a night come, in which I
cannot work. What fruit am I expected to bring forth? Let me train and
cultivate my mind, heart, whole humanity to bring it forth, lest the
great Husbandman come seeking fruit on me, and find none. And if I see a
man who falls in the battle of life, let me not count him a worse sinner
than myself; but let me judge myself in fear and trembling; lest God
judge me, and I perish in like wise.

SERMON XXI. THE WAR IN HEAVEN.

REV. XIX. 11-16.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat
upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth
judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head
were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he
himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his
name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven
followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and
clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he
should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron:
and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty
God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING
OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Let me ask you to consider seriously this noble passage. It was never
more worth men's while to consider it than now, when various selfish and
sentimental religions--call them rather superstitions--have made men
altogether forget the awful reality of Christ's kingdom; the awful fact
that Christ reigns, and will reign, till He has put all enemies under His
feet.

Who, then, is He of whom the text speaks? Who is this personage, who
appears eternally in heaven as a warrior, with His garments stained with
blood, the leader of armies, smiting the nations, and ruling them with a
rod of iron?

St John tells us that He had one name which none knew save Himself. But
he tells us that He was called Faithful and True; and he tells us, too,
that He had another name which St John did know; and that is, "The Word
of God."

Now who the Word of God is, all are bound to know who call themselves
Christians; even Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary,
crucified under Pontius Pilate, rose again the third day, ascended into
heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God.

He it is who makes everlasting war as King of kings and Lord of lo