CORRESPONDING WITH THE ENEMY.
By J. Clarke
I HAVE heard it related that there was once an officer in the Roman army who was suspected of holding correspondence with the enemy. He was summoned to trial and proved guilty: he was then fastened by one arm to a chariot headed towards the enemy, and by the other arm he was fastened to another chariot headed in the opposite direction. He was then exhorted somewhat in this manner: "You are able to hold connection with the Roman army and with the enemy, therefore you are able to go in opposite directions." The chariots were then put in motion, and the consequences can be better imagined than described. Moral. Those who can serve God and the world (mammon) and those who think they can get ready for translation and at the same time keep up with the fashions and practices of the world, place themselves just where this Roman soldier found himself. Again, if it was necessary for the Roman army to have so strict a discipline, what must the discipline be of those who are to stand in the battle of Armageddon when all the hosts of the enemy are to be marshalled? Again, if it was so terrible to rebel against the discipline of the Roman army, what must be the fate of those who rebel against the discipline of the army where Michael is the General, and angels are the subordinate officers? Again, considering the exigencies of the times, ought not every soldier to get thoroughly versed in the plans and military tactics of this army in which he is enlisted, and won't those who neglect this training make a very bad figure in the battle? Another consideration. This officer might only have been corresponding with some friend, and might have had no designs against his own countrymen; yet only for contempt of rules laid down he would have been doomed to suffer death. Then it is plain to be seen that there was a majesty in Roman law, and Romans saw the necessity of enforcing it, and I put the question, Will God be less terrible in the enforcement of his laws than were the ancient Romans? Ought we not rather to ask pardon of God for drawing such a comparison?