i/; — 
 
"- No. 81, 
 
 MUSTERED INTO SERVICE. 
 
 BY A CHAPLAIN IN THE C. 8. ARMY. 
 
 You have been "mustered into service," my beloved 
 friend, m the presence of your fellow-soldiers, of holy 
 angels of God, your creator and preserver; you have 
 solemnly sworn to support, protect and defmd the dig- 
 nity and honor of this young Confederacy You have 
 come up manfully to the defence of your invaded, in- 
 sulted f*ih«riand. The sons of the heroes of King's 
 Mountain, the gallant and chivalrous descendants "of 
 Moultrie and of Marion, the sturdy yeomanry of the 
 land of Oglethorpe, the patriot and the philanthropist, 
 have already been "mustered into service." The 
 broad bosom of the fertile West has poured forth her 
 rich tribute of strong arms and stout hearts at her 
 country's feet; the golden gates of the sunny South 
 have been opened wide to admit her swelling streams of 
 money and of men; from hill and vale, from mountain 
 top and ocean beach, old Virginia's sons have risen up 
 like one man— her blades of grass being transformed 
 into armed legions by the touch of Iihuriel's spear. 
 
 A company of soldiers had been defeated and routed 
 by the enemy. Two of the devoted band were wan- 
 dering, in company, through the dismal wastes of a 
 wild and rugged mountain. The blinding snow beat 
 fearfully in their faces, and the rude and wintry winds 
 howled mournfully around them. For a time they 
 went bravely on their dreary path ; but with the deep- 
 ening shades and freezing blasts of night there fell a 
 weight upon their brain and eyes which seemed to be 
 irresistible. Presently the foot of the foremost struck a 
 heap that lay across their path. No stone was that, 
 though no stone could be colder. It was the body of 
 
MUSTERED INTO SERVICE. 
 
 one of their number, who had laid himself down to die, 
 far away from his home and his cherished friends.. 
 The one stopped to examine the cold and senseless 
 matter which Jay at his feet. The other passed on his 
 way, thinking only of his own preservation. The next 
 moment the noble soldier had taken a companion in his 
 arms, was chafing his chest, hands and brow, breathing 
 upon the stiff, cold lips the warm breath of his living 
 soul, pressing the silent heart to the beating pulse of 
 his own generous bosom. The eflbrt to save another 
 had brought back to himself life, and warmth, and 
 energy. Hand in hand they wound their weary way 
 down the bleak sides of the desolate mountain, only 
 to find their companion, who had passed on, cold and 
 silent in the chilling embrace of death. He saved 
 his fellow soldier, and was saved himself. Soldiers of 
 the Confederate army, "go thou and do likewise." 
 
 Your being ''mustered into service" implies, my fel- 
 low soldier, that the allegiance which you once owed to 
 another is now no longer binding. As long as the gov- 
 ernment of the United States afforded you protection for 
 your liberty and your life, to it you belonged, and its 
 laws you were bound to obey. This allegiance is now 
 honestly and honorably due to another. 
 
 Christian soldier, have you utterly renounced all al- 
 legiance to the world, to the flesh, to the devil? Have 
 you given up all the enjoyments which the world af- 
 forded, have you abandoned the sinful lusts of the flesh, 
 have you solemnly abjurea all connection with the 
 devil's dominion? If so, then you are a worthy soldier; 
 you deserve a high position in the ranks; you merit 
 honorable mention at the hands of your leaders. If 
 you have not complied with these requirements, then 
 you have no right to fight under the banner of the 
 Cross; your name should be stricken from the muster- 
 
MUSTERED INTO SERVICE. 3 
 
 roll, and, amid the taunts and gibes of your comrades 
 in arms, you should at once be drummed out of ihe army. 
 
 2. The word service implies obedience. No greater 
 curse can be inflicted on an army than disobedient 
 soldiery. 
 
 The lawlessness of the Northern army is one of our 
 grounds of hope. Their marked disobedience to the 
 orders of their commanders, tl^ir total ignoring of all 
 authority, is obliged to terminate, as it has already done 
 at Bethel, Bull Run and Manassas, in defeat and dis- 
 grace. Now, Christian soldier, you acknowledge that 
 you have renounced all allegiance to our enemy, the 
 devil, and therefore have an honest and honorable right 
 to fight under the proud banner of the commonwealth of 
 Israel. But one of the essentials of a good soldier, I just 
 now said, was obedience. It matters not how great your 
 loyalty, without acquiescence in the will of the Captain 
 of your salvation, you cannot look for victory. Do you 
 perform every duty laid down in the "Army Regula- 
 tions of the Christian Soldier"' — the Bible? When the 
 enemy of our happiness is continually prowling around 
 our encampment, do you never slumber at your post, 
 jeoparding the valuable souls of your companions? Do 
 you perform every duty and discharge every obligation 
 that is enjoined upon you? Or do you shirk duly 
 whenever an opportunity offers? Do you, in short, 
 rebel against the authority of those whom Christ has 
 appointed your officers, thus sowing* seeds of discord 
 in our encampment, and placing us at the mercy of the 
 enemy ? Do you not remember what the centurion 
 says of the obedience of the soldiers under his com- 
 mand ? 
 
 3. Inseparable from the idea of service is that of self- 
 denial. The soldier's life is emphatically one of hard- 
 ship. Aside from being separated from those we love, 
 
4 MUSTERI.D INTO SERVICE. 
 
 from our cherished homes and our Sabhath and sanctu- 
 ary privileges, we can no longer lie down at night on 
 soft beds of ease, we can no longer rest beneath the 
 genial shade of the old oak which throws its sinewy 
 arms above the well- remembered play-o round of our 
 early boyhood, we can no longer tempt our sickly p : 1 1 - 
 ates with delicate luxuries, but it is ours to sleep on the 
 cold ground, with our knapsack for a pillow and the 
 blue canopy of heaven our only shelter, to march 
 through the long hours of the weary day beneath a 
 blazing sun, with a hard biscuit to satisfy the gnaw- 
 ings of hunger, and the warm contents of a heated can- 
 teen to slake our burning thirst. 
 
 Thus is it with the Christian soldier. There are a 
 great many pleasures which must be given up, luxuries 
 dispensed wilh, and creature comforts sacrificed, if we 
 desire to be worthy followers of Jesus Christ. But all 
 these things are for our good. They strengthen and 
 nerve us against the wiles of our great adversary. We 
 find holiday soldiers under the banner of the Cross, 
 just as we do in our armies. Men who can't stand the 
 sunshine of prosperity, who can't weather the winds 
 and storms of adversity, who can't resist the alluring 
 viands which Satan places before them. As in the one 
 case, so in the other; such soldiers are but an incum- 
 brance, which retards the progress of the march, and 
 the sooner they are dispensed with the better. But, 
 reader, I trust ygu are willing to "endure hardness as 
 a good soldier of Christ." 
 
 4. Although you have renounced all allegiance to the 
 old government; are obedient to all the requirements of 
 your officers, and endure the hardships incident to a 
 soldier's life, there is still another very important ques- 
 tion. Is your service willing? Though in the first 
 instance you volunteered your services, yet it does not 
 
MUSTERED INTO SERVICE. 5 
 
 follow, as a matter of course, you are now engaged in 
 this work with a perfectly cheerful heart and mind. 
 You may have entered the service under various 
 motives; it might have been under the momentary in- 
 fluence of excitement, or through desire of distinction, 
 or simply because you ffad nothing else to engage your 
 thoughts, and have found the duties much more oner- 
 ous than you expected, I he yoke of confinement too 
 galling for your warm, impulsive Southern nature. 
 
 Now, unless this service is performed with perfect 
 willingness, not only is your lot rendered doubly irk- 
 some, but the duties are very liable to be carelessly 
 performed, and ycmr spirit will be quickly caught by 
 your companions, and the influence exerted on others 
 prove extremely pernicious and greatly injure a cause 
 in which every one should be enlisted with his whole 
 heart. 
 
 How stands the case with you, my fellow-soldier of 
 the Cross? Is God's service a delight, or does his yoke 
 prove grievous and his burden heavy ? I do not intend 
 discussing the origin of this willingness of heart which 
 is so esstntial for the well-being of the army of the 
 Lord, but only say, in emphatic terms, as you cannot 
 acceptably serve your country without it, neither can 
 you your God. Says the Psalmist, " Thy people shall 
 be willing in the day of thy power." The consequence 
 of the absence of this willingness will at once be obvi- 
 ous to every thinking mind. t It must eventually end in 
 your own downfall and destruction, as, also, in all 
 probability, in that of many of your companions and 
 friends. 
 
 5. There is one other essential element in the service 
 of your Saviour, in whose ranks you are now enlisted, 
 to which I need only allude, as it must necessarily 
 oftentimes occur to your own mind. I mean watchful- 
 
(3 MUSTERED INTO SERVICE. 
 
 nrss. u Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but 
 let us watch and be sober.'' 
 
 6. You have been u mustered into service," my fel- 
 low soldier, but what sort of service is it ? Most un- 
 hesitaiingJy, active service. Pain must be endured, 
 toil borne, self-denial and w%tehfulness practiced, if 
 you would have our arms to be victorious. You can no 
 longer rest quietly at home, or take your ease in your 
 tent, but most always be active, "up and doing." Not 
 like "dumb, driven cattle" is to be your service, but it 
 is yours to be "a hero in the strife." 
 
 You that are mustered into the army of Jesus Christ, 
 the Captain of our salvation, go at once into " active 
 service." Be watchful against the foes who seek your 
 soul's destruction ; he firm in your struggles against 
 the devil j be true to yourself, true to your country, 
 true to your God; in his name set up your banner, and 
 you shall eventually be mustered into the holy, though 
 active service of the victorious ranks of the heavenly 
 host, who have ' ; fought a good fight" and *' laid hold 
 on eternal life." 
 
 A GUIDE FOR VOLUNTEERS. 
 
 The Leader. The Lord, He it is that doth go be- 
 fore thee. Deut. xxxi, 8. 
 
 Behold, I have given him for a leader and comman- 
 der to the people. Is. Iv, 4. 
 
 The captain of their salvation. Hob. ii, 10. 
 
 The Word of Command. Fipht the good fight of 
 faith, lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim. xvi, 12. 
 
 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, 
 be strong. I Cor. xvi, 13. 
 
 Be sober, be vigilant. 1 Pet. v, 7. 
 
 The Enemies. Your adversary, the devil, as a roar- 
 ing lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 
 1 P< t. v, 8. 
 
 Fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. I Pet. ii, 11. 
 
MUSTERED INTO 8ERVICK. / 
 
 Principalities and powers — the rulers of the darkness 
 of this world — spiritual wickedness in fcgh pJaces. 1 
 Pet. ii, 11. 
 
 All that is in the world, the lusts of the flesh, and the 
 lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 1 John ii, 10. 
 
 Standing Orders. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, 
 quit you like men, be strong. 1 Cor. xvi, 13. 
 
 Be sober, be vigilant. 1 Pet v, 8. 
 
 Watch unto prayer. 1 Pet. iv, 7, 
 
 Watch and pray, ihat ye enter not into temptation, 
 Mar. xvi, 41. 
 
 Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. 
 Titus, ii, 6. 
 
 Looking: unto Jesus. Heb. xii, 2. 
 
 Marching Orders. Turn not to the right hand, nor 
 to the left. Prov. iv, 27. 
 
 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without. Col.iv,5. 
 
 Ponder the path of thy feet, and lit all thy ways be 
 established. Prov. iv, 2(5. 
 
 That thou mayest walk in the ways of good men. 
 Prov. ii, 20. 
 
 If sinners entice thee, consent thou not, etc. Prov. 
 i, 10-15. 
 
 Bodily Training. I keep my body under. 1 Cor. ix, 27. 
 
 Mortify, therefore, your members that are upon the 
 earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil 
 concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 
 Col. iii, 5. 
 
 Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever 
 ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. x, 31. 
 
 Let your moderation be known unto all men. Phil, iv, 5. 
 
 Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so 
 easily beset us. Heb. xii, 2. 
 
 Flee aUo youthful lusts. 2 Tim. ii, 22. 
 
 Let him deny himself. Luke ix, 23. 
 
 Young men like wise exhort to be sober-minded. 
 Titus ii, (5. 
 
 The Weapons. The weapons of our warfare are not 
 carnal, but spiritual, and mighty through God. 2 Cor. 
 xi, 4. 
 
 Take unto you the whole armor of God. Having 
 your loins girt about with truths and having on the 
 
O MUSTERED INTO SERVICE. 
 
 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 firey darts of the wicked. And take the 
 helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which 
 is the word of God. Eph. vi, 13-17. 
 
 The Watchword. Emmanuel — (God with us.) 
 Mat. i, 23. 
 
 The Banner. Jehovah Nissi. (The Lord is my ban- 
 ner.) Ex. xxvii, 15. 
 
 In the name of our God we will set up our banners. 
 Ps. xx, 5. 
 
 Encouragements. The Lord thy God is with thee, 
 whithersoever thou goest. Joshua i, 9. 
 
 If God be for us, who can be against us ? Rom. xii, 31 . 
 
 I am thyshield, and exceedinggreat reward. Gen. xv, 1. 
 
 As thy days, so shall thy strength be. Deut. xxiii, 24. 
 
 He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake 
 thee. Heb. xiii, 5. 
 
 God shall supply all your need. Phil, iv, 19. 
 
 We know that all things work together for good to 
 them thai love God. Rom. viii, 28. 
 
 Final Victory. We are more than conquerors 
 through him that loved us. Rom. viii, 3. 
 
 Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. xv, 57. 
 
 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in 
 my Throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down 
 with my Father in His Throne. 
 
 Cautions by the Way. A soft answer turneth away 
 wrath. Prov. xv, 1. 
 
 As much as heth in you, live peaceably with all men. 
 Rom. viii, 18. 
 
 Love your enemies. Mat. v, 44. 
 
 If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give 
 him drink. Rom. xii, 20. 
 
 [Having met with the plan of this tract, the substance 
 of it has been revised, and is published under the be- 
 lief that it is suited to do good.] — Central Presbyterian. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRACT SOCIETY. 
 
 Printed by Evans & Cogswell, No. 3 Broad street, Charleston, S. C. 
 
Hollinger Corp. 
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