mm No. 61 
 
 HALTING ON THIS MflF JORDAN. 
 
 OR, 
 
 SHALL-YOUR BRETHREN GO TO WAR, AND SHALL YE 
 SIT HERE? 
 
 BV REV. B. MANLY, JR., D. D., GREENVILLE, 8, C. 
 
 Whon the Israelites had conquered a part of the promised 
 land, that part cm the Eastern side of the Jordan, they re- 
 in a mod many months eneamped in the plains of Moab, whence 
 they could look over to the richer and more populous region 
 which was still to be subdued, and which constituted the 
 choice find chief portion of their promised inheritance. 
 
 While there, the children of Reuben and Gad applied to 
 have their portions assigned them at once, in this part of the 
 country. The land was well adapted for pasture. These 
 tribes were specially rich in flocks and herds, aud they were, 
 desirous to secure so suitable a settlement. . 
 
 Moses considered that this was the suggestion of insolence, 
 avarice, of 'cowardice, — or all three; and proceeded accord 
 ingly to admonish them strictly. It was not sUange that such 
 suspicions should rrse in his mind. There had been similar 
 shrinking beiore from their cestiny, and their duty. Bis 
 whole experience had evinced the stubbornness and perver- 
 sity ot the people whom lie had been called to lead. He 
 appeals to them by the memory of the sins and the punish- 
 ments, of their fathers. Happy are we, if a stronger appeal 
 can be made to us, by the memory of our fathers' righteous- 
 ness and blessings. tSad is it, when the righteous depart, and 
 a generation rises up worse than their fathers. 
 
It was to be remembered that the other tribes bad receiv- 
 ed no lot, had not yet conquered their part ; and they might 
 ©omplain, if one, aftar another of the tribes were Battled 
 down, while they had still to fight for theirs, a land unseen 
 and untrodden as yet by them* Moreover it was a. bad pre- 
 cedent. The land, it had been understood, .was to be divided 
 by lot; and if these might select and claim their share, so 
 might others, so might, all. And, worse than all. it looked 
 like disregard of the main central region, the true Land of Pro- j 
 mise, like distrust of the power of God, to give them the whole 
 land, like a breach of the compact implied in their setting out 
 together to conquer the whole land. "And so Moses presses 
 them with the inquiry—'* Shall vour brethren go to war, and 
 -shall ye sit here?" and with the fearful warning—' 4 . Be sure 
 sin shall find you out.-' 
 
 They protested that They had no intention to commit the 
 sin ne supposed. They did net wish to take.up their abode 
 leaving the rest of the tribe with diminished forces, and dis- 
 contented hearts to go on, in discouragement', to attempt the 
 conquest of the remainder of theland. "They desired only to lo- 
 cate their families, and leave their herds" with the younger 
 people as sufficient garrison for the fortified towns; but the 
 armed menwere ready to go over with their brethren to the 
 war, and aid them in reconquering the land, in which their 
 fathers had dwelt. The proposition in this form is accepted 
 by Moses and their wish is gratified. 
 
 It is doubtful whetherthis was their original purpose, or 
 ■whether they were really guilty of the design which Moses 
 ■charged upoir them. It is certain, however, that a similar sin 
 is commHted now, and the analogous errors of our own time 
 may admit of profitable consideration. 
 
 . < A good deal hasbeen said, sometimes in the language of in- 
 dignant denunciation, sometimes in the more caustic phrases 
 of bitter ridicule, of those prudent "keepers at honie" in these 
 times of general peril, who are ready to avail themselves of 
 tlie flimsiest pretext for exemption, and to slink behind feign- 
 ed diseases, or trades and professions long abandoned, to shield 
 them from an honorable discharge of their duty to the country 
 
It is not my intention, nor is it necessary, that I address a 
 word to this class. They are not in ther army — waere ti>is 
 tract will find its- circulation. 
 
 There is another war, however, in which we are engaged 
 with a deadlier foe than the Yankees— a war which demands 
 and deserves the concentration of every man^s powers, and 
 which must be prosecuted with unanimous zeal, and with pa- 
 tient endurance to the— not bitter, but— glorious end. And 
 yet there are those who are ready, in this Spiritual warfare, to 
 halt on this side of Jordan, to leave to others the toiR and 
 the honors of these celestial victories, to sit still while their 
 brethren go to war. I am afraid there are some of these mtne 
 army. . , 
 
 1. There are some who " discourage the heart" of their breth- 
 ren. Everything, in war, depends on keeping up the spirit of 
 the army. Defeat by overwhelming forces is nothing. Good 
 soldiers "can rally and try it again. But if the spirit is broken, 
 whether by treacheries, by hardships and abuse, by multiplied 
 desertions, by discouraging speeches from generals or com- 
 rades, failure is almost inevitable. Now there are, among 
 those who profess to be Christians, .some croakers, who never 
 sing except to a mournful tune, some icebergs that -radiate noth- 
 ing°except chilliness. Their influence, so far as they have any, 
 is of a benumbing, deadning, freezing kind. Like followers 
 who hang about the baggage trains of advancing regiments, 
 always watching for a ride, they are always ready to be 
 helped, always expecting to be trfken care of and comforted, 
 but never dreaming that they might help 01 take oare of any 
 body else. They have to be left behind, sitting still, or even 
 worse, holding back whenever their brethren go forth to war. 
 Now such people are accountable, not only for the harm they 
 have individually done, and for the good they ought to have 
 done, wKich they omitted, but also for the evil influence ex- 
 erted on the others, and the good in them which has been 
 paralyzed. ; " 
 
 Are you one of these? Do you at still when the trumpet 
 sounds ? When you see any one trying to advance the cause of 
 Jesus, do vou think he wcrtild be strengthened, or discouraged 
 
true ztii Je llhnZ * *$* dl8 f ouraging to those who with 
 
 sumect enown by those who profess to be Christians Thp W 
 
 S ttS ? h ' ala8 ' Wlth Painful S ^^-Are you 
 
 2. 7%ere are some who attend to their axon commences and r>er- 
 
 offL fi 7 ° De else ' bufc wit] h entire forgetfulne?s of its 
 SenitefanVSsdi^l 1 "^^ ** ^ ^ th^S 
 
 times more anxiety S^&Sen^S MffE 
 
 IsXfnot eo^e ti the - tn ?f- Pr ° greHS ° f the -S- o? Christ 
 exotnl to hTl I Q " a Wl1 h " gnees t0 buiId U P at another 
 Rd i™ £ ?f P ° ne P r0Di, sing enterprise lest the magni- 
 
 Perhir,^ )? C ? 0< 8 ° m ? *** ^C be ^mini^ed! 
 irf to. ff ' 2 u bln 8 oase - fl,ere was eomethingof pride in M. f <S~ 
 ieve " of e hp f 8 V bnn T°^r el ; bllthad ^ ^ bLh-righ ^3 
 ■ hntol • ■ t S ' Judah and E P h ""-m especially, had risen ^ 
 
 notexpectin an equitable division, fchebest lot: there/ore to sow 
 
 the Hbernacle. Now religion has prior claims r, ,1! Z 
 It demands in every, heart the first place, the best place; but 
 S? en a J e «T* l ? *# ?*** »» other things, and then the 
 Kingdom of God and his righteousness. NoV both classes 
 ■^^^^^^i^^VVOBOwereverBe this usual 
 orcier, and adopt the one which Jesus enjoins. Then we shall 
 obtain the righteousness of God, and all other needful thin** 
 
shall be addad besides, The seiftsh, worldly oboice is aft«n, 
 as in the ca3« of Beuben and Gad, shown to have b*«n least 
 truly wise. First located indeed, they were but first displaced 
 afterwards, first relapsing into idolatry, first carried into 
 captivity, first passing into extinction. Severed gradually in 
 interest and in sympathies, from those on the other side o( 
 the river, attempting a miserable neutrality, when enemies 
 assailed the common cause, and buying inglorious and fatal 
 peace instead of daring and winning in honorable warfare, 
 their history remains a warning of what awaits those who 
 hang back when common duty demands general sacrifices. 
 
 Now, that religion demands some sacrifices, some self 
 denial, some energy, no one can deny. Its rewards cannot be 
 obtained er^cept at such a price : nor is this strange. Nothing 
 else that is valuable is attainable without effort. Alas, there 
 are many who are too indolent to be saved, too inert to re- 
 ceive a heavenly crown, who sit still when others are pressing 
 on to the prize, who love^their ease so well as to iose their 
 souls. 
 
 3. There are those w\o stop short in Christian progress, as if all 
 the loork were accomplished. They have been just converted, 
 perhaps, and conclude that now the important work is clone. 
 It is a mistake. It is just begun. They have only enlisted. 
 They have yet to learn the use of their weapons, to acquire, 
 by patient exercise, skill, rigor, endurance; and then, this is 
 only preliminary to actual engagements, and real triumphs. 
 
 Or possibly, they are Christians who have lost the warmth 
 of their first 'ovc, and who have now begun to feel well satis- 
 lied with themselves just when there is greatest reason for self 
 reproach and self condemnation. They are as good as they 
 need to be, as good as they are expected to be, as good— yes 
 as good as they now want to be. Sad case! Their brethren 
 are warring with all their might against the sins that still- 
 annoy, but Satan has lulled them into a delusive calm, a fatal 
 slumber. They are sitting still, while their foundations are 
 crumbling beneath them. 
 
 Incessant vigilance is the price of success in human warfare, 
 It is even more so in the spiritual, as our enemies are mors 
 
watchful, eager and powerful. There must b |.^^ff e 
 gression on ttie army of Satan. Every birth adds one to the 
 ranks of evil: the hosts of .God are losing by every death an- 
 can only be replenished by conversions, by winning over our 
 
 opponents. - . T . „„-«*£ tn he 
 
 4. There are some who are always leaving tteir own wo A too. 
 done by others. It is so in wordly matters : it is so « spiritual 
 matters. Every one has some work to do m this world. It 
 JTot, he would not be left here, if he is a ready concerted and 
 fit for heaven. He would be taken thither at once ^the 
 Master has appointed him, his time, his place, and his worK 
 
 t0 There is a curious feeling among many that th^fe a great 
 deal to be done in the Redeemer's cause, very ^^^ °? 
 done, in fact absolutely indispensable, and a very firm con 
 yiction that somebody ought to do it, without ^ J™ once 
 occurring to them that they have a share in the responsibility. 
 This necessary labor is to be done by certain nameless per- 
 st 1 :, Xhom 7 all they know is, ^^£*^*^ 
 ber. Christians ought to do so and so It would be a shame 
 for the church to do without this, or ^.^^^If, 
 yet, if all christians did exactly as much, in proporti on to their 
 ifeiiity, to promote these desirable .ends, as they do, there 
 
 - would be nothing done. volio-mn 
 
 No man can possibly do another man's work in ieh| on. 
 I do not mean merely that no man can do another s thinking, 
 praying, believing for him; that no man can repent tor 
 another's sins, or exercise love and reverence "^?* ° £; 
 place. But even those external acts, m which it seems mort 
 reasonable that the 'extra energy of one may SupPjT^de. 
 ficiences occasioned by another's indolence, even those muse 
 be done by each one for himself. *\ / .. h ;«i™niiTit 
 
 Let us see bow this is. Suppose there is a eertai«%mount 
 ■of visiting the sick, of personal effort with the «^°nyerted 
 of other christian labors, which devolves on a particmai 
 church, or on a number of christians casually thrown together, 
 
 - as in an army. ttod knows how much it is, and he has por- 
 tioned it out, so as to require of each one just as much as hi| 
 
J lie—- no more—no less. ^gad he has told us how much? this 
 is, . He requires of each of us, to serve and love him with all 
 the heart, soul, mind, strength. No one can do more than 
 this. Now, one man flinches from his duty, neglects it, over- 
 looks it, and thinks to shift it on another's shoulders. That 
 is impossible. Your neighbor cannot possibly undertake one 
 jot or tittle of your work,, because his hands are full — or ought 
 to be — of his own. If you neglect it, itgoes undone, necessari- 
 ly undone — undone forever. 
 
 Every moment wasted, every opportunity lost of doing good, 
 every favorable opening neglected, not only returns not to you, 
 but offers itself to no other, II is gone. Other's may come 
 to be in like manner neglected, and in like manner to pass 
 away ; but.these come no more to you, or to any- 
 Good men do, indeed, sometimes by neglecting their own 
 proper work, attempt to supply the place left vacant by the 
 folly or negligence of others, but they leave their own place 
 vacant, in part and for a time at least, in so doing. It is a 
 painful and lamentable thing to see faithful and true men 
 almost overwhelmed with the cast oil and neglected burdens 
 of other men, which they are trying to bear, because they 
 find their own efforts to do good hampered by the omissions 
 and deficiences of their associates, and their way clogged up 
 by the undone duties others,have left behind them. 
 
 There is a great work to be done for the salvation of the 
 men in these Southern armies, a work which for many of them 
 must be done soon, or not at all, a -work which will bear on 
 all the interests of our widely extended country, into which 
 ere long these picked men of every district will be returning 
 to season all circles with their influence, and to bless every 
 community with the example of their virtues, or curse the 
 laud with the contagion of their vices. It has been often said, 
 and truly, that there never, was an army like ours. No 
 sweepings of our streets, no floating froth, nor sunken dregs 
 of our population made it up ; but our best, our noblest, well 
 nigh our all, are there. And, if this be true, never was such 
 a field for usefulness opened before mortal man. , 
 
 To this work of evangelizing the army, every christian in it id 
 
8 
 
 specially invited. Chaplains, eolportuers, missionaries, all 
 may do their utmost, and yet there is room. Some are faith 
 fully trying to do their duty. What are you doing ? Are you— 
 can you be sitting still ? They owe the Lord no more than 
 you. They owe the souls of men no more than you. Why 
 should they engage in the work of the Lord, and you not ? Tf 
 it is regarded as toilsome and onerous, should they bear it all ? 
 ] fit pays back rich spiritual profit, and real happiness, ought 
 they lo enjoy it exclusively? If the land to be won is rich, 
 fertile, glorious, will ye sit idly here, while they go and gain 
 it! 
 
 What has been said so far, applies mainly to such as pro- 
 fess religion. Have the unconverted no interest here too ? It 
 is for your soul that many are striving and praying. Shall 
 others be concerned for you, and you unconcerned for your- 
 self? Shall they enter into the combat for your deliverance, 
 while you stand coolly by, neutral, indiff&renl? 
 
 Will you be satisfied to take the land tfeis side of Jonlai*. 
 the fair but deceitful pleasures of this world, for your portion, 
 and give up a hope a;-d a home' beyond the grave? Alas! 
 How soon shall you be compelled to leave them ! Be sure your 
 sin will find you out If not before, you will lament vpur 
 wretched choice when you arc called lo pass over Jordan, with 
 no kind hand to divide the waves. Ere you are settled in your 
 boasted possessions, ere your houses have become warmed by 
 your presence, you may be summoned away to another house, 
 that appointed for all living. Or you may see your- mistake 
 earlier. You may choose, as Lot ; the fair and fertile plains 
 of Sodom, and live to see it desolate and blackened with the 
 curse of' God. No possessions are secure enough, no wealth 
 ample enough to give true happiness without the favor of God. 
 And with that, one can have peace passing all understanding, 
 no matter "what his earthly lot. "Seek first the kingdom of 
 God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added 
 unto vou."