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And now in the battle of life,
In the thick of the old ceaseless strife,
When those terrible gaps come again,
On the heart smites the blank and the pain,
And we know in our anguish too well
What we lost when thus stricken they fell;
Still that word of command on the ear,
Through the blank and death-silence rings clear,
‘Close the ranks!’
Press forward where they led the way,
Close the ranks, speed the charge, win the day―
Close the ranks!’”

Yes, the message comes to the soldiers of Christ today. It is the day of the “Great Push” for them. The hosts of sin are crowding on upon the battlefields of life. The huge guns of daring unbelief are sounding, “There is no God.” The poisonous gases and scorching flames of blasphemy against the Person and work of Christ are being poured out from the deep trenches of hell, where the devil has “dug himself in.” How are we to meet this foe? By constant, unremitting service to our Captain. “Not a moment the charge must be stayed.” We must never think we have done enough. “At all costs the day’s work must be wrought.” Paul, God’s great general, exhorts us to the fight. “Fight the good fight of faith,” “Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” “Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” He died on the field of battle, and his dying words are an inspiration to us to
“Press forward where he led the way,
Close the ranks, speed the charge, win the day.”
He died on the field of victory. Listen. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Brave soldier of Christ, well done! True hero of the Cross, fighting, suffering, dying, thou hast passed through every opposing host to the golden gates of heaven. What are we doing in the war for God now, in this “battle of life,” in this “ceaseless strife,” with sin and Satan? Are we keeping the banner of Christ flying? Are we storming the citadels of sin? Do our comrades know we belong to Christ? Never was there such desperate need to be true to our Saviour as now.
Let me tell you of one of Christ’s heroes who won his way to heaven.
“DON’T DENY CHRIST I NEVER DENY CHRIST!”
These were the words of a boy cadet. Words written on the books of God in heaven. But let me tell his story. He was one of eight boy cadets, who had been sent from England to join their regiments in a foreign land. They fell into the hands of their enemies; seven of them had their throats cut, the eighth (the boy I am writing about) was left for dead, but he managed to crawl away and hide in a ravine. For four days he lay hidden, suffering agonies from his wounds. Then he was found and carried back a prisoner. He was thrust into a hut where a Christian catechist was confined. This poor man had been a Mohammedan, and he was being tortured by his jailers to make him give up his faith in Christ. He was just on the eve of giving way when this brave English boy became his companion. The lad learned all, and did all he could to sustain his companion’s courage. Boy though he was, ‘his heart was full of love for his Redeemer. He was Christ’s soldier, and true to his colors. With flushed face, and earnest voice, he said:
“Don’t deny Christ! Never deny Christ!”
They were rescued, but four days after his release the brave English lad died of his wounds. His brave soul went to the Saviour he loved so well, but his burning words:
“Don’t deny Christ! Never deny Christ!”
will live forever. Ah! parents with boys like this, thank God, thank God. Thousands of young men from Christian homes in England are in the ranks today. They used to read the Bible and pray at home, but alas! they never do it now. They deny Christ many of them in thought and word and deed. Dear lads, brave as only English boys can be, be true to Christ. Let me tell you of another young lad who was true to Christ.