y good brothers--for I am a Christian like you, and an Englishman like
you, and a west countryman like you--I thank our Father in heaven that He
has brought me from the other end of England, and put this message into
my mouth, to remind you of who you are--that _you_ are the men who see
the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep; and that God will say
to every one of you at the day of judgment,--I taught you all this, I
gave you all this, I did all this for _you_, what have you done for _Me_
in return?

Go home--read over these verses in 107th Psalm, and think over what I
have said. Do it to-night, for the weather has broken up--there are
gales coming. Which of you can say that he will be alive next Sunday?

XXIII. THE GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST.

"Thou therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."--2
TIMOTHY ii. 3.

Suppose a young man went of his own will for a soldier; was regularly
sworn in to serve the Queen; took his bounty; wore the Queen's uniform;
ate her bread; learnt his drill; and all that a soldier need learn, as
long as peace lasted. But suppose that, as soon as war came, and his
regiment was ordered on active service, he deserted at once, and went off
and hid himself. What should you call such a man? You would call him a
base and ungrateful coward, and you would have no pity on him, if he was
taken and justly punished.

But suppose that he did a worse thing still. Suppose that the enemy, the
Russians say, invaded England, and the army was called out to fight them;
and suppose this man of whom I speak, be he soldier or sailor, instead of
fighting the enemy, deserted over to them, and fought on their side
against his own country, and his own comrades, and his own father and
brothers, what would you call that man? No name would be bad enough for
him. If he was taken, he would be hanged without mercy, as not only a
deserter but a traitor. And who would pity him or say that he had not
got his just deserts?

Now, for God's sake and your own sakes consider. Are not all young
people, when they are old enough to choose between right and wrong, if
they choose what is wrong and live bad lives instead of good ones, very
like this same deserter and traitor?

For are you not all Christ's soldiers, every one of you? Did not Christ
enlist every one of you into His army, that, as the baptism service says,
you might fight manfully under His banner against sin, the