You have been brought
together for a great and holy purpose; the enemies of the Almighty God
are in your country--enemies who can never prevail to the breath of one
hair against His omnipotence; but who may, and who will prevail to the
destruction of your families here, and the perdition of your souls
hereafter, if you fail in performing the duties which are before you.
You are now called, my children--called especially from on high, to
deliver your land from these enemies; to go out to the battle, and to
fight in God's name, till you have restored the King to his throne, and
your pastors to their churches; and I rejoice to learn that you have so
readily undertaken the task which is before you. Till yesterday your
success was most wonderful; your career has been glorious. You
unhesitatingly obeyed the leaders who commanded you, and they led you
from one victory to another: but yesterday you were beaten
back--yesterday evening, for the first time, you found your enemy too
strong for you; they did not fall beneath your bullets; they did not
feel your swords! Why was this, my children? Why was it that on
yesterday evening the protecting hand of heaven was withdrawn from you?"
Here the bishop paused in his address, as though expecting a reply, and
then, after waiting a minute, during which the whole army remained in
most perfect quiet, answered the question himself "Because, my children,
you yesterday followed no accustomed leader; you obeyed no order; you
went out to the battle with self-proud hearts, and a vain confidence in
yourselves, rather than in the Almighty.
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