SHORT HINTS

ΤΟ

A SOLDIER.

MY GOOD FRIEND:

I Was thinking, the other day, of the quiet

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which I enjoy, while you are gone forth in arms to defend me. I also considered what I could do for you in return. "The Physician," said I, though he does not fight, can bring medicines to the sick and wounded: and even a ploughboy might lead a regiment into a road which they had missed. Cannot I then do something for these brave fellows? Some of them may be sick, and others sad. Some may not be aware who are their Worst Enemies; and others may not know their Best Friends; and others still may never yet have heard what is the True Victory. I will try, at least, to serve them in these things. For who can tell?"

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Besides," thought I, "do 1 not know how useful a hint has sometimes been to me? and

do I not know what benefit a great soldier once received by a hint from a little maid, telling him of a great Prophet who could cure him of his leprosy* Why may not other Soldiers be profited by a word as well as he? I say these my defenders should not want a real friend to instruct and comfort them. I will, therefore, write them a letter; and appeal to the Bible for the truth of it."

A good Soldier is one, who, as the Wise Man expresses it, fears God and the King, and meddles not with them that are given to change: Prov. xxiv. 21. While bad men will always be murmuring and complaining, he knows his privileges as an Englishman. He is firmly attached to his King and Country. He feels bound, in honour and conscience, to defend both. He scorns to tarnish the British name by cowardice, idleness, drunkenness, fraud, swearing, indecency, or the like.

He also knows that there is no villany or cruelty greater than that of robbing a poor, innocent girl of her character and virtue; sinking her thus into prostitution, and destroying at once her body and soul. He knows, too, that those, who tempt him to disbelieve the Bible, or to mock at sacred things, would, if they could, make him an enemy to God and goodness, cut off his only hope, and turn, as it were, a man into a devil.

When Rogues come and tell such a soldier,

• 2 Kings v. 2, 3.

that to be free, he must be a rebel, he is too wise to be caught with the bait. He knows, that, without subordination and obedience, the army, and every other society, must be turned into a Bedlam:-that civil war is the worst of all war: —and that such, as do not submit to lawful authority, can enjoy neither liberty nor property; but must become the slaves of any tyrant or mob, that happens to get uppermost.

And, because a Soldier's life is a life of danger, a wise Soldier learns how to stand prepared to meet every enemy, under every form, and at any moment. For, having the favour of Him, who governs and directs all things, and who he knows will make him happy, whether he lives or dies, he has nothing to fear.

to say:

"Fear the Enemy!" perhaps you are ready "There is not a man among us that has any such fear. We stand ready to meet the worst. We are ready to"

Stay a little, my good friend, and let me ask you, Have you well considered who your worst

enemies are?

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Why yes, to be sure we have"-some might answer: "What Enemies can be worse than the French? They mean to do here, as they have done wherever they came. They mean to strip us of our property, to ravish our wives and daughters, to make slaves of us, and then tell us we are free. Besides which, they"