and it is no part of friendship and loyalty to turn our backs upon him. As to difficulties by the way, he told us no less at the time of our enlistment; and could we in conscience expect less? As for the mounts which our enemy may raise, the entrenchments he may cast up, the battering rams he may erect, and the attempts that he may make to force us from our ground, to drive us from our strong hold, to reduce us to starvation, and wholly to stop up our way, they will all amount to just nothing at all, while we are looking as we ought to look, and seeking for supplies where alone they are to be obtained.

We know that he tries hard to wrench the truth out of our hands, and out of our hearts; to plunder us of our jewels, to weaken our faith, to destroy our hope, to kill our comforts, to daunt our courage, to puzzle our judgments, to scatter our thoughts, to silence our crying, to bind us hand and foot, to wound our consciences, to strengthen our lust, to stir up to rebellion, to provoke us to anger, to fill us with hard thoughts, to distract our minds, to stiffen us with pride, to lead us into errors, to keep us from the Captain of our salvation, to deceive us by a false light, to turn us from the right way, to gain us over to his party, to catch us in his traps, to veil our sky, to eclipse our sun, to raise smoke in order to blind our eyes.

But though this be his constant employ, yet what great advantages has he to boast of so much? I

cannot see that he has gained any point, or made himself master of any strong hold within our realm.— And are we not alive this day, to witness that he is a liar, a deceiver, an usurper, a common disturber, a stranger to peace, a hater of righteousness, and an enemy to all that is good? Can we not, and are we not willing to come forward before a court marshal, and testify that he is a lover of what we hate, and abominably detest? And that our sins, our infirmities, our errors, our guilt filth, lust, and corruptions, are what go to make up his dainty dish? And if these are the spoils which he boasts of taking, is not all such boasting vain, and only fit for Devils? And can we not testify under oath, that he is a common swindler, a mere juggler, an accomplished counterfeiter, a most infernal villain, an impudent troubler of our royal army, and that he is a low, crafty, cunning, and subtle adversary, and that his kingdom is made up of, and consists in nothing better than sin, lies, errors, wretchedness, misery, darkness, and eternal despair? Again; Can we not, on the other hand, testify of the great love, mercy, grace, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, forbearance, long-suffering, strength, wisdom, light, joy, peace, and marked attention, which hath all along been manifested towards us, afforded us, and exercised over us by our Prince Immanuel, through all our wars, fightings, and inward conflicts? And have we not seen, and do we not still

see, and ought we not to confess with our mouths, that the strong opposition which we meet with from our common adversary, makes the love, mercy, and grace of our adorable Captain, shine the brighter, and appear the more valuable? And do we not know that success is sure and certain, seeing he hath given us the victory? We have it in hope, we see it by faith; and as faith and hope shall not be disappointed, nor lose their reward; we of course shall at last come off victorious, and enter in triumph the unclouded realms of eternal noon, where our present enemy will not dare approach, where the din of war, the shaking of the spear, and the confusion and noise of fighting, shall be seen and heard no more forever.

I shall pursue this subject in my next, whether you like it or dislike it.

From the Military Academy

in the field of Zoan.

A STANDARD Bearer.

LETTER III.

To the same.

Methinks I hear a female soldier saying,- The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind.' Is. ix. 12. To this I reply,- When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall raise up a standard against him.' Is. xlix. 19.

To be placed between two fires, appears to a nearsighted soldier a perilous situation; and yet I do not see that it is more dangerous than to be in the fire, as were the three old veterans, as is related in our military code. Nor was the situation of Manasseh a very desirable one, when by the King of Assyria, he was bound with fetters and put among the thorns. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11. Are you in Nebuchadnezzar's red hot furnace, or with Manasseh among the thorns?— For if you are in either of these places, I know you must be in a peck of trouble, and yet not so far gone, nor so low sunk, as that the Prince Immanuel cannot find out a way for your escape; seeing that he knoweth how to deliver, and that nothing is too hard for Him.

But it seems you have got between two very powerful armies; and you are terrified half to death, I suspect, to go forward and to meet the Syrians. That a general engagement must shortly ensue is evident, and dreadful carnage will be the consequence, no doubt. You, in course, will have to call in a reinforcement; and if speedy relief is not obtained, I would not give much for your life. But I really feel for the poor female in her present condition. I would not advise you to beg for quarters of any of them, nor yet to attempt to give them leg bail, trying as your condition is; but to stand your ground, and see what will be done for you.

The stars in their courses fought against Sisera once, and who can tell but they may rally their forces against the Philistines and Syrians, in order to spare a female soldier. However, in some way or other, the Captain will surely appear for your relief; if not, then there is no dependence to be placed on what any body says. "I shall live and praise him,' says one; 'I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him against that day,' says another.

And know you not, Madam, that these armies can neither move nor act but by permission? But be hold, they are about drawing near to make an attack, and a most desperate struggle will surely take place. Cry aloud, Comrade! Cry aloud, and spare not!-