Then in
that soldier would be fulfilled--has been fulfilled, thank God, a
thousand times, by men who lie in this abbey, and by men, too, of whom we
never heard, "whose graves are scattered far and wide, by mount, by
stream, by sea,"--in him would be fulfilled, I say, the words, "He that
will lose his life shall save it." Then would he have in his heart, and
in his mind likewise, a peace which victory and safety cannot give, and
which defeat, and wounds, ay, death itself, can never take away.
And are not you, too, soldiers--soldiers of Jesus Christ? Then even as
that good soldier, you may be at peace, through all the battles,
victories, defeats of mortal life, if you will be discontented with
nothing save yourselves, and vow, in spirit and in truth, the one oath
which is no blasphemy, but an act of faith, and an act of prayer, and a
confession of the true theology--So help me God. For then God will help
you. Neither you nor I know how; and I am sure neither you nor I know
why--save that God is utterly good. God, I say, will help you, by His
Holy Spirit the Comforter, to do your duty, and to be at peace.
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