The earth puts out the fire. The world hindered the young man from following Christ, "he went away sorrowful! Demas' piety was buried in the earth, "Demas has forsaken me—having loved this present world. It so fetters their feet —that they do not run in the way of God's commandments. Mithridates, king of Pontus, being beaten by the Romans, and fearing he would not escape them—he caused a great deal of silver and gold to be scattered in the way, which while the Roman soldiers were busy gathering, he got away from them.
Satan uses a similar strategy; knowing what tempting things riches are—he throws them as baits, in men's way, that while they are eagerly gathering these, he may hinder them in their pursuit of eternal happiness! It would hinder a man to climb up a steep rock, with heavy weights tied to his legs. Men's golden weights hinder them in climbing up this steep rock which leads to salvation! A man cannot seek both Heaven and earth at the same time. He cannot love both Christ and the world, 1 John 2: He who is all on fire for the world —will be all ice for Heaven!
Take heed of engaging your affections too far in these earthly things. Use the world as your servant —but do not follow it as your master. Though the sinner shall drink a sea of wrath — yet he shall not drink one drop of injustice!
Onward, Christian Soldiers
The glory of heaven! If the mountains were gold; if every sand of the sea were a diamond; if the whole globe were a shining gem; it would all still be infinitely beneath the glory of heaven! In heaven, there shall be freedom from sin. Here on earth, sin keeps house with us; it is as natural to us to sin as to breathe. The soul that is most refined, and cleansed by grace, is not without some dregs of corruption. But a sinful thought shall not creep in to heaven. There is beauty which is not stained with lust, and honor which is not swelled with pride. In heaven, there shall be freedom from the assaults of the red dragon.
It is sad to have Satan daily soliciting us by his temptations, and laboring to trick us into sin. But the old serpent is cast out of the heavenly Paradise! In heaven, there shall be freedom from all afflictions. Our lives now are interlined with troubles. There are many things to occasion disquiet; sometimes poverty afflicts; sometimes sickness tortures; sometimes unkindness of friends breaks the heart.
Our lives, like the seas, are full of tempests. But in the kingdom of Heaven, there is nothing to give grief. There, all is serene and calm; nothing within to trouble, or without to molest. The delights of the heavenly kingdom are unmixed. The comforts here below, are checkered.
Honor may be stained with disgrace; joy interwoven with sorrow. Our skies are mixed with clouds. But the delicacies of heaven are pure as well as pleasant. There is honey, which has not one drop of gall. The crystal spring of joy has no settlings of sorrow at the bottom.
The rose in that paradise, is without prickles; the sun in that horizon, is without eclipse. Heaven will make amends for all our labor and pains! Then the Devil shoots him with his fiery darts! Satan sows most of his seeds of temptation in hearts which lie fallow. When he sees people unemployed, he will find work for them to do—he will stir them up to one sin or other. When Satan finds men in a drowsy condition, their sleeping time is his tempting time!
By watching and praying, we prevent the Devil's design—we are so busy with salvation that we have no leisure to listen to temptation. When the bird is flying—it is safe; but when it sits still on the bough— it is in danger of being shot! When a Christian sits still and is inactive— then the Devil shoots him with his fiery darts! The promises encourage us—and the Spirit enables us. In all earthly races a man runs in his own strength; but in the race to Heaven we have the Spirit of God helping us!
He not only gives us the crown, when we have finished running—but He gives us legs to run! He gives us quickening and assisting grace! The Spirit of God helping us, makes our work easy. If another helps us to carry a burden—it is less difficult. If the magnet draws the iron—it is not hard for the iron to move.
If the Spirit of God, as a divine magnet —draws and moves the heart in obedience, then the work goes on with more ease. A pleasant, easy way to Heaven Someone asked Him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? Canaan was given Israel freely—but they had to fight with the Canaanites. It is not a lazy wish , or a sleepy prayer —which will bring us to Heaven. We have a long race from earth to Heaven—but a little time to run; it will soon be sunset. In a race there's not only a laying aside of all weights which hinder—but a putting forth of all the strength of the body; a straining every joint that men may press on with all swiftness to lay hold on the prize.
Many have made themselves unfit to run this blessed race; they are drunk with the pleasures of the world. A drunken man is unfit to run a race. Others neglect to run this race all their life; and when sickness and death approach—now they will begin! A sick man is very unfit to walk , much less to run a race! I acknowledge that true repentance is never too late; but when a man can hardly move his hand, or lift up his eyes—that is a very unfit time to begin the race from earth to Heaven. The Lord has in his eternal decree joined the end and the means together—striving and entering; the race and the crown.
And a man can no more think to come to Heaven without striving, than he can think to come to the end of his journey, who never sets a step in the way! Who expects a harvest without plowing and sowing? How can we expect the harvest of glory without labor? Though our salvation with respect to Christ is a purchase —yet with respect to us, it is a conquest. We have a precious soul to save! What pains do we take for the feeding and enriching of the body, the brutish part? O then what pains should we use for the saving of the soul? The body is but a ring of clay; the soul is the diamond.
If Christ thought the soul was worth the shedding of His blood, well may we think it worth spending our sweat. We have a heavenly kingdom to gain!
What pains are used for earthly crowns and empires; men will wade to the crown through blood! Heaven is a kingdom which should make us strive for it—even to blood. The hopes of a kingdom says Basil should carry a Christian cheerfully through all labors and sufferings. Some imagine that there is a pleasant, easy way to Heaven —an idle wish, a deathbed tear.
But it is not so easy a thing as men imagine. Alas, there is a great work to be done; the bias of the heart must be changed. Man by nature does not only lack grace—but hates it! He has an envenomed spirit against God, and is angry with converting grace! Is it easy for the proud heart to be made humble? Is it easy for the earthly heart to be made heavenly? Can this be done without effort? It is all up hill to Heaven, and it will make us sweat before we get to the top of the hill. Is salvation-work so easy?
Can a man be saved by a faint wish? Can he leap out of the Devil's arms—into Abraham's bosom? A Christian must charge through the whole army of his lusts, every one of which is stronger than Goliath! He has no time to drowse; he must be either praying or watching.
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Some think free grace will save them; but it must be in the use of means. The promise tells us of a crown—but the precept says, "Run in such a way as to get the prize! The promises are made to encourage faith, not to nourish sloth. But others say, Christ has died for sinners; and so they leave Him to do all for them and they will do nothing.
Today's Devotional
Our salvation cost Christ blood; it will cost us sweat. The boat may as well get to shore without rowing, as we can get to Heaven without effort. Not whom he may bite —but devour! We read in Scripture of Satan's snares and darts ; he hurts more by his snares than by his darts! Satan opposes us both by open violence , and secret treachery. Satan opposes by open violence —so he is called the Red Dragon. He labors to storm the castle of the heart; he stirs up passion, lust, and revenge. These are called "fiery darts," Ephes.
Satan in regard to his fierceness , is called a lion , "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour! Yes, there is "a lion in the way," but we must resolve upon fighting. Satan opposes by secret treachery —so he is called the Old Serpent. What he cannot do by force , he will endeavor to do by fraud. Satan has several subtle devices in tempting: Satan suits his temptations to the temper of the individual. Satan studies our dispositions, and lays suitable baits. He knew Achan's s covetous heart, and tempted him with a wedge of gold.
He tempts the youthful man with lust. Satan tempts to sin gradually. He steals into the heart by degrees. He is at first, more modest. He did not say to Eve at first, "Eat the apple! He puts forth a question , "Has God said? Surely Eve, you are mistaken; the bountiful God never intended to debar one of the best trees of the garden.
Surely, either God did not say it; or if He did, He never really intended it. Oh, take heed of Satan's first motions to sin, which seem more modest. He is first a fox , and then a lion.
Satan tempts to evil in lawful things. It was lawful for Noah to eat the fruit of the grape; but he took too much, and so sinned. Excess turns that which is good— into evil. Eating and drinking may turn to intemperance. Industry in one's calling, when excessive, becomes covetousness. Satan draws men to an immoderate love of the creature, and then makes them sin in that which they love—as Agrippina poisoned her husband Claudius, in that food which he loved most. Satan puts men upon doing good out of evil ends.
The Story Behind Onward, Christian Soldiers
If he cannot hurt them by scandalous actions—he will by virtuous actions. Thus he tempts some to espouse religion out of ulterior motives. He tempts others to give to charity, for applause, that others may see their good works. We must resist the devil by faith. Faith is a wise, intelligent grace. Faith can see a hook under the bait! Faith keeps the castle of the heart, so that it does not yield.
Faith beats back the temptation. Faith holds the promise in one hand, and Christ in the other. The promise encourages faith, and Christ strengthens it; so faith beats the enemy out of the field! We overcome Satan upon our knees! A Christian by prayer fetches in auxiliary forces from Heaven.
In all temptations, go to God by prayer. Lord, strengthen me in the battle; let me rather die a conqueror—than be taken prisoner, and led captive by Satan! He has bruised the head of the old Serpent! He is a chained enemy, and a conquered enemy; therefore do not fear him. Suck out the sweetness of a truth Meditation is a holy exercise of the mind; whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and seriously ponder upon them and apply them to ourselves. It is a work which cannot be done in a crowd. A Christian must retire from the world, to have serious thinking upon God. It is not a few transient thoughts that are quickly gone; but a fixing and staying of the mind upon heavenly objects.
As the bee sucks the honey from the flower, so by meditation we suck out the sweetness of a truth. It is not the receiving of food into the mouth, but the digesting of it which makes it nutritious. So it is not the receiving of the most excellent truths in the ear, which nourishes our souls—but the digesting of them by meditation. Satan does what he can to hinder this duty.
He is an enemy of meditation. The devil does not care not how much we read—so long as we do not meditate on what we read. Reading begets knowledge —but meditation begets devotion. The reason why our affections are so cold to heavenly things is because we do not warm them at the fire of holy meditation. As the musing on worldly objects makes the fire of lust burn; the musing on injuries makes the fire of revenge burn; just so, meditating on the transcendent beauties of Christ , would make our love to Christ flame forth. Meditation has a transforming power in it. The reading of the Word may affect us—but the meditating upon it transforms us.
Meditation stamps the impression of divine truths upon our hearts. By meditating on God's holiness, we grow holy.
Onward, Christian Soldiers
While by meditation we look upon God's purity, we are changed into His likeness. If men would spend but one quarter of an hour every day in contemplating heavenly objects, it would leave a mighty impression upon them! Who can understand it? The heart is the greatest impostor.
Little does a man know what secret atheism, pride, and lust is in his heart. As ignorance blinds, so self-love flatters. Every man is ready to think the best of himself. What Solomon says of love to our neighbor is most true of self-love; "it hides a multitude of sins. Self-love makes one rather excuse what is amiss, than correct it. He came hewing and cutting down men's sins! John the Baptist lifted up his voice like a trumpet, he preached the doctrine of repentance with power!
He came hewing and cutting down men's sins , and afterwards preached Christ to them. First, he poured in the vinegar of the law , then the wine of the gospel.
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This was that preaching which made men studiously seek after heaven. John did not so much preach to please —as to profit ; he chose rather to reveal men's sins—than to show his own eloquence. The best mirror is not that which is most ornate, but that which shows the truest face. That preaching is to be preferred which makes the truest discovery of men's sins, and shows them their hearts! It is the greatest mercy, to have a soul-searching ministry. If one had a desperate wound, he would desire to have it probed to the bottom. Who would not be content to have their souls searched, so they may have them saved?
John the Baptist was a burning and shining light; he did burn in his doctrine and shine in his life; and therefore men pressed into heaven. Error damns as well as vice Error is the adultery of the mind; it stains the soul. Error damns as well as vice. A man may as well die by poison—as by pistol. Truth distinguishes a Christian from the world, as chastity distinguishes a virtuous woman from a harlot. We have not a richer jewel to trust God with than our souls; nor He a richer jewel to trust us with than His truths.
God's severity against sin Meditate on God's severity against sin. Every arrow in God's quiver is shot against sin. Sin burned Sodom, and drowned the old world. The meditation of this would frighten us out of our sins. There cannot be so much sweetness in sin—as there is sting. How dreadful is God's anger! As the looking-glass shows what the face is—whether it be fair or foul; just so, our words show what our heart is. Vain discourse reveals a light, feathery heart. Gracious discourse reveals a gracious heart. The water of the conduit shows what the spring is.
Holy discourse is very edifying. It enlightens the mind when it is ignorant—and settles it when it is wavering. A godly life adorns religion; godly discourse propagates it. Gracious discourse makes us resemble Christ. His words were perfumed with holiness: The more holy our discourse is, the more we are like Christ. God takes special notice of every good word we speak when we meet. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.
When men entertain bad discourse, Satan draws near, and makes one of the company; but when they have holy and gracious discourse, Jesus Christ draws near, and wherever He comes, He brings a blessing along with Him. Go in a feather-bed to Hell Slothful professors are settled on their lees. They make a lazy profession of piety—but use no diligence.
They are like the lilies, which neither toil, nor do they spin. They have some faint wishes, "Oh that I had Heaven! They choose rather to go in a feather-bed to Hell , than to be carried to Heaven in a "fiery chariot" of zeal and diligence. How many sleep away, and play away, their time —as if they were made merely to rest, or amuse themselves! Such as have accustomed themselves to an idle, lazy disposition, will find it hard to shake off, "I have taken off my robe—must I put it on again?
The spouse had laid herself upon the bed of sloth, and though Christ knocked at the door, she was reluctant to rise and let Him in. Enslaved " Enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. Aristotle calls them 'brutish lusts' because when lusts are violent, they will not let reason or conscience be heard; but a man is carried brutishly to the satisfying of the flesh. Men are enslaved by their drunken lusts.
Largely because of its association with missionaries of various types, the song is sung in a number of movies and television programmes. The film, Stanley and Livingstone , depicts Dr. David Livingstone played by Sir Cedric Hardwicke spiritedly leading a choir of African people in this anthem. The piece appears in several other films, including Major Barbara , Mrs. Onward Christian Soldiers is the title of a album and song by the British anarcho-punk band Icons of Filth.
In Christopher Webber 's play Dr Sullivan and Mr Gilbert , the hymn is used with new words about Sullivan's rise to fame, and the artistic compromises that entailed. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Recordings of Hymns and Songs". Testament Books, , p. Ethan Hawke's excellent turn as a conflicted reverend has a 'bonkers' ending" , Philly. Retrieved 10 March Retrieved from " https: Webarchive template wayback links All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April Views Read Edit View history.
In other projects Wikimedia Commons Wikisource. This page was last edited on 14 July , at By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Sheet music from The Hymnal Army and Navy.