THE GREAT VICTORY AT, MANASSAS JUNCTION. 
 
 GOD THE ARBITER OF BATTLES. 
 
 
 PREACHED 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCI L 
 
 GREENE COUNTY, ALABAMA, 
 
 Oa the 28th day of July. ivii. 
 
 BY RE T. IS. WINN 
 
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 [SHED I*Y REQ1 
 
 iEuskalcosa, 2Ua. 
 
 
 
 — »se$fi 
 

 SERMON, 
 
 1st. Samuel, 17ih Chapter and 47th verse— "And all this assembly shall 
 know that the Lord sp.vcth nut with sword and spear; for tho battle is the 
 Lord's." 
 
 Of tlie numerous enemies with whom the children of Israel wero 
 often called to contend, none gave them more trouble than the PhiK 
 istines, their nearest neighbors. For hundreds of years they were a 
 source of incessant annoyance to the people of God. Instead of re- 
 maining at home, attending to their own affairs, and enjoying their 
 own rights and privileges, ihey seemed bent on the political and com- 
 mercial subjugation of the Jews. Many were the bloody and dess 
 Iruotive wars which they waged against this people. At the timo 
 to which our text refers, this troublesome enemy had again entered 
 into a contest with the Israelites, and were in the act of attempting, 
 for the seventh time, their ruin as a nation. 
 
 Saul was now the King of Israel, to whom all tho people were 
 looking for protection. But it was reserved for David, then an ob- 
 scure individual, and a mere stripling of a shepherd boy to accem> 
 plish the deliverance of tho nation. 
 
 It is to this war, the great battle which soon ensued, the victory 
 which followed, the rejoicings and thanksgivings of the people, with 
 other attendant circumstances, that we would this morning invite 
 your attention. 
 
 And first, we will consider the character and position of tho two 
 combattauts. When great nations are engaged in war, it is always a 
 matter of considerable importance, not only to themselves, but to 
 disinterested spectators, to know the relative position of the parties 
 in the contest. 
 
 In the case before us, we have tho Philistines on the one side, tho 
 old and deadly enemies uf tho Jews — a people, who for hundreds of 
 years, had been trying to destroy them. A more irreconcilable and 
 uncompromising enemy, no |>et>ple evt«r had. To fall into the hands 
 of the Pbilistiues, was, in the estimation of the Jews, a very great 
 calamity. 
 
 These Philistines wore a numerous, wealthy and powerful people. 
 At that day, their commerce is said to have been equal, if not supe- 
 lior, to that of any other nation in the world. They were noted for 
 their many cities, which wero well peopled, rich and powerful. — 
 Along the whole coast on that part of tho Mediterranean where their 
 country lay, there was a line of towns running from North to South, 
 greatly distinguished iu history. Arooui* ihcui were Gaza, Ashdod, 
 
Askalon, <latli and Ekron. It was evidently in their power greatly 
 to barrass and injure any people whom they undertook to destroy 
 
 This people were now engaged in a war entirely unnecessary and 
 uncalled for. A war which the Israelites had not provoked, and 
 which they would gladly have prevented. It was a war of conquest 
 and subjugation. A war to gratify animosity, prejudice and passion. 
 The two nations had been enjoying a short period of peace, when 
 suddenly the Philistines are found arrayed for the battle, without any 
 reasons assigned for so doing. We simply read: " Now the Pkilis- 
 tines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered at 
 Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, aud pitched between Shochoh 
 and Azekah." 
 
 This army of the Philistines is supposed to have been a very larga 
 one. Their numbers are not stated, but we know that in their other 
 war with Saul, only four years before, they had thrown over 3UO,000 
 men into the field. And as they were burning with revenge, and 
 wished to retrieve the*victory then lost, we may conclude that they 
 had collected a mighty host for this war. A uumber calculated to 
 overawe and crush all before them. 
 
 This army had crossed the borders of Palestine, and were now 
 encamped on the soil of Judea. The Jews had the melancholy satis- 
 faction of beholding them in their own country, at their very doors; 
 for we are told that they " were gathered together at Shochoh which 
 belongeth to Judah.'' If their progress was not speedily arrested, 
 thev might, in a few days, overrun and subdue the whole country. 
 
 These Philistines seemed to have been led by one, in whom they 
 placed the most implicit confidence, Goliath the giant. In height he 
 was six cubits and a span, which is said to be equal to eleven feet 
 and four inches. This giant was clad from head to foot with the 
 heaviest armor, and bore the most formidable weapons. lie had a 
 helmet of brass upon hia head, and' ho was armed with a coat of 
 mail : and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of biass. 
 And he had greav«s of brass upon hia legs, aud a target of brass 
 between his shoulders. Aud the staff of his spear was like a weaver's 
 beam., and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron : and 
 one bearing a shield went before him." With such a champion to 
 lead them, the Philistines defied the armies of Israel, lie was re- 
 garded by them very much as Gen. Scoil has been regarded by the 
 people of the North, an invincible leader. 
 
 But we must not neglect to add, that these Philistines were engaged 
 in a bad cause, and were actuated by wrong motives. They had 
 neither truth nor justice on their side. The God of the Bible was 
 not their God. They were warring against the institutions of heaven, 
 and were trying to overthrow the^religion of the Jews, They boasted 
 of their strength, defied Israel, and virtually, Israel's God also. Such 
 we find to have been the character and position of the Philistines, 
 one of the parties in this contest. Surely, no good could be expected 
 o f such a people, engaged in such a cause. 
 
 Let us next proceed to consider the character and position of the Is- 
 raelites, the other party involved in this contest. Though we do noi 
 
pretend to claim for them immaculate perfection, though they were 
 guilty of many sins, which called for immediate repentance before 
 God, yet were they right as to the principles at stake in the present 
 conflict. They were engaged in a war not of their own seeking. — 
 Their country being invaded, their homes, many of them desolated, 
 their rights assailed, their religion threatened, their property wasting, 
 their countrymen being killed, and their national existence endangered, 
 they rallied as one man at the call of Saul, their King. Acting 
 purely on the defensive, they wanted to hold all that was lawfully 
 their own, neither more nor less. They were fighting for their 
 rights, their liberties and their religion. They were struggling to 
 save their homes, their wives, their daughters, and their sons. A 
 people who would not defend themselves under such circumstances, 
 do not deserve the sympathy of either man or (rod. Their position, 
 we think, bears a marked similarity to that of the people of these 
 Confederate States. We, therefore, of all others on the earth, can 
 appreciate the feeling of the Jews as they flew to arms and gathered 
 mound the banner of King Saul on the heights about Elah, just a* 
 our brave soldiers are now flocking to Manassas Junction and other 
 points of danger. 
 
 Heboid, my hearers, the position ot these two opposing armies at 
 this critical juncture in the war! Here they both are encamped in 
 view of each other with but a small intervening space between them. 
 " And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel 
 stood on a mountain on the other side; and there was a valley be«v 
 tween them." Thus, for more than a month, they continued to oc- 
 cupy these positions without coming to a general engagement. The 
 one is self-confident and defiant, trusting in their great champion, 
 Goliath. The other is moving prudently, and secretly calling on 
 God for help. The result of the pending struggle, who can foretell? 
 Such was the state of things at this stage of the war. 
 
 We call your attention in the second placo, to the battle which ul- 
 timately ensued between these two armies now encamped on opposito 
 mountains. For a time the contest was delayed. Forty days inter- 
 vened and no blow was struck. An insuperable difficulty seemed to 
 be in the way of the Israelites. Goliath, the giant, held in terror the 
 whole camp of the Hebrews. " And there went out a champion out 
 of the camp of the Vhilislines, Goliath of Gath. And he stood and 
 cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, choose you a 
 man for you, and let him come down to me. Give me a mac that 
 we may tight together. I defy the armies of Israel this day." Here 
 then was the trouble. Where could one be found able and willing 
 to cope with such a monster? "Not even the valiant Saul nor his 
 daring son Jonathan, durst uudertake the adventure." The king was 
 so much troubled, that he offered large inducements to the man who 
 would accept of the giant's challenge. "And it shall be, that the 
 man who killeth him, the king will enrich with great riches, and 
 will give him his daughter, and make his father's house tree in Isra- 
 el." Still no one offered himself. The cause of Israel languished. 
 Thing* were be 'earance. 
 
Now there lived at this time in the town of Bethlehem-Judah, 
 an old man by name Jesse, who had three sons in tho army of Saul. 
 David, the youngest, was retained at home " to feed his father's 
 sheep." Being naturally anxious about the fate of his sons in the 
 camp, the old man one day said to David, " take now for thy breth- 
 ren an ephah of this parched corn, and those ten loaves, and these 
 ten cheeses, and run to the camp, and look how thy brethren fare, 
 and take their pledge. And David rose up early in the morning, and 
 went, aa Jesse had commanded him," and reached the place just in 
 time to engage in the fight and save Israel a most disastrous defeat. 
 One hour later, and the battle would have been lost. We are told, 
 "And he came to the trench as the host was going forth to the fight, 
 and shouted for the battle. For Israel and the Philistines had put 
 the battle in array, army against array." A few moments more, and 
 the terrible clash of arms would come. Having dispatched his busi- 
 ness with his brethren, David began at once to inquire into the stale 
 of things then existing between the two armies. Ascertaining that the 
 dread of the giant had paralyzed every arm, so that defeat and ruin 
 seemed to await the Israelites, he boldly stepped forward and accept- 
 ed the challenge of Goliath ; notwithstanding the opposition ho met 
 with from Eliab, his eldest brother, who accused hira of being actu- 
 ated by improper motives. Even Saul, who had been so anxious to 
 
 find 1 1 man TDl^ff^^ePP^^Vte^h^me^^t^Pl^^ hiu ? . fr0 , r " ™" 
 
 dertaking the contest. " rhou art not able to go against this Philis- 
 tine to fight witririifiQIfirWitJu lajinKiinfiJ jmm\ and ha a man of 
 war from his yo^eB^^nhjSjCOii^ge in the righteous- 
 ness of his cause, strong fu the nope -or obtaining lielp from Gou, and 
 determined to wipe away the reproach from Israel, and save his 
 country, he persisted in his determination, and went forth at once to 
 meet the giant in the valley below. 
 
 It was a critical moment for millions of the human family, Tho 
 fate of nations hung in the balance. All gazed in breathless sus- 
 pense on the combatants as they stood face to face in sight of both 
 armies. None can describe the emotions that must have swelled the 
 bosoms of thousands of anxious spectators. Behold them, aud ob- 
 serve the contrast 1 There is great Goliath, more than eleven feet 
 high, clad from head to foot with a heavy armor, bold and defiant, 
 looking with disdain upon David, and threatening to " give his flesh 
 unto the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field." There is 
 David on the other hand, a mere youth, only twenty-two years of 
 age, of a moderate stature, fair and ruddy, with a mild but calm 
 and determined expression of countenance, having only a staff in his 
 hand, a shepherd's bag, a sling, and a few smooth stones out of tho 
 brook for his weapons. Hear his words and observe the secret of his 
 success. " Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and 
 with a shield ; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, 
 the God of the armios of Israel whom thou hast defied. And this 
 assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear : 
 for the battle is the Lord's, and lie will give you into our hands." 
 With these words, he hurled a stone from his sling at the giant, 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/greatvictoryatmaOOwinn 
 
pierced Lis forehead, tbe only exposed part of liis body, anil felled 
 him to the earth. Then with a shout that almost shook the moun« 
 tains around, did all Israel, to a mau, pitch into the fight, and carry 
 carnage and destruction into the ranks of the enemy. Blood flowed 
 as was never before nor since seen in the valley of Elah. The Phil- 
 istines, surprised and cast down in heart at the fall of their champi- 
 on, became panic stricken, and fled in the utmost disorder toward 
 their own country. Pursued by the Israelites to the gates of their 
 cities, they perished by thousands on the wayside. " And the woun- 
 ded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto 
 Gath and unto Ekron." And the children of Israel returned from 
 chasing after the Philistines, and they "spoiled their tents." Thus en- 
 ded the great battle which for forty days had been so much dreaded. 
 God had interposed, sent liis servant David at the last moment to 
 their assistance, and thus saved the country. It was tbe right man, 
 at the right time, and in the right place ; showing the truth of our 
 text, that " the Lord saveth not with spear and sword ; for the battle 
 is the Lord's."' lie can use any means, however simple and insignifi- 
 cant, to accomplish his purposes. 
 
 The third and last point to which we would call your attention is, the 
 manner in which the minds of the people at large were afiected by the 
 news of this great victory. We have noticed the gloom and distress 
 which for months hung over the public mind. We have seen the 
 danger to which the whole country was exposed. We have observed 
 the consternation produced bv the threats of the giant Goliatb. But 
 now that the battle has been fought, the victory won, and the power 
 of the enemy crushed, we hear of nothing but gratitude, joy, and 
 rejoicing throughout the whole country. A happier people for the 
 time being never lived. Noue but those who have passed through 
 similar scenes can appreciate their feelings. Sometime alter the vic- 
 tory, Saul, accompanied by David, went on a triumphant progress 
 through the cities of Israel that lay next to him, to receive the con^ 
 gratulalious of the people. Aud when he made his entry into any 
 place, it is said, that thy women, who were represented more or less 
 on the battle-field by their fathers, husbauds, sons and brothers, 
 "came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet 
 king Saul with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. 
 And the women auswered one another as they played, and said, Saul 
 hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." 
 
 And now, my brethren, my countrymen, one and all, in applying 
 the subject which we have been discussing to the occasion which 
 called us together this mcrning, let me ask, of what have you been 
 reminded by the events just narrated to this congregation ? Llare 
 you not observed a striking coincidence between the situation of tho 
 Israelites in their contest with the Philistines and the situation of the 
 people of this Confederacy in their present struggle with the Norths 
 em Government ? The Philistines were the old and deadly enemy 
 of the Jews ; so, we think, the North has long felt and acted toward 
 us. The Philistines were a numerous, wealthy and powerful people, 
 possessing numy commercial cities; so is it this day with the North, 
 
The Philistines waged a war against the .lows provoked by them* 
 selves; so, as we believe, the North is now doing unto its. The PhiU 
 istinea invaded the tlie country of Judea, plauting their unhallowed 
 io.'t on tlie sacred hills of Canaan; so has the North not waited to 
 be assailed by US, but has for months encamped on the soil of the 
 South. The Philistines were backed by a powerful army; so is tho 
 North now gathering to its help hundreds of thousands. Tho Phil- 
 istines placed unbounded confidence in their champion Goliath of 
 Gath; so has the North from tho beginning of this contest relied 
 Very much on tho military genius and prowess of Gen, Scott, their 
 great leader. Tho armies of tho Philistines for forty days were en* 
 camped in close proximity to those of Israel; so has it been for about 
 the same space of tirao with the armies of the Federalists and tho 
 Confederates. It reminds us of Alexandria and Fairfax, where their 
 extended lines almost met, and tho roll of the drum could be heard 
 from the one to the other. The army of the Philistines was met and 
 overthrown L>y Israel; the army of Federalists has just received a 
 terrible defeat from the Confederates at Manassas Juuction. Tho 
 parallel between the two is so striking, tho coincidence is so romarka* 
 Lie, that I have been amazed at the fact, in my investigation of the 
 .subject. It seems to me lhat there is meaning in all this. Wo hold 
 it up for your consideration. 
 
 But to go more into particulars, we would remind you, that a lit* 
 tie over a month ago, the President of this Confederacy, feeling the 
 great responsibility on us in this solemn and momentous movement, 
 believing in the righteousness of our cause, and conscious of entire 
 dependence on "the God of battles" for success, appointed the 13th of 
 June, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer throughout this 
 entire Confederacy. We met here, and in tho neighboring church 
 of our Methodist brethren, in largo and solemn assemblies, as did the 
 people in almost every part of the land. Wo tried to humble our* 
 selves before God, and to repent of all our sins, both individual and 
 national. We asked forgiveness for tho past, and implored assistance 
 for the future. That clay will long be remembered by tho people of 
 this generation. It was not a vain and useless ceremony. There is 
 efficacy in faith, repentance and prayer. Events rolled rapidly on. — 
 Large armies have been gathering on both sides, and numerous con- 
 flicts have occurred, which, in the main, have been wonderfully favor- 
 able to us. Within the last forty clays, the two opposing armies have 
 been approaching each other in the North of Virginia as we havo al- 
 ready reminded you. We could almost say "the Federalists stood on 
 a mountain on one side, and tho Confederates stood on a mountain 
 on the other side : and there was a valley between them." It wa9 
 evident that a great battle, which might decide the fate of. the parties 
 concerned, was fast approaching. It was now, as in tho days of Israel, 
 that the hopes and perhaps the destiny of millions, hung suspended in 
 the balance. A turn either way would produce great results. At 
 length, on the 7. 8th of July, the cr < il our position at Bull's 
 Run, and were three times repulsed win This was 
 
 joy enough for one ' 
 
low. But not content with this unsuccessful trial of their valor, after 
 being reinforced by large numbers from Washington and other places, 
 and headed, as we are informed, by Gen. Scott, the great Goliath of 
 the North, they renewed the contest at Manassas Junction a few days 
 afterward. Little did we think, as we assembled on Sunday last, iu 
 our several places of worship, aud unitedly sent up our prayers to 
 God for the success of our cause, that our fathers, husbands, sons and 
 brothers were pouring out their life's blood on the battle field in de- 
 fence of our rights, our liberty and our religion. It was an awful 
 day. Such a strife, the people of America never witnessed. It was 
 steel against steel, and sword against sword. Liberty and tyranny, 
 truth and error, right and wrong, Christianity and infidelity, Southern 
 valor and Northern hate, tried their strength against each other. 
 
 The public journals inform us, that for many hours the contest 
 raged with varied aud doubtful success. At length, an important 
 portion of the army being almost overpowered by numbers, evinced 
 signs of giving way and retreating before the enemy. It was a criti- 
 cal hour. O for a David to crush the giant aud his legions ! A few 
 moments more and all might bo lost. But God hears prayer. In 
 answer to our petitions on the 13th of July, in answer to the many 
 prayei - 3 sent ou high since the beginning of our troubles, He interpo- 
 sed in the needful hour and sent to the aid of our struggling soldiers, 
 Jefferson Davis, our President, whom for that day at least, we take the 
 liberty of denominating the David of the South, The iron horse, which 
 for hours had been speeding its way from liichmond, at last landed 
 its rider safely on the battle field. Inspired by the presence of such a 
 man and led ou by the genius and valor of Beauregard and Johnston, 
 the battle was renewed with redoubled energy. A few hours more and 
 the victory was won, and as I verily believe, the Confederacy has been 
 saved. Young David of the South has crushed great Goliath of the 
 North. If the battle was severe, the victory has been most complete. 
 We ''spoiled their tents." 
 
 And to-day, my countrymen, we meet here as christians, and as 
 patriots, by the recommendation of our Congress, not to abuse our en- 
 uuemies, not exult over their loss, not to boast of our own valor, but 
 to give thanks to Almighty God for the great victory which He, and 
 lie alone, has enabled us to achieve. We take none of the honor, 
 none of the praise to ourselves. The whole work, from the beginning 
 to the end, was the work of God. "And all this assembly shall know 
 that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear : for the battle is the 
 Lord's." No truth is more clearly and forcibly inculcated in the 
 Scriptures than this, that God is the Arbiter of the battles of men. 
 "Counsel is mine and sound wisdom. I am understanding. I have 
 strength. By Me kings reign, and princes decree justice. The race 
 is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. The horse is pre- 
 pared against the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord. Some 
 trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we will remember the 
 name of the Lord our God." I say again, that all the praise and 
 glory of this great victory belong to God, aud to Cod alone. We 
 take nouo of it to ourselves. ILj gave us the mcu to fk'ht this battle. 
 
lie nerved them foi llie conflict. lie sustained them m ilio Leal oi 
 the- strife, lio struck panic into the Imam of tho enemy. Ho achiev- 
 ed lor us the victory, We do therefore, this day, in behalf of the 
 
 cflioers of this government, in behalf of llie people of ibis Confede- 
 racy, in behalf of coming generations, and in the name of religion, 
 liberty and humanity, publicly return our thanks to Almighty God 
 lor what he has enabled us to do. "Sing unto the Lord a new song. 
 Sing uulo the Lord with a harp, and willi the voice of a psalm. Let 
 the Hoods clap their hands, |«t the hills be joyful together before the 
 Lord, for He hath done marvellous things. Llis right hand, aud ilia 
 holy aim hath gotten JJim the victory." 
 
 L'ut think not, my hearers, when you shall have finished the servi- 
 ces of this day, that you will have done your whole duty iir the mat- 
 ter before us. liemember, that prayer and praise go together. Wo 
 would just here remind ycu of your great danger. Success often 
 makes men proud and selfconfideut. beware that you do not, in tho 
 least degree, relax your efforts at the Throne of Grace. Indulge not 
 the delusive thought that you have nothing more to do. The call for 
 earnest aud incessant prayer is louder than ever. There are indica- 
 tions that the strife has just fairly begun. The thiist of the enemy 
 lor blood is waxing stronger and stronger. We lear there are other 
 terrible coufiiets aliead. l'ut not your trust in men. But pray with- 
 out ceasing, that God may not forsake us in this our hour of need. 
 1'rny that tor the take of his Son, Jesus Christ, who alone has tho 
 [>ower to (jiiell the raging storm of humau passion, that lie would 
 enable us to continue triumphant to tho end, and that Ho may soou 
 secure to us an honorable and a permanent peace. 
 
 One word more, and we shall have done. Our joy to-day, alas ! is 
 not unmixed with giief. This great and glorious victory has cost us 
 much. Many a noble son of the South has fallen a sacrifice in vin- 
 dication of his country's rights. 'Tn the midst of our rejoicings over 
 the result of the conflict, let i"s drop a tear to the memory of those 
 noble men who peiished at the post of duty on the battle field. Let 
 us not forget, at the same time, to sympathize with the families who 
 have been to suddenly bereaved." Let us adopt, as our own, that Ues- 
 olutiou of our Congress, which commends them to our sympathy and 
 assistance. Lot, us bear the Ci»ses of the many widows and orphans 
 thus left without a husband and father, to the Throne of Grace, and 
 beseech for them the care and protection of Jesus, the friend of the 
 ofllicted. 
 
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