the mention of that august, more-than-royal name. He remembers who Jesus is—the Son of God, “the Wonderful, the Counselor, the Mighty God.” He remembers what Jesus did, how He loved him and gave Himself for him. He looks to the Cross and recalls the streams of blood by which the elect were redeemed, even when they were enemies of God. He remembers Christ in Heaven, enthroned at the right hand of the Father.
He loves Him there, and it thrills his heart to think that God has highly exalted the once-despised and rejected One, giving Him a name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow—in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth. He longs for the day when the Crucified One will come in His glory and rule the nations as their rightful Lord. He loves Jesus so deeply that he feels he belongs entirely to Him, bought with His blood, redeemed by His power, and comforted by His presence. He delights in knowing that he is not his own, for he is bought with a price. Because he loves his King with an unquenchable ardor—many waters cannot drown this love, nor can floods quench it—he also loves all the King’s brethren and servants for the King’s sake.
He greets his fellow soldiers with heartfelt affection. He loves the grand old banner of the Gospel and prays for the wind of the Holy Spirit to unfurl it, so all eyes may behold its beauty. He is steadfast in the faith once delivered to the saints and rejoices in every doctrine of the Gospel, willing to lay down his life to preserve it for the world. Above all, he loves the crown of his King and the cause of his Master. Oh, if only he could elevate the Captain of his salvation higher among men, he would be content to die in the ditch of neglect and scorn! If he could see the King come into His own and the Heir of all things loyally acknowledged by His revolted provinces, he would be satisfied, no matter what became of himself. His heart is more than loyal; it is filled with personal affection for the Chief among ten thousand.
I ask you, brethren, is this true for you? Believing, yes, knowing that it is true for many, I pray to God that it would be true for all. Brethren, I know you love Jesus well; no music sounds as sweetly to your ears as His charming name. No song of the finest minstrel is half as sweet. The very thought of Him fills your hearts with rapture. You assuredly possess one of the primary marks of good soldiers—continue, I urge you, to strive for what lies beyond.
The next characteristic of a good soldier is obedience to his captain’s commands. He would be no soldier at all if he did not take his marching orders from his leader, but instead acted according to his own will. Such a soldier would soon be dismissed from service, if not shot by order of a court martial for crimes that military rule cannot tolerate.
Now, without expanding further on this illustration, let me ask every Christian here, and myself first of all: Are we doing all the Master’s will? Do we truly seek to know the Master’s will? I would not want any part of the Scripture to be distasteful to me. I would tremble if there were portions of my Lord’s testimony that I feared to read or found it convenient to forget.
It is a terrible when people feel compelled to skip over certain texts or manipulate them to fit their beliefs. We should not practice an ordinance merely because our church teaches it or our parents believed in it. We must read the Scriptures and investigate the questions for ourselves, or we are not showing proper respect to our Lord. A soldier who doesn’t bother to read his superior’s orders might rightly be suspected of mutiny. Disobedience festers in any heart where there is carelessness about knowing the Lord’s will. Be courageous enough always to confront Scripture directly—it is, after all, your basic duty.
It is better for us to change our views daily in the pursuit of truth than to stubbornly hold on to them while suspecting we might be wrong. Living a life of obedience is a greater matter than some might think. Obedience is not a second-rate virtue—”to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” Jesus did not say, “If you love Me, go to the stake for Me,” or “preach before kings for Me.” No, He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” as if this were the surest and most accepted test of love. Therefore, may you be loyal to the King and, in the second place, obedient to His commands.
The third important aspect for a good soldier to remember is this—if he is indeed a first-class soldier, worthy of the service—his ruling passion must be to conquer. When the fight is on, and the soldier’s blood is up, he feels an unwavering determination: “I must drive the enemy from his entrenchment, I must take that position. I must plant our conquering standard on the enemy’s castle, or I must die trying. Cursed be the sun if it sets today and sees me retreat.” He is resolved to win or die on the battlefield. Similarly, a Christian man, driven to win souls for Christ, to proclaim His Truth, and to establish Christ’s Church in new places, is just as ready to suffer or die as the boldest member of the most renowned regiment.
To achieve this, he disentangles himself from all other ambitions and aims, for “he that wars does not entangle himself with the affairs of this life.” For a good soldier of Christ, the master passion is to spread the Gospel and save souls from perishing. He would rather do this and be poor than be rich and neglect it. He would prefer to be useful and live unknown than rank among the great ones of the earth and be useless to his Lord. A truly good soldier of Jesus Christ sees difficulties only as challenges to be overcome. If his Master commands him to perform tasks too hard for him, he draws upon the resources of Omnipotence and achieves the impossible.
One night, Wellington sent word to his troops, “Ciudad Rodrigo must be taken tonight.” The British soldiers appointed for the attack responded simply, “Then we will do it.” Similarly, when our great Captain sends us the command, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” if we were all good soldiers of the Cross, we would say immediately, “We will do it.” No matter how hard the task, since God Himself is our Captain and Jesus, the High Priest, sounds the trumpet, we will do it in Jehovah’s name. May such resolute determination ignite your hearts, my brothers and sisters, and may you thus prove yourselves “good soldiers of Jesus Christ.”
A soldier’s passion for victory often makes him forget everything else. Before the battle of Waterloo, General Picton had two of his ribs smashed at Quatre Bras, but he concealed this serious injury. Despite intense agony, he rode at the head of his troops and led one of the decisive charges of the day. He never left his post, continuing until a bullet crushed his skull and penetrated his brain. The hero fell in the heat of battle. How few among us could endure such hardship for Jesus? Oh, that we could suffer anything rather than be turned aside from fulfilling our lifework for Him we love!
In that same battle, one of our lieutenants had his left forearm broken by a shot early in the day. Unable to hold the reins with his hand, he seized them with his mouth and fought on until another shot shattered his upper arm, necessitating amputation. Yet within two days, with his arm still bleeding and the wound raw, he was back, leading his division. Brave deeds have been done among our country’s soldiers—oh, that such brave deeds were common among the armed men of the Church militant!
Would to God that in the face of suffering, we could all persevere in living the holy life He calls us to live and in zealously spreading the glorious Gospel that has saved our souls and will save the souls of others. Great Master, inspire us with this valor by Your own example! I long to see more of you in this beloved Church who are resolved that Christ’s Gospel shall conquer this part of London and ultimately the world. That Christ shall see the fruit of His suffering and be satisfied. I yearn to witness more of that relentless perseverance among Christians, which drives them to work tirelessly, even without immediate success, and to persist through every discouragement until their Master rewards them on earth or takes them to their reward in Heaven. To be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, there must be a passion for victory, an insatiable desire to establish the Throne of Jesus in the souls of men.
Fourthly, a good soldier is very brave in a charge. When the time comes, and the orders are given for the good soldier to advance to the attack, he does not wish himself away. Though a perfect hail of hurtling shot whistles all around, and the ranks of the army are thinned, he is glad to be there—for he feels the stern joy that flushes the face in the heat of battle—and he only wants to be within arm’s length of the foe and to come to close quarters with him. So it is with the genuine Christian when his heart is right with God. If he is bid to advance, no matter the danger, he feels honored to have such a service allotted to him.
But are we all such soldiers? I fear not. How many of us are silent about Jesus Christ in private conversation? How little do we let our light shine before others. If we were the good soldiers we ought to be, we would seize every favorable opportunity in private as well as in public to share our faith and prudently, yet zealously, press the claims of Jesus Christ and His Gospel upon others. Oh, do this, Beloved, and good will come of it! Each one of us should seek to have our own special work for Jesus, and if no one else attempts the task, we should, like the brave soldiers who rush to storm a battery, carry the flag first and plant it, knowing that hundreds will follow the first brave person, even if they might not lead the way themselves.
My Beloved, may you and I be ready for anything, and bold to bear witness for Christ before a scoffing world. In the pulpits where we preach, in the workshops where we labor, in the markets where we trade, in every company where we move—wherever we may be, may we be brave enough to own our Lord and uphold His cause.
But this is not all that makes a good soldier. A good soldier is like a rock under attack. British soldiers have stood in solid squares against enemy cavalry, with foes dashing upon them madly, gnashing their teeth, firing in their faces, throwing their guns at them, yet it was like riding against granite rocks. Our soldiers did not know how to yield and would not retreat. As fast as one fell, another filled the gap, and the square of iron stood firm, defying the rush of the foe.
We need this kind of fixed, resolved, persevering godliness in our Churches, and we will have it if we are good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Alas, too many are exhausted by the initial zeal they exhibited. They can reach the highest point for a time, but continuing on and on is too difficult for them. How many young people join the Church and seem very zealous for a while, only to grow cold! Alas, it is not always the young. Some among you were once most diligent in various forms of service. What hinders you from being diligent in your Master’s business now? Has Christ granted you permission to retreat into a life of ease without glory? Does He excuse you from service?
Be cautious, or you might find yourself excluded from the reward as well. We are called to uphold our integrity throughout our Christian journey, resist temptation, stay on the path set apart for us, and pursue the souls of others with unwavering zeal and tireless dedication—wrestling with God for men and with men for God. Oh, for more of this resolute determination to stand firm and, having done all, to continue standing!
The last mark of a truly good soldier of Jesus Christ is that he derives his strength from on high. This has been true even of some common soldiers. Religious men, when they have sought strength from God, have been all the braver in the day of conflict. I like the story of Frederick the Great. When he overheard his favorite general engaged in prayer and was about to make a sneering remark, the fine old man, who never feared a foe and did not even fear his majesty’s jest, said, “Your Majesty, I have just been asking aid from your Majesty’s great Ally.” He had been waiting upon God.
This is how Christians achieve victory. They seek it from the Church’s great Ally and then go to the conflict sure that they shall win the day. The best Christian is the best intercessor. He shall accomplish the most who prays the best. In the battle of Salamanca, when Wellington ordered one of his officers to advance with his troops and occupy a gap in the French lines, the general rode up to him and said, “My lord, I will do the work, but first give me a grasp of that conquering right hand of yours.” He received a hearty grip and then rode away to the deadly encounter.
Often has my soul said to her Captain, “My Lord, I will do that work if You will give me a grip of Your conquering right hand.” Oh, what power it instills in a man when he gets a grip of Christ, and Christ gets a grip of him! Fellowship with Christ is the fountain of the Church’s strength. Her power does not lie in her wealth, nor in the eloquence of her preachers, nor in anything that comes from man. The strength of the Church is Divine, and if she fails to draw strength from the Everlasting Hills, she becomes weak as water. Good soldiers of Jesus Christ, watch unto prayer, “praying in the Holy Spirit,” for in this way you will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
II. Thus I have in a very humble way described a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Give me a few minutes while I exhort you to be such.
And, mark you, I shall speak especially to the members of this Christian Church. I exhort you, dear brethren, who are soldiers of Christ, to be good soldiers, because many of you have been so. Paul was likely to commend the Churches when he could, and I feel I may honestly and from my heart commend many of you, for you have served your Lord and Master well.
I know you have nothing of which to boast, for when you have done all, you are still unprofitable servants. But still, I rejoice, and will rejoice when I see the work of the Holy Spirit in you. I dare say that I have seen here instances of apostolic ardor and self-sacrifice such as I have read of in ancient records but hardly ever expected to see. There are those in this house today who will shine as stars forever and ever, for they have turned many to righteousness. Do not dishonor your past, I beseech you! Fall not from your high standing. “Forward” is your motto! Never think of declining, but rather advance in love to God and in the fervor of your zeal.
Be good soldiers still, and do not depart from your first love. I am sure there is greater need for good soldiering now than ever. Ten or sixteen years ago, when I first addressed you, the power of popery in this land was nothing compared to what it is now. In those days, the Church of England was more generally Protestant. Now it is so frequently popish that I may broadly say we are afflicted with two popish churches—that of Rome and that of Oxford. The second is not one whit better than the first—only more crafty and insidious—inasmuch as it attracts to itself a number of godly and gracious men who protect the villains who bear a Protestant name and are doing the Pope’s work.
I grieve to know that the evangelical clergy of England, by their continued union with the Church of England, are acting as a shield to the ritualistic or popish party, giving them every opportunity to work out their schemes for leading the nation back to popery en masse. Around this very spot, a battle will have to be fought between the Sacramentarians and the lovers of the Gospel. The battle has now come to your very doors. It was not so until recently, but now it is here—and you that are men must show your colors and serve your Master against innumerable and constantly active foes. You have never failed me; you have always been bold, steadfast, and diligent. Let it continue to be so, for the times require it.
I can see that many of you young men are being attracted by the worldly amusements that surround us. Our dangers are not only those of popery but also of the world, the flesh, and the devil. There must be greater earnestness and deeper piety among you, or the next generation will become unworthy of yourselves—your grief, not your joy. I pray you see to this. Be good soldiers, for much depends upon it. Your country will be blessed in proportion to your earnestness. Nonconformity in England will lose all its power if it loses its godliness. I do not care much for our political strength—I might even say I am almost indifferent to our political rights. I care for them, but only as a minor consideration.
Our spirituality is the main matter. It is this alone that can make us a blessing to our country. Sons of the Puritans, you must walk with God, or your day is past—you will be swept away, as Esther would have been if she had not fulfilled the office for which God had exalted her. You have grown in numbers and strength. O that you may grow in grace, love the Gospel more, and love Christ more, for your country needs it, your children need it, and you yourselves need it! The times are perilous, yet they are hopeful. By their peril and their hopefulness, I beseech you to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ!
Good soldiers we ought to be, for a grand old cause is at stake. It is the kingdom of God, the Church of Christ, the Word of God, the Truth, the doctrine of the Gospel, and the crown of Jesus that are all at stake.
I grant you that none shall ever shake the Throne of Jesus, for though “the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing,” yet His Throne shall be established. But we now speak according to the manner of men. God has been pleased to leave this matter to His Church, which is the pillar and ground of the Truth. Oh then, stand up manfully and fight earnestly when so much rests upon it! God grant that you may not be like the children of Ephraim, who, though armed and carrying bows, turned their backs in the day of battle.
I implore you, my brethren, and myself most of all, to be good soldiers of Jesus when you consider the fame that has preceded you. A soldier, when he receives his colors, finds certain words embroidered on them to remind him of the former victories of the regiment in which he serves. Look at the eleventh chapter of Hebrews and see the long list of the triumphs of the faithful. Remember how prophets and apostles served God. Remember how martyrs joyfully laid down their lives. Look at the long line of reformers and confessors. Remember your martyred sires and covenanting fathers, and by the Grace of God, I beseech you, walk not unworthy of your noble lineage.
Be good soldiers because of the victory that awaits you. Oh, it will be a grand thing to share in the ultimate triumph of Christ, for triumph He will! When all His soldiers shall come back from the war, and the King Himself at their head with the spoils of victory. When they shall return to the metropolitan city, to the ivory palaces of the great Captain. When the song is heard, “Lift up your heads, O you gates, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors.” When the question is answered, “Who is the King of Glory?” with the reply, “The Lord of Hosts, the Lord mighty in battle, He is the King of Glory,” it will be a glorious thing to have shared the fight, for then you shall surely share the honors of that coronation day!
A crown is prepared for that head, though it now aches with care for the cause. There is a palm branch for that hand which now toils in the fight. There are silver sandals for those feet which now march over weary miles for Christ’s sake. Honor and immortality, unimaginable until they are enjoyed, await every faithful soldier of the Cross!
Besides, and lastly, if you need another argument to become good soldiers, remember your Captain. The Captain whose wounded hands and pierced feet are tokens of His love for you. Redeemed from going down to the pit, what can you do sufficiently to show your gratitude? Assured of eternal glory in the future, how can you adequately prove that you feel your indebtedness? Rise up, I pray you! By Him whose eyes are like a flame of fire, yet were wet with tears—by Him on whose head are many crowns, yet who wore the crown of thorns—by Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords, yet bowed His head to death for you—resolve that to life’s latest breath you will spend and be spent for His praise. The Lord grant that there may be many such in this Church—good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
A Concluding Thought To You Good Soldiers
Two or three more words and I will close. At this present time, I urge you to engage in fresh efforts for Christ. I do not know that you are relaxing, and I have no complaints to make of anyone. However, I wish that we would begin anew with renewed vigor this day, if God wills it. As I myself commence a new year of Sundays, I desire to see a new era of greater exertion in the cause of Jesus Christ. To be successful, let not a single man or woman on the Church roll be missing from his or her post in the spiritual conflict.
It is a remarkable fact that on the eve of a great battle in the Peninsular War, the officers read the muster roll and noted that “not a man was missing.” They all had good stomachs for the fight and were all present. You who are in the Sunday school, you who distribute tracts, you who preach in the streets—every man to his post! And if you have no post yet, find one. Let there not be one idler, not one single loiterer, for a single sluggard may mar the work. If we are to be successful, let nothing divide us. The motto of one of our most famous regiments, embroidered on their banner, is “Who shall separate us?”
We are but mortals, and therefore little jealousies may spring up. Among us, there may be minor causes of personal vexation, but brave warriors in olden times who had fallen out have been known to come together on the eve of battle and say, “Come, let us be reconciled; we may die tomorrow. Besides, we join in common hatred of the foe and love for the king.” Let your peace be unbroken, your union indissoluble, and God will bless you.
To help us succeed now, let us adopt this one rule—let no low standard of work, virtue, or spiritual attainment content any of us. Let us resolve to be the best Christians that can be found under the stars, as devoted to Christ as human hearts can be, doing and giving as much for Christ as we can do or give consistently with our other duties. Let us spare nothing and keep back no part of the price. Let there be no Ananias and Sapphira among us, but let us all be like John, who loved his Lord, and Paul, who counted all things but loss for the excellency of Christ Jesus his Lord.
Next, let me say let the present moment be seized. I would like to saturate this district with a mass of tracts simply teaching the Gospel and protesting against the false popery around us. Heaven and earth are being stirred around us right now. Our poor are being bribed, and the houses of our members are being systematically visited with the intent of luring them away from our worship. We are told that a certain small building used by the Episcopal body is the parish church, and we ought to attend it. I might far more truthfully assert this to be the church of the parish by the choice of a far more numerous body, but I care not to make pretensions which prove nothing.
The true question is—do we follow Christ and uphold the teachings of Scripture? If so, our standing is unassailable. Doubtless, the word has gone forth that Dissent must be crushed, but if we live near to God and maintain our zeal, Dissent will rise invincible from every attack. Foreseeing the gathering storm, it is our consolation that we know where He dwells who is Master of the tempest, who can walk on the waters for our help and calm the sea around our weather-beaten boat. It becomes us now, at this present moment, to be indefatigable, to put forth all our strength for the Truth of God, the Lord’s pure Word in doctrine and ordinance.
Let us act now. Let us distribute Gospel tracts widely and proclaim the truth boldly. Let us teach the Gospel simply and clearly, and let our lives reflect its power. Now is the time to be vigilant, to be fervent, and to be united. Let us uphold the teachings of Scripture with unwavering faith and relentless dedication. Our efforts now will fortify our faith and ensure that we stand firm against any assault. God is our refuge and strength, and with Him, we shall not be moved. Let us seize this moment to glorify Him and to spread His truth far and wide.
Let no man’s heart fail him. There is no fear of defeat. For many years, the Lord of Hosts has been with us as a Church, and He will still be our Helper. We have seen the rise and fall of many who blazed for a while but are now quenched in darkness, while we have grown from a handful to this large assembly. The God who has been our trust and is still our stay will not forsake us now. He has not drawn you together and held you in one body by cords of love so that you may prove to be a powerless, unwieldy mass of associated Christians. He intends to direct and strengthen you for nobler ends and purposes!
God, even our own God, will bless us! Immanuel, God with us, leads the charge. The Truth, like the virgin daughter of Zion, shakes her head at boastful error and laughs it to scorn. Let Falsehood put on her tawdry garments, think herself a queen, and say that she shall sit alone and see no sorrow. Let Error come forth in her panoply and wave her flaunting banner before the sun. She draws near her end. Her armor—what is it? It is but pasteboard, and the lance of Truth shall pierce it through and through. Her banner, what is it but a foul rag of the Roman harlot? It shall be laid in the dust.
No, let Error bring forth all her hosts and let them stand in their serried ranks. The faithful soldiers of Jesus will ride through them and bow the columns like reeds in the wind. In these days, the doctrines and traditions of men compass us about, yes, like bees they compass us about, but in the name of the Lord, we will destroy them. Only let us have confidence in God, and the victory is sure. As for the thought of turning back, that can never be endured. A message came to Sir Colin Campbell at the Alma, stating that Her Majesty’s Guards were falling thick and fast beneath the shot, and asking if they should retire for a while into safe quarters. The answer was, “It were better, Sir, that every one of Her Majesty’s Guards should lie dead on this battlefield than turn their backs on the enemy.”
And it is so. Let us die, yes—it were better devoutly wished than living a coward’s life! Let the preacher be carried to his grave first. Let him never live to see the shame of this Israel. Let these eyes be sealed in death rather than behold “Ichabod” written on these walls! No, brethren, it shall not be! You will serve Jesus, you will love Him, and “Onward to victory” shall be your watchword from today on. Be more in prayer—for this is the great matter. Seek out, each one, your own sphere of action and give yourselves wholly to it. If any grow cold or careless, let him remember Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock: if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
This blessed supping with Jesus will restore you! Though you are like Laodicea, “neither cold nor hot,” fellowship with Jesus will renew the love of your espousals. Oh, then, my brethren, in Jesus’ name I bid you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!
I have not preached to sinners today, but you will do that if you catch the spirit of this sermon. There will be many thousands of words spoken to sinners as a result of this exhortation if God, the Holy Spirit, makes it accomplish my design. Only this word to those who are not soldiers of Jesus Christ—trust Him now! Come now and kiss His silver scepter of Divine Grace. He will forgive the rebel and take him to be His servant. God bless you. Amen.
