I have said that—"It is not the uniform that makes the soldier;" nor s his training merely an end in itself. The soldier of the earthly King is not taught merely to keep Tank and march in step, and to use the various articles of his equipment and his weapons, just in order that he may look smart and appear efficient on parade? No! all this is done with a very definite end and purpose in view, that, if the need arises, he may fight bravely and effectively for his King.
Now is it different with us? As Christian soldiers we are taught and trained with a definite purpose, that like those men of whom we read in our text who came to make David King were men of war who could keep rank. In other words marching in step, and under discipline. Most of life is just learning to do that. At school in the arithmetic class you are learning to keep step with the law of figures. In the Choir, the boys are learning to keep step with the law of music. Unless they can learn to do that, there is no place for them in the Choir. We should all soon realize something was wrong if each member kept his own time,—No, they must keep rank with the music and march in step.
Important Charge To be healthy we must keep step with the laws of nature. We cannot go as we please. We are not allowed to, even if we would like to do so.
Health is everybody's business, and if we get fever we have to fall out and get away by ourselves and not come back till we can again walk in step with the law of health. And why should we expect it to te different in the Christian life? We must be taught to march and keep rank as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Wa must walk in the way of his commandments. That is why I gave you such a solemn charge to the baby's God-parents a few minutes ago. Words, may I remind you, that were similarly spoken to the Godparents of each one of you. It is a most important charge. For not only does it place emphasis upon the need of training and instruction in order
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.