ad had nothing but my own strength which I could trust I
should have fainted, for what could I, unlearned in battle, do against
such an army, and with no soldiers save a frightened mob, which knew
that it deserved God's wrath. I wrestled with the Most High as Jacob
wrestled, and I implored Him to remember His promise to our fathers. I
called to mind that day by the borders of the sea, when His angel which
went before the camp of the Israelites removed and went behind them,
and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood
behind them, and how the waters were a wall on the right hand and on
the left, and in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the
Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the
host of the Egyptians. I called to mind the night when Gideon and his
three hundred stood round the Midianites, and the Lord set every man's
sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host. I called to
mind the voice which spoke to me when as a child I lay on my bed in the
Lord's House. As I communed and wrestled, the tent was filled with
light, brighter than that of the sun at noon. No word was spoken, but
I knew it was the light of Him whom to see is death, but whose light is
life. All fear departed, and as the glory slowly waned, sleep overcame
me--sleep like that of an infant; and when the morning dawned, and I
opened the doors of my tent and watched the sun rise, I was strong with
the strength of ten thousand men, and rejoiced, although the
Philistines were like the sand on the seashore for multitude. I caused
the trumpet to sound, and brought Israel together. On the hill there
in Mizpeh, in sight of the people who stood round trembling, I builded
an altar and slew a lamb, and offered it as a sacrifice to Him who had
appeared unto me. I prayed again, for as the smoke of the
burnt-offering rose in the clear air, the Philistines came up the hill
to battle with us, and the people cried, and were on the point of
fleeing this way and that way, to be pursued and slain. I commanded
them to be still. The Philistines drew nearer and nearer, and I prayed
ever more and more earnestly. The smoke of the offering was beginning
to die down, and yet I prayed. The fire was well nigh out to the last
spark, and for a moment I doubted, forgetful of the vision, for the
music of the army of Dagon could now be heard. Suddenly the fire
flamed up on high from the grey ashes, as