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It must never be forgotten that faith admits of degrees。 All men do not
believe alike； and even the same person has his ebbs and flows of
faith； and believes more heartily at one time than another。 According
to the degree of his faith the Christian fights well or ill； wins
victories； or suffers occasional repulses； es off triumphant； or
loses a battle。 He that has most faith will always be the happiest and
most fortable soldier。 Nothing makes the anxieties of warfare sit so
lightly on a man as the assurance of Christ's love and continual
protection。 Nothing enables him to bear the fatigue of watching；
struggling； and wrestling against sin； like the indwelling confidence
that Christ is on his side and success is sure。 It is the 〃shield of
faith〃 which quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked one。It is the
man who can say； 〃I know whom I have believed〃who can say in time of
suffering； 〃I am not ashamed。〃He who wrote those glowing words； 〃We
faint not；〃〃Our light affliction which endureth but for a moment
worketh in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory〃was
the man who wrote with the same pen； 〃We look not at the things which
are seen； but at the things which are not seen； for the things which
are seen are temporal； but the things which are not seen are
eternal。〃It is the man who said； 〃I live by the faith of the Son of
God；〃 who said； in the same Epistle； 〃the world is crucified unto me；
and I unto the world。〃It is the man who said； 〃To me to live is
Christ；〃 who said； in the same Epistle； 〃I have learned in whatsoever
state I am therewith to be content。〃〃I can do all things through
Christ。〃The more faith the more victory！ The more faith the more
inward peace！ （Eph。 vi。 16； 2 Tim。 i。 12； 2 Cor。 iv。 17； 18； Gal。 ii。
20； vi。 14； Phil。 i。 21； iv。 11； 13。）
I think it impossible to overrate the value and importance of faith。
Well may the Apostle Peter call it 〃precious。〃 （2 Pet。 i。 1。） Time
would fail me if I tried to recount a hundredth part of the victories
which by faith Christian soldiers have obtained。
Let us take down our Bibles and read with attention the eleventh
chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews。 Let us mark the long list of
worthies whose names are thus recorded； from Abel down to Moses； even
before Christ was born of the Virgin Mary； and brought life and
immortality into full light by the Gospel。 Let us note well what
battles they won against the world； the flesh； and the devil。 And then
let us remember that believing did it all。 These men looked forward to
the promised Messiah。 They saw Him that is invisible。 〃By faith the
elders obtained a good report。〃 （Heb。 xi。 2…27。）
Let us turn to the pages of early Church history。 Let us see how the
primitive Christians held fast their religion even unto death； and were
not shaken by the fiercest persecutions of heathen Emperors。 For
centuries there were never wanting men like Polycarp and Ignatius； who
were ready to die rather than deny Christ。 Fines； and prisons； and
torture； and fire； and sword； were unable to crush the spirit of the
noble army of martyrs。 The whole power of imperial Rome； the mistress
of the world； proved unable to stamp out the religion which began with
a few fishermen and publicans in Palestine！ And then let us remember
that believing in an unseen Jesus was the Church's strength。 They won
their victory by faith。
Let us examine the story of the Protestant Reformation。 Let us study
the lives of its leading championsWycliffe； and Huss； and Luther； and
Ridley； and Latimer； and Hooper。 Let us mark how these gallant soldiers
of Christ stood firm against a host of adversaries； and were ready to
die for their principles。 What battles they fought！ What controversies
they maintained！ What contradiction they endured I What tenacity of
purpose they exhibited against a world in arms！ And then let us
remember that believing in an unseen Jesus was the secret of their
strength。 They overcame by faith。
Let us consider the men who have made the greatest marks in Church
history in the last hundred years。 Let us observe how men like Wesley；
and Whitfield； and Venn； and Romaine； stood alone in their day and
generation； and revived English religion in the face of opposition from
men high in office； and in the face of slander； ridicule； and
persecution from nine…tenths of professing Christians in our land。 Let
us observe how men like William Wilberforce； and Havelock； and Hedley
Vicars； have witnessed for Christ in the most difficult positions； and
displayed a banner for Christ even at the regimental mess…table； or on
the floor of the House of mons。 Let us mark how these noble
witnesses never flinched to the end； and won the respect even of their
worst adversaries。 And then let us remember that believing in an unseen
Christ is the key to all their characters。 By faith they lived； and
walked； and stood； and overcame。
Would anyone live the life of a Christian soldier？ Let him pray for
faith。 It is the gift of God； and a gift which those who ask shall
never ask for in vain。 You must believe before you do。 If men do
nothing in religion； it is because they do not believe。 Faith is the
first step toward heaven。
Would anyone fight the fight of a Christian soldier successfully and
prosperously？ Let him pray for a continual increase of faith。 Let him
abide in Christ； get closer to Christ； tighten his hold on Christ every
day that he lives。 Let his daily prayer be that of the
disciples〃Lord； increase my faith。〃 （Luke xvii。 5。） Watch jealously
over your faith； if you have any。 It is the citadel of the Christian
character； on which the safety of the whole fortress depends。 It is the
point which Satan loves to assail。 All lies at his mercy if faith is
overthrown。 Here； if we love life； we must especially stand on our
guard。
III。 The last thing I have to say is this： True Christianity is a good
fight。
〃Good〃 is a curious word to apply to any warfare。 All worldly war is
more or less evil。 No doubt it is an absolute necessity in many
casesto procure the liberty of nations； to prevent the weak from
being trampled down by the strongbut still it is an evil。 It entails
an awful amount of bloodshed and suffering。 It hurries into eternity
myriads who are pletely unprepared for their change。 It calls forth
the worst passions of man。 It causes enormous waste and destruction of
property。 It fills peaceful homes with mourning widows and orphans。 It
spreads far and wide poverty； taxation； and national distress。 It
disarranges all the order of society。 It interrupts the work of the
Gospel and the growth of Christian missions。 In short； war is an
immense and incalculable evil； and every praying man should cry night
and day； 〃Give peace in our time。〃 And yet there is one warfare which
is emphatically 〃good；〃 and one fight in which there is no evil。 That
warfare