A BATTLE was raging ‘neath Africa’s sun,
And laurels of glory were brilliantly won,
For Queen and for country they bearded the foe,
Not loving their lives, if their life-blood must flow.
I thought, too, of those who had gone to that land
To carry the water of life in their hand,
To whisper to souls who were dying around,
That all, all they need can in Jesus be found.
A helmet, a sword, a breastplate and shield
Belong to the soldiers of Christ on His field;
The banner of truth is the flag that they bear,
With the name of the King who of all things is heir.
I thought of His soldiers all over the world,
Enduring the conflict, their banner unfurled,
With the name of the King once rejected and slain,
With the name of the King who is coming again.
What led them, rejoicing, their all to forsake?
What lured them to enter the lists at all stake?
‘Twas the grace of their Leader who came from on high,
The love of the Saviour who came down to die.
He took not the kingdom, nor sat on the throne,
When by Israel rejected, though all was His own;
One breath would have withered the strength of the foe,
How lowly and meek was that King here below.
He waited the time of His Father and God
To rule with the scepter and smite with the rod;
To Him it is given o’er all things to reign,
The Lord of all lords is the Lamb that was slain.
He alone was the Victor ‘mid weakness and woe,
When He bruised the head of our terrible foe―
In the dust of that death―‘twas on Calvary’s tree
He suffered and conquered our Saviour to be.
Not after earth’s laurels nor palms do we yearn,
We crave not the pomp of her heroes’ return;
But a crown incorruptible on yonder shore,
To cast at the feet of the Lord we adore.
Oh hearken ye men who in spite of His love
“Will not have to reign” the blest King from above,
The Man of God’s counsels―the Conqueror slain
“Kiss the Son” lest you perish, when He comes again.
For “He cometh with clouds,” and all eyes shall then see
The despised Nazarene whom they nailed to the tree;
He cometh―and over all lands He will reign,
And the earth shall rejoice at His coming again.
A. E. P.