f9nv 
 
 Duke University Libranes 
 
 Watchman! what 
 Conf Pam 12mo #528 
 
 DTTlDbmOY 
 
 •"""'111 
 
-No. 19. 
 
 "WATCHMAN! WHAT OP 
 THE NIGHT I" 
 
 A "^ORD OF CHEER TO A SON IN THE ARMY 
 
 Eighteen months ago, you left the parental roof, followed 
 bj a fether's and mother's blessing, and bathed in the tears 
 of loving sisters. In answer to their prayers, regularly of- 
 fered .for " brother,'' you have been mercifully cared for by 
 your Heayeuly Father, and thanks to His name, your life 
 and health have been thus far preserved. More than all, 
 you have, according to the testimony of your companions, 
 been enabled by Divine grace to maintain your Christian 
 character, and while doing your duty as a soldier of your 
 country, have not forgotten your duty as a soldier of the 
 cross. In the meantime, your sainted mother has finished 
 her course on earth, and has been one year in that heaven 
 * where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the 
 weary are at rest." Her pure spirit before the throne of > 
 God, and the prayers of those she left behind, are thus en- 
 gaged for your continuance in the Divine favor. Liit me, 
 then, say a few words to my dear boy, by way of encourage- 
 ment* They are put in print, because there are in our no- 
 ble army no doubt many in circumstances similar to your 
 own, an(^ with God's blc,>sinr. '' - --- be profitable to 
 ■ Lorn likewise. 
 
2 •' WATCHMAN ! WHAT OF THE NIGU T V" 
 
 / 
 
 First, I will say, tliat the hearts of Christians through- 
 out our Southern Confederacy have been greatly cheered 
 by knowing that a deep religious influence is pervading our 
 &Tmy at the present time. Nothing like it has ever been 
 witnessed before in the history of wars and camp life. — 
 This has been due, under God, to the faithful labors of 
 Christ's servants, and to the noble example of some of our 
 commanding officers. These have been raised up ty & kind 
 Providence for the double purpose of ensuring success to 
 our righteous cause, and of vindicating the truth and faith- 
 fulniess of our covenant-keeping God. That man-would be 
 wo»'se than an infidel, who did not see the hand of God in 
 giving us at this time a President who consthntly recog- 
 nizes His hand in our national affairs ; wto, in the hour of 
 darkness and disaster. Las been prompt in callitig thij na- 
 tion to humiliation and prayer ; and in the day of deliver- 
 ance has been equally prompt in calli»g our people to 
 thanksgiving and praise. And who has not been struck 
 with the singular propriety and felicity of the language of 
 his proclamations? What soldier's — what Christian's — 
 what patriot's heart has not been moved by his eloquent 
 address to the troops in the Peninsula, closing with those 
 words worthy to be printed in letters of gold — " Defenders 
 of a just cause, ttiay God have you in his holy keeping !" 
 And who can read the dispatches of that Christian hero, 
 " Stonewall " Jackson, announcing his brilliant successes, 
 without thanking God Jbr having given us such a command- 
 er. At one time his simple announcement is — " God has 
 mercifully crowned our arms with success." At another 
 time he says : ", By God's blessing we gained a signal vic- 
 tory to-day." 
 
 Hear also our distinguished commander-in-chief aunoun- 
 
''" VTATCHMAN 1 WHAT Of THE NIGHT ^'' 6 
 
 ing the brilliant yictory at Manassas on the 28tb of August, 
 with the same devout recognition of the Divine hand, and 
 saying — " To God and to the valor of our troops, a nation's 
 gratitude is due." 
 
 All of these things have a meaning ; and our people ac- 
 cept them as a token of God's favor towards our cause ; 
 and of our final deliverance from our unnatural and cruel 
 enemies. Were it not so, they would be less hopeful of 
 success against the mighty odds of numbers and appliances 
 of war which the North has at its command. "When God 
 tells us in his Word, that " one shall chase a thousand, and 
 two shall put ten thousand to flight," he does not mean it 
 of every class of men, but of the gcdii/ and praying man, 
 and this not in their own strength, but by His mighty 
 power. 'Take courage, then, 'my dear boy, and aU other 
 soldiers engaged in your country's defence! "If God be 
 for us, who can be against us ?" A pOet has said " thrice 
 is he armed who hath his quarrel just;" but. Paul in the 
 Cth chapter of Ephesians tells us of a better armor even 
 than that — " Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of 
 Gudj that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, 
 having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your 
 loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate 
 of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation 
 of the gospel of peace: above all taking the shield of faith, 
 wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of 
 the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the 
 sword of the Spirit, which is the T7ord of God, praying 
 with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch- 
 mg ther&unto with all perseverance." Believe with Davidj 
 that " the Lord of Hosts -is with us, the God of Jacob is 
 cur refuge," and you will then be able to say with that 
 
4 "watchman! what of TMt NIfiHT?" 
 
 man of war, and 3'et true child of God — " though an hoat 
 should encamp against me, my heart will not fear." 
 
 You and your comrades in arms are your country's pre- 
 cious jewels, and while " we wait to welcome you home,' 
 we are above all anxious that you should be returned to us 
 untarnished by vices of any kind. Kemeraber that the 
 most heroic courage, and the most devoted patriotism, al- 
 though the highest of worldly virtues, do not constitute 
 Religion. These may serve to save your country from peril, 
 but will not of themselves save your souls. It is only tho 
 blood of Christ shed for sinners, and faith in that blood, 
 that can save any one of you. Then keep your eyes fixed 
 on his cross, trust in His merits, and He, the captain of 
 your salvation, will bring you off conquerors, and more 
 than ^conquerors. May a merciful Ood continue you in 
 health of body and soul ; and may He who rules in the ar- 
 mies of heaven, rule in our array, and in the hearts of all 
 our people! 
 
THE PROFFERED SUBSTITUTE. 
 
 In these days of warfare this term has become so familiars 
 that even our little children can tell that it means one who 
 takes the place of another, and in every respect answers 
 the same purpose. Many of our countrj-meu, during the 
 present war, have been very solicitous to get substitutes. 
 Many a poor, infirm, and diseased soldier has pined away, 
 and died in our hospitals, because unablo to procure one to 
 fill his place. Many hard earned dollars have been cheer- 
 fully expended, in getting substitutes for the few more for- 
 tunate ones who have returned to be cared for at homo 5 
 and to cheer their desolate families. And who but those 
 who have realized it, can have an adequate idea of the self- 
 denial, the rigid economy, and draining of the widow's 
 purse, to the very last copper, to obtain one to fill the pkce 
 of her delicate and tenderly nurtured boy, " the only son 
 of his mother !'' The substitutes for this war are very ex" 
 pensive, and often prove faithless. A poor man has to give 
 nearly all he possesses, thereby reducing his feeble wife, and 
 helpless little children to extreme poverty, that he may 
 stay, and toil with them day by day for their daily bread- 
 But there is a sithstitufe, of which all can avail themselves 
 and which we wish to recommend to all our toil worn, and 
 sufiering soldiers ; especially to the sick, the wounded and 
 the dying. Dear Soldier, the Substitute of which we wish 
 
to tell you, offers himself .to you, without money and with- 
 out price ! Nor will he prove a deserter. He has already 
 filled your place ; l^aring lived a life of perfect obedience to 
 God, and fulfilled his law to a tittle for you. And as your 
 Substitute, he has borne the penalty of that law, for your 
 transgressions. Will you accept him ? Oh, listen to his 
 gracious invitations : " Look unto me^ and be ye saved, all 
 the ends of the earth ; and again he says, " Seek .ye the 
 Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is 
 near. Let the wicked forsake his wayp!, and the unrighte- 
 ous man liis thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord» 
 and he loill have mercy upon him ; and to our God, for he 
 will abundantly pardon." 
 
 The Bible abounds in precious promises and invitations of 
 mercy, to those who sincerely desire s.alvntion. .. Then I 
 would urge you to " search the Scriptures." And may he> 
 who freely offered to become your substitute, bear the pun- 
 ishment of your sins, and work out for you a perfect righte- 
 ousness, in which the piercing eye of holiness can discern 
 no spot or blemish ! That he may enable you to accept him 
 on his own gracious terms, is the sincere desire of. 
 
iU FROli-EPxED SUBSTITUr^:, 
 
 MERCY FOR THE CHIEF OF SINNERS, 
 
 Depth of mercy ! — can there bo 
 
 Mercy still reserved for me ? ~ 
 
 Can my God his wrath forbear ? # 
 
 Me, the chief of sinners, spare ? 
 
 I have scorned the Son of God, 
 Trampled on his precious blood, 
 Would not hearken to his calls. 
 Grieved him by a thousand falls. 
 
 Lord, incline me to repent ; 
 ■ fcfc* i»c iiow'Tny fall lament— 
 "Deeply my revolt deplore, 
 
 Weep, believe, and sin no more. 
 
 Still for me the Saviour stands. 
 
 Shows his wounds, and spreads his hands ; 
 
 God is love ! I know, I feel ; 
 
 Jesus weeps, and loves me still. 
 
 *' 
 
V 
 
 AN WHirt- (ft THE Ml 
 
 WATCHMAN WHAT OF THE NRJii 
 
 Watcbman tell us of the night, 
 What its signs pf promise are. 
 
 Traveler, o'er ron raountaiirs height. 
 
 \ See that glory-bearaifig star! 
 •Watchman, does its beauteous ray 
 Aught of joy or hope Icretell ? 
 
 Trareler, yes : it brings the day, 
 Promised day of Israel. 
 
 Watchman, tell us of the nlg'U : 
 Higher yet that star ascend <. 
 
 Watcliman, will its beam^ alone-. 
 
 Gild the spot that give tfiem birth : 
 Traveler, ages are its own : 
 
 See ! it bursts' o'er all the eaith ! 
 
 Watchman, tell us of the night, 
 
 For the morning seems to dawn. 
 Traveler, darkness takes it flight. 
 
 Doubt and terror are withdrawn. 
 Watchman, let thy wanderings cease 5 
 
 Hie thee to th}^ quiet home. 
 Traveler, lo ! the Prince of Peace, 
 
 Lo ! the Son of God is come ! 
 
 PRKSBYTERIAN COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION, IUCHMn> 
 
HoUinger Corp. 
 pH8.5