COURAGE! by D. T. Taylor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 15, 1877

COURAGE!

By D. T. Taylor

Christ’s serried ranks need courageous leaders. “Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child!” Ill fares the army whose captains are cowards. The rank and file fight well when the leaders know no fear. “Faintheart” makes a bad general. The holy army needs Bunyan’s “Greatheart” at its head. A great soul is ever a tower of strength. Such have the demeanor of invincibility. The single presence of Napoleon Bonaparte with his soldiers was declared to be equal to an army of twenty thousand men. What a tremendous moral power was this! Peter was a bold leader. When he faltered, others faltered. When he stood firm and bold, others stood thus also. Consecrated ability, indomitable commandership in one man is a host. Martin Luther’s words alone were said to be “half-battles.” Every one was born of prayer. Every one was baptized in tears. The errors of a thousand years, routed, fled backward before them. Oh, for more Luthers to-day!

Courage! The Lord is at the front guiding his vast army. Your place is not in the rear, nor out of the line of the column. Stand by the leader. Laggards fall out of the ranks and are gobbled up by the enemy. Cowards slink back to the rear, shirking responsibility. Under the King’s banner, and beneath the shadow of his wings, there alone is safety. You hear a sharp warning, “The Philistines be upon thee!” and your trusty blade is ready for the onset. The grace of holiness gives self-possession. You dare to do right, to be true, to speak the truth. You engrave your mark on mind. You are remembered. “Stand fast.” When Pompeii was exhumed where did the diggers find the Roman sentinel? They found him standing at his post, where his captain had placed him, with his hand still grasping his weapon. No threatening heavens, no quaking earth, no lava stream, nor ashen rain, could shake his soul or fright him from his post. There, after a thousand years had rolled away, he was found. A thousand years may roll over the saint’s lowly grave, but the angels will find him, and eternity will admire him. Only stand where the King wants you, and if you die, die in the army. With such all is well forever and ever.

Courage! To this grace add cheerfulness. The blues are catching, so is good cheer. To every soldier the order has gone forth from the Captain’s lips, “Be of good cheer.” Dare you disobey your superior? Dump that cart-load of borrowed burden. It is contraband in the Lord’s army. You are not required to carry it. Rejoice! Timid Peter sinks looking at the waves. The waves are adamant under his feet when he looks at the great Master. Courage and hope give the sanguine and positive mind. You feel at ease. These are elements of strength, builded on faith in God. The positive soul is a power. Sanguine of success, you powerfully influence others. The weak and halting catch your courage. Truth is true, and there is nothing so true as truth. Speak it as if you believed it. God wants you positive as a prophet, gentle as a woman, firm as a rock, and bold as a lion.

Courage! Your faith, your zeal, your sacrifice, your courage may not be found unto praise and honor in this evil age, but they will at “his appearing.” “I will” accomplishes wonders. Every working flock of two or three should be a nursery of warriors. Brave souls, brave words, brave deeds, train others to bravery. Devils watch for your halting. The world’s great criticising eye is upon you. Sloths and drones are not wanted: workers are. We are to sit down in eternity: we can therefore afford to stand up in time. Neither stars, nor sun, nor oriental skies shine brighter than will the winner of souls, the wise and faithful saint, in eternal day. O child of God, the issues of life and death are in thy hands. Carve out for thyself an immortal name, or die at last and forever. —D. T. Taylor, in Bible Banner.