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George Washington Flowers 
 Memorial Collection 
 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ESTABLISHED BY THE 
 FAMILY OF 
 
 COLONEL FLOWERS 
 
A DISCOURSE 
 
 DELIVERED TO THE TROOPS, 
 
 STATIONED AT 
 
 GLOUCESTER POINT, VA. 
 
 FEBRUARY a8th, 186^. 
 
 BY REV. WM. H. WHEELWRIGHT. 
 
 RICHMOND: 
 
 CHAS. H. WYNNE, PRINTER, 94 MAIN STREET. 
 
 1862. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE, 
 
 #■ 3(33 
 
 Gloucester Toint, FeVy 28(h, 18C2. 
 Rbv. Wm. II. Wheelwright, 
 
 Major 26th Reft Va. Vols. 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 Having listened with 
 profound interest and unnflfectcd satisfaction to the admirable and appropriate 
 discourse delivered to-day by yourself to our troops on the field after inspec- 
 tion, and believing that its publication would be a means of good to our cause 
 and our country, we very respectfully request a copy for publication aud gene- 
 ral distribution among our troops. 
 
 Very respectfully, your fellow oflScers, 
 
 r. R. PAGE. Lieut. Col. 26th Reg. Va. Vols. 
 
 CIIAS. H. DIMMOCK. Capt. Engineers, 
 
 JOSHUA li. GARRETT, Capt. Co. A, 26 Reg. Va. VoU. 
 
 JOHN T. PERRIN, 
 
 " E, 
 
 N. B. STREET, 
 
 " C, 
 
 R. H. SPENSER, 
 
 " G, « " 
 
 DANIEL B. EASELEY 
 
 " K, " « 
 
 J. CALVIN COUNCIL, 
 
 I, " " 
 
 R. A. SUTTON, 
 
 " H, 
 
 ALEX. JAMES, 
 
 " D, 
 
 AV. R. PERRIN, 
 
 « F^ « « 
 
 R. M. PAGE, 
 
 Lieut. Co. A, " " 
 
 G. W. CAMP, 
 
 " F, 
 
 R. B. BERRY, 
 
 « E, " " 
 
 ACHILLES ROWE, 
 
 « Y^ « « 
 
 JAS. W. DAVIS, 
 
 « F, « « 
 
 E. T. THRUSTON, 
 
 « E, " « 
 
 J. T. OWENS, 
 
 « B, 
 
 A. P. MILLER, 
 
 « p^ « <c 
 
 L. W. THOMAS, 
 
 « D, " « 
 
 J. R. nOWSER. 
 
 " C, 
 
 JNO. W. HUNDLEY, 
 
 " C, « 
 
 JAS. R. HART, 
 
 " C, " « 
 
 R. B. ROY, 
 
 « G, " " 
 
 M. B. DAVIS, 
 
 « G, " « 
 
 A. P. BYRD, 
 
 11 Q It I< 
 
 JNO. IT. ESTE8, 
 
 « k', " " 
 
 A. W. PO IN DEXTER, 
 
 « K, " " 
 
 WM. J. YOUNGER, 
 
 " K, " " 
 
 J. W. ROANE, 
 
 .1 B^ « « 
 
 J. H. VVADDILL, 
 
 11 A_ 11 « 
 
 D. P. BAHNETT, 
 
 11 A, " " 
 
 JAS. D. TAYLOR, 
 
 11 ){^ « « 
 
 WM. C. GAYLE, 
 
 « If, « 11 
 
 GEO. P. LIVELY, 
 
 " H, " " 
 
 J. W. SMITH, 
 
 I, « " 
 
 S. P. LATANE, 
 
 I, " « 
 
 A. C. WALKER, 
 
 1, " " 
 
 J. M. NICHOLSON, 
 
 11 u^ .1 « 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Gloucester Point, Va., March Zd, 1862. 
 
 To P. R. Page, Lieut. Col. 26th Reg't Va. Vols. ; Chas. H. Dimmock, Capt. 
 Engineers; Joshua L. Garrett, Capt. Co. A, 26th Reg't Va. Vols., and 
 others, Officers of the C. S. Army — 
 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 Tour note of the 28th ult. has been received and considered. 
 
 I am convinced, that while the truths indicated in the discourse referred to 
 are of the first importance, they are inadequately presented, and the produc- 
 tion has no literary merit which can commend it to general favor; yet, as ad- 
 ventitious circumstances — the occasion, the place of delivery, and the relations 
 existing between the speaker and his hearers — may give it interest and make 
 it the means of doing good to my companions in arms at this post, I accede 
 to your request and herewith place a copy of the discourse at your disposal. 
 
 With grateful appreciation of the friendly regard manifested in the terms 
 of your note, and with earnest prayer that each one of you may be a happy 
 participant of the great salvation of Christ Jesus our Lord, 
 
 I am, most respecftuUy, 
 
 Your friend and brother in arms, 
 
 WM. H. WHEELWRIGHT. 
 
DISCOURSE. 
 
 The narrative contained in 1 Samuel, from Chapter iv. to vii. 
 inclusive, is my subject. 
 
 Israel at war with the Philistines, the hostile armies pitch 
 near Ebenezer, presently they join battle. Israel was smitten, 
 with a loss of four thousand men. 
 
 The Elders consult as to the cause of the disaster, and re- 
 commend in order that it may bo retrieved, to bring the Ark 
 of the Covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh into their cj^mp, 
 " that when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hands 
 of" our enemies." 
 
 The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was an oblong chest, 
 made of precious wood, overlaid within and without with gold ; 
 covered with the Mercy Seat, of pure gold; at either end of 
 which was a cherub of gold, whose outstretched wings covered 
 the Mercy Seat, while their faces looked one to another. In 
 the Ark was deposited the Tables of the "Law, a pot of manna, 
 and Aaron's Rod that budded, mementoes of remarkable events 
 in the History of the Hebrews, illustrating the peculiar rela- 
 tion which they sustained to God, as his chosen people. 
 Moreover, the Mercy Seat was the appointed place of meet- 
 ing and communion with God; the oracle of no dubious decla- 
 rations, but whence all things were plainly, unequivocally 
 declared, which were given in commandment unto the children 
 of Israel. 
 
 The Ark was brought, under the charge of Iloplmi and 
 Phinehas, the two sons of Eli. Its approach excited great en- 
 thusiasm in the camp of Israel. " All Israel shouted with a 
 a great shout, so that the earth rang again." 
 
 The Philistines were terrified, saying: "Wo unto us! who 
 shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty Gods? These 
 
6 DISCOURSE. 
 
 are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in 
 the "wilderness." 
 
 Their leaders encouraged thera, saying: "Be strong, and quit 
 yourselves like men, ye Philistines, that ye be not servants 
 unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves 
 like men, and fight." 
 
 The battle came on and Israel fled every man to his tent; 
 thirty thousand were slain by the pursuing Philistines. Among 
 the dead were the two wicked sons of Eli; and the Ark of the 
 Covenant of the Lord was taken. 
 
 A fugitive from the field, with rent clothes and earth upon 
 his head, finds poor old Eli sitting by the wayside, his heart 
 trembling for the Ark of the Lord. The messenger tells his 
 sad story. Israel is fled; a great slaughter among the people; 
 thy^two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the 
 Ark of God is taken. When he made mention of the Ark of 
 God, Eli fell off his seat backward by the side of the gate, and 
 his neck brake, and he died. His daughter-in-law, the wife of 
 Phinehas, hearing the tidings, bowed her head in the pains of 
 premature labor; she only lived to give her son the significant 
 name I-chabod, saying : " The glory is departed from Israel, 
 for the Ark of God is taken." 
 
 After these events, some time elapsed, all the house of Israel 
 lamenting after the Lord. 
 
 Samuel, (who had by Divine appointment been substituted 
 for the wicked house of Eli,) whose character was without a 
 stain, whose life from childhood had been singularly blameless, 
 speaks to Israel humbled by their disgraceful defeats and sor- 
 rowing under Philistine rule: "That, if with all their hearts 
 they will return unto the Lord, put away strange gods, and 
 prepare their hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only, He 
 would deliver them from the hand of the Philistines." 
 
 Israel promptly cast away their false gods, and at Samuel's 
 command, all assembled at Mizpeh — fasted — confessing their 
 sins. The Philistines hearing of this assembly, went up against 
 them to battle. Israel heard of their coming and were afraid, 
 and besought Samuel, saying: " Cease not to cry unto the Lord 
 
DISCOURSE. 7 
 
 onr God for us, that he ■will save us out of the hand of the 
 Philistines." Samuel drew nigh to God with a sacrifice, thus 
 confessing that all had been forfeited by their sins, and pre- 
 senting the life or blood of the lamb, as a substitute for the 
 forfeited life of the people. "And Samuel took a sucking 
 lamb, and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly unto the Lord : 
 and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard 
 him." 
 
 While the priest was engaged in this service, the Philistines 
 drew near to battle against Israel. As they approach, they 
 hear no enthusiastic shouting as at Ebenezer; they find a fast- 
 ing, repenting people — in their midst the altar smoking with 
 the burnt offering, a holy priest conducting the sacred rites, 
 and crying in earnest supplications to the God of Israel. There 
 is now no need, they concluded, to exhort each other to quit 
 you like men, for those disheartened, fasting, praying people 
 •will be an easy prey, and we will take their altar and their 
 sacrifice, as we did their Ark. The slaughter is about to com- 
 mence; strange, terrific sounds are heard — God thundered with 
 a great thunder that day upon the Philistines and discomfited 
 them, and they were smitten before Israel. The fleeing Philis- 
 tines were pursued with slaughter to their own country, and 
 came no more into the coasts of Israel. 
 
 Samuel raised a monument upon the field of their triumph 
 and called it Ebenezer, saying: "Hitherto the Lord hath 
 helped us. 
 
 The truth taught in the narrative is — 
 
 The recognition of the providence and power of God does 
 not avail, without a recognition of ourselves as sinners, and an 
 approach to God in the only way a sinner can come — by re- 
 pentance and faith in a sacrifice, where life is given for our 
 forfeited life. 
 
 At Ebenezer, Israel recognized the providence and power of 
 God, brought his Ark into their camp with the confidence that 
 its presence would save them from the hand of their enemies. 
 There was much in this mode of appeal to divine interposition 
 to strike the sense. Great was the enthusiasm and exultation 
 
.8 DISCOUKSE. 
 
 excited in the camp of Israel, which found expressions in 
 mighty shouts which made the earth ring again ; a correspond- 
 ing terror and dread apprehensions were produced in the Phi- 
 listine camp. 
 
 The people of Israel concluded, God surely will be with the 
 guardians of his Ark— did not admit the possibility of its fall- 
 in cr into profane heathen hands. What a direful calamity ; what 
 a humiliation this was, to suffer the Ark, their national symbol, 
 the most sacred of all the furniture of the Tabernacle, to be 
 taken from them, is evidenced in the tragical effects of the 
 tidings of its loss upon Eli and his daughter-in-law. Ell heard 
 of the defeat, the slaughter of the people, the death of his 
 gons — until mention was made of the Ark of the Lord — this 
 was as if the burning lightning struck him with its hand of 
 fire — he fell and died. 
 
 The Elders vainly reckoned upon God's help, because of the 
 Ark. God needs not, and will not have the wicked as keepers 
 of his honor — the unclean hands of the Priests, the two vile 
 sons of Eli, were not less polluting in their touch than those 
 of the idolatrous heathen. God will not not have the wicked, 
 though they be of Israel and of the chosen family, as keepers 
 of his honor. 
 
 There was gross presumption on the part of Elders and 
 people in thus claiming Divine interposition without repent- 
 ance and sacrifice, ignoring their sins, the real cause of their 
 calamity. To presumption was added profanity in bringing 
 the Ark from its place, the inner recess of the Tabernacle, 
 into which went the High Priest alone once a year, and not 
 without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of 
 the people. 
 
 None is so bold and familiar with sacred things as the self- 
 righteous fool, who is ignorant of his own moral defilement, 
 and would enter complacently where angels would go with 
 reverence, veiling their faces and crying, " Holy ! Holy ! 
 Holy!" 
 
 Nothing indicates a more degraded, disgusting moral state, 
 than lack of reverence for things venerable through age or 
 
DISCOURSE. 9 
 
 associations. A profane, reckless familiarity ^itli the holy 
 things of God and his sanctuary, evinces a moral rottenness 
 that no healing salve or mollifying ointment can cure — it can 
 only be purged by fire. 
 
 The honor of the Holy God was vindicated in the slaughter 
 of presumptuous, profane Israel, the death of the corrupt 
 priests, and in taking from self-righteous, vricked Israel his 
 Ark ; and, again, by the manifestations of His power which 
 attended the Ark in the land of the Philistines. Dagon, their 
 God, was smitten down before it wherever it went. At Ash- 
 dod, Gath and Ekron, there was deadly destruction, the hand 
 of God was heavy upon the people, until the Philistines were 
 glad to let it go again to its own place, with a trespass offer- 
 ing. After the return of the Ark to Bethshemesh, the irreve- 
 rent familiarity before alluded to was punished by the de- 
 struction of fifty thousand and ten, who looked into the Ark. 
 A salutary lesson was taught. The men of Bethshemesh said, 
 *' Who is able to stand before this Holy Lord God? " 
 
 Let us look again upon the scenes of Ebenezer : Israel, 
 confident, exultant, shouting in the morning — in the evening, 
 defeated, slaughtered, humiliated — and all this, notwithstand- 
 ing they brought the Ark of God into their camp — recognized 
 the providence and power of God. 
 
 At Mizpeh, we have seen Israel repenting, fasting, praying 
 and offering sacrifice through the ministry of Samuel. No- 
 thing in all this that presaged victory to a carnal mind — in- 
 deed, human judgments might decide that an army in such 
 a condition was illy prepared for the dread shock of battle. 
 Truly, such moral dispositions are the best fitted for men, who 
 have great responsibilities to meet, danger and death to en- 
 counter — they foster a courage that is cool and enduring, and 
 prevent those reverses of spirit, or panics, to which large 
 bodies of men are liable, when there is not individual self- 
 recollection, the result of reflection. 
 
 And, best of all, this moral state brings the blessing of 
 God, who spoke defeat to the Philistines by the thunder of 
 his voice. 
 
10 DISCOURSE. 
 
 Of late, our enemies have come up against us to battle, and 
 found us with the Ark of God in our camp — formally recog- 
 nizing the providence of God, -wonderfully manifested in our 
 former success, while in reality we were worshiping false gods. 
 Impious idolatry, aggravated wickedness, calling upon God 
 with our lips, our hearts bowing to idols — using the interim 
 of relief from the attack of our foe, not in the works of grate- 
 ful piety, in preparations of national vigilance, but in self- 
 indulgence, self-seeking, self-glorification, undermining the very 
 foundations of society, and paralyzing every manly energy. 
 
 The false gods of Israel were two — Baalim and Ashtaroth. 
 The false gods of the Confederates were two — Foreign Aid 
 and Self. 
 
 Foreign Aid. Israel, in her straits, once looked to Egypt 
 for help — desired to strengthen themselves in the strength of 
 Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt. Therefore, 
 (said the prophet,) "the strength of Pharaoh shall be your 
 shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confu* 
 sion." 
 
 Our looking with expectation of intervention in our behalf 
 to Europe has been a snare to us. This vain trust has made 
 our policy a waiting, weak policy — has demoralized the spirit 
 of our people by hindering the growth of those heroic virtues 
 of self-reliance, self-consecration, essential to a successful 
 revolution, and to our permament existence as a people. 
 
 Self. The fact is not questioned, the superior personal 
 material of our armies and the more chivalrous spirit of our 
 people. We have rested too much upon this, become boast- 
 ful, despised the power of our enemy to our hurt. Boast- 
 ing in an individual or a nation is always disgusting, and 
 the prelude to a fall ; " He that exalteth himself shall be 
 abased." 
 
 Self-reliance is a virtue when the fruit of knowledge, not 
 of iirnorance. If it blinds us to our real resources and to 
 those in possession of our enemies, it is most pernicious and 
 frequently fatal, by engendering apathy, negligence, sloth. 
 
 Self-reliance is an element essential to heroic character, but 
 
DISCOURSE. 11 
 
 indomitable energy and sleepless vigilance must be its power- 
 ful hands, else it is a weakness inviting the spoiler to his easy 
 prey. 
 
 More than all : Self-reliance of heroism is founded on 
 faith. The heroes of the world have usually felt themselves 
 to be the cliil(ti-en of Destiny. The heroes of tlic Church 
 have, b}' tlicir faith, obtained the help of Omnipotence. 
 
 Paul — himself a hero — after recounting a list of those who 
 "were great by faith, with an inr^jressive climax, concludes: 
 " What shall I more say ? for the time would fail me to tell 
 of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jcphthae, of 
 David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets : who through 
 faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained pro- 
 mises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence 
 of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were 
 made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the 
 armies of the aliens." — Hehreivs xi. 
 
 Faith is the mightiest element of human character, and the 
 most potent means of achieving great results ; it is self-nerv- 
 ing, and, when rested upon God, it can move mountains, and 
 cast them into the depths of the sea. 
 
 It becomes us to let our self-reliance be based upon the 
 justness of our cause and the intervention of the King of 
 Kings and Lord of Lords. 
 
 Humanity is not 'self-supporting — it must go abroad for 
 help — must have faith ; without it, nothing good or great was 
 ever accomplished. 
 
 Oh ! mny we this day put away our false gods ; " prepare 
 our hearts unto the Lord, and serve Him onl3^" 
 
 Our sins are many and grievous. A general culpable 
 neglect of spiritual things ; evidenced by disregard for reli- 
 gious services, even on the part of those who once were glad, 
 when it was said to them let us go up to the house of the 
 Lord; by profanation of the holy Sabbath, on the fictitious 
 plea — if any pica is made, or the fact remembered that God 
 commands, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" — 
 of personal or public necessity. 
 
12 DISCOURSE. 
 
 We have lived and acted as if we had no spiritual needs, no 
 souls to save, no God to glorify ; as if there was not before us 
 a judgment seat, to which we approach by sure steps every 
 moment, and where we will stand to receive according to the 
 deeds done in the body, whether they be good, or whether 
 they be evil ; as if there was no good but temporal, no trea- 
 sures but those of earth, no freedom but that from the rule of 
 earthly tyrants. 
 
 The best among us have prayed earnestly for the success of 
 our National cause ; but have forgotten, it is to be feared, the 
 petition, " Let Thy kingdom come, and Thy will be done, on 
 earth as it is in Heaven." Jesus speaks to us to-day, "Seek 
 first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these 
 things shall be added unto you." 
 
 Worse still, looking away from the spiritual to the carnal, 
 we descended lower, and lost sight of our country's good, in 
 our eagerness for self. 
 
 Self-seeking has cursed our cause for the past six months — 
 to get riches and place was the pursuit. The usual barriers 
 which guard these prizes were thrown down by the revolution, 
 and there was a general rush to seize some part of the spoils. 
 Grosser sins have been on the increase, especially in the 
 army — Profanity, Drunkenness, Gaming. 
 
 This is a fearful fact, and if now peace were declared, many 
 who would return to their homes would be unfit for their hal- 
 lowed associations, their very presence would pollute the 
 pure atmosijhere breathed by virtuous mothers, wives and 
 sisters. Let your brother in arms, who loves every soldier in 
 our army, conjure you, by your own temporal and eternal 
 welfare, by the memories of home and loved ones, by the holy 
 cause of right and liberty for which we have taken arms, to 
 flee these vices, loathsome in themselves, blasting to society, 
 destructive to every hope of good in time and eternity. 
 
 As instance of the depraved condition of public sentiment 
 in this regard, it has been intimated that profanity is potent 
 in a fight ; that our soldiers obey a command with more alac- 
 
DISCOURSE. 13 
 
 rity when pointed with an oath. Such a sentiment, if enter- 
 tained, is a disgrace to him who holds it, and an insult to the 
 brave men who fight for our country. 
 
 Slurs are cast on water drinkers. God save us from asso- 
 ciation in battle with men who need whiskey to stimulate their 
 courage. 
 
 We assemble to-day, at the call of our Chief Mngistrate, 
 for fasting, prayer and humiliation. This formal recognition 
 of the providence and power of God is grateful to every pious 
 heart. This will not avail us of itself : we must renounce our 
 idolatries, repent of our sins, humble our hearts before the 
 Lord, seek His favor by earnest, importunate prayers. We 
 need to offer no bloody sacrifice. Christ, the Lamb of God 
 who taketh away the sins of the world, was once offered ; His 
 precious blood is ever upon the altar ; His gracious interces- 
 sions are ever made for all who come to God through Him. 
 We can draw nigh through this perfect sacrifice, sinners 
 though we are, and find personal pardon and God's blessing 
 upon our National cause. 
 
 Oh ! that every assembly of our people this day, whether in 
 church or in camp, may be a Mispeh indeed — that it is so to 
 a good degree we may feel assured. 
 
 The women of our land, whose quick perceptions early 
 seized the right of our cause, and whose ardent affections at 
 once embraced it, now fly to the Strong One for deliverance 
 from our enemies. What one has said of herself is true of 
 many : " I am praying, as I never prayed before, that the 
 Lord will make this war to cease, and establish His kingdom 
 in every heart, and rid us of all our enemies and those who 
 would destroy us, whether among ourselves, or in the ranks of 
 our enemies. While I know my poor prayers have no worth 
 or merit in them, I feel that the Lord will hear and answer mo 
 for the sake of my gracious Redeemer. I will trust Him, and 
 not be afraid." 
 
 Let this spirit prevail. Soon God will, in his own way, 
 drive back the invader with such destruction, that he will no 
 
14 DISCOURSE. 
 
 more come into our coasts. And our's will be the happiness 
 to raise our Ebenezer, saying, " Hitherto hath the Lord 
 helped us." 
 
 In conclusion. There is no cause of despondency because 
 of our recent disasters ; the lessons they teach were needed — 
 let us diligently learn them. This is no new thing under the 
 sun. There is no birth for a man or nation without travailing 
 pains. There is no life without death. Your fields often 
 wave with the golden grain, ripe for the harvest ; the seed 
 died in the earth, from which were produced thirty, sixty or 
 an hundred fold. "Except a corn of wheat fall into the 
 ground and die, it abideth alone ; but if it die, it bringeth 
 forth much fruit." "For whosoever will save his life shall 
 lose it ; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find 
 it." (John xii. 24 ami Matthew xvi. 25.) These are the 
 words of the great Teacher, who spake as never man spake. 
 The principle applies here. We must die as a people to all 
 individual advantage — lay all upon the altar of our country's 
 salvation. When this consecration is made, we will have life 
 as a people — permanent, prosperous existence. The God of 
 Nations will give us an honorable place among the nations of 
 the earth. A young people must be pure. Corruption in 
 youth would ruin — kill before manhood was reached. The 
 elements of speedy dissolution might have been seen, mani- 
 festing themselves among our people in the very infancy of 
 our Republic — noxious weeds and briers were springing up in 
 the national field; it needed the purging fires of war to burn 
 over it, that these might be destroyed, and the soil prepared 
 for the good seed. 
 
 Our future well-being may demand that our sufferings be 
 great and protracted ; that our baptism be of fire and blood ; 
 that our cup be of wormwood and gall. Let us not shrink 
 from the baptism, nor put from us the cup ; never admit the 
 thought of submission to our foe. All that makes life desirable 
 is at stake : our property ; the welfare of our wives, children 
 and servants ; our existence as a free, independent people. 
 
DISCOURSE. 15 
 
 With confidence, I appeal to you, fellow-soldiers, to stand 
 fast; quit you like men; be strong. Let your battle cry be, 
 " God giveth us the victory." With this trust in your hearts 
 and your arms in your hands, die ; but never yield to the in- 
 vader of our honored old Commonwealth. It -will likely be, 
 that before the horrid din of war is hushed in the sonars of 
 peace, that many of us will witness our patriotism with our 
 life's blood. Come, then, with true repentance and trusting 
 faith to Him who redeemed us with his own blood, that we 
 may find forgiveness of sins, and obtain the influences of His 
 Holy Spirit to renew us in His image and to enable us to live 
 soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, that, when 
 we leave it, we may have a place in Heaven. 
 

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