Meditation C.
Meditation C.
GOING TO BATTLE.
Now everything is preparing to engage the enemy, all hands are busy—though whatever the outcome may be, none can tell.
But all souls are culpably idle. Careless of our eternal interests at other times, no wonder we are careless at our last! We know not how soon we shall be in the terrors of death—as we are soon to be in the horrors of battle. How shocking to see men unusually merry, when rushing into great danger!
To live without faith, and die without the fear of God, is not the character of the Christian—who rejoices with trembling, and knows the terrors of the Lord. How stupid never to prepare for death—which, whether prepared for or not, may soon overtake some—and in a little while, will overtake all of us! Probably in a few hours, some of us will be arrived at our long home—some disembodied souls stand before the solemn judgment! I shudder at the thought!
Our sympathizing friends know nothing of our dangerous situation in the contending moments, while oceans ruffled with storm and tempest rage around us, high winds and hurricanes roar above us, and the angry foes pour in death on us, with a noise terrible as the thunder, and awful as the lightning. How would our tender parents weep and wring their hands, to see us in such danger, or in the cold embrace of death!
Everything is tossed down into the holds, that could hinder us in the battle. So at death we would give up all the joys of life to live a little longer; and must leave all to die. Woe to the disputes of nations; woe to the pride of kings, which kindles this bloody uproar, and calls us all to battle!____ But the drum!!!___ ___ ___ (The author appears to have been interrupted by the commencement of the action.)
Back to THE TRAVELER