Evening, April 20
Go To Morning Reading
“Fight the Lord’s battles.”
1 Samuel 18:17
The sacramental host of God’s elect is warring still on earth, Jesus Christ being the Captain
of their salvation. He has said, “Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Hark to the shouts of war! Now let the people of God stand fast in
their ranks, and let no man’s heart fail him. It is true that just now in England the battle is
turned against us, and unless the Lord Jesus shall lift his sword,
we know not what may become of the church of God in this land; but
let us be of good courage, and play the man. There never was a day
when Protestantism seemed to tremble more in the scales than now that
a fierce effort is making to restore the Romish antichrist to his
ancient seat. We greatly want a bold voice and a strong hand to preach
and publish the old gospel for which martyrs bled and confessors died.
The Saviour is, by his Spirit, still on earth; let this cheer us.
He is ever in the midst of the fight, and therefore the battle is
not doubtful. And as the conflict rages, what a sweet satisfaction
it is to know that the Lord Jesus, in his office as our great Intercessor,
is prevalently pleading for his people! O anxious gazer, look not
so much at the battle below, for there thou shalt be enshrouded in
smoke, and amazed with garments rolled in blood; but lift thine eyes
yonder where the Saviour lives and pleads, for while he intercedes,
the cause of God is safe. Let us fight as if it all depended upon
us, but let us look up and know that all depends upon him.
Now, by the lilies of Christian purity, and by the roses of the Saviour’s atonement, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, we charge
you who are lovers of Jesus, to do valiantly in the Holy War, for
truth and righteousness, for the kingdom and crown jewels of your
Master. Onward! “for the battle is not yours but God's.”