Keeping Near the Great Captain.
During the roar and tumult of a great battle in Northern Georgia, while rows of artillery were belching forth fire and death, and sky and land trembled to the tumult of the dreadful battle-shock, eye-witnesses say that little birds flew down from the tree tops and perched themselves, some upon the shoulders of the gunners, and others upon the wheels of the cannon. There they were safe. So on the rude and tremendous battle of life, we all need to be near the great Captain of Salvation; and while his lightnings flash and thunders roll, and arrowy tempests fall upon his foes, we, safe by his side, can even share in the rapture of the strife, and exult in the victories he gains. Our own strength is perfect weakness, but our perfect weakness is changed into the strength of Omnipotence itself when we walk with Jesus, and wear his armor, and fight with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.