The Chocolate Soldier | Page 3

of half-iron and half-clay, half-divine and
half-human, why you might just as well pelt him with snowballs.
Whence did this raw youth derive his pluck and skill? Not from
military camps, nor theological schools, nor religious retreats. "To
know The Only True God and Jesus Christ," is enough. Paul
determined to know only Jesus Christ, and look at the grand result!
Whilst others were learning pretty theories, David, like John, had been
alone with God in the wilds, practising on bears and lions. The result?
HE KNEW GOD AND DID EXPLOITS. He knew God only. He
trusted God only. He obeyed God only. That's the secret. God alone
gives strength. God adulterated with men entails the weakness of iron
and clay--Chocolate--brittleness!
Yet hero as he was, even David alas! once played the role of Chocolate
Soldier. HE STAYED AT HOME WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE
GONE TO WAR. His army, far off, in danger, fighting the enemy, won.
David, at home, secure, within sight of God's house and often going
there, suffered the one great defeat of his life, entailing such a bitter,
life-long reaping as might well deter others from the folly of sowing
wild oats. David's sin is a terrific sermon (like Lot's preaching in
Sodom must have been), its theme--"DON'T BE A CHOCOLATE
SOLDIER!"
In his simple, quick, and full confession, David proved himself a man
again. It takes a real man to make a true confession--a Chocolate
Soldier will excuse or cloak his sin. He tumbles in the mud, flounders
on, wipes his mouth to try to get the bad taste of his acted lie out of it,
and then goes on his way saying, "I have done no wickedness." A

self-murdering fool! Killing his conscience to save his face, like
Balaam beating the ass who sought to save his master's life. Being a
Chocolate Soldier nearly did for David. Beware!
NATHAN was another real Christian Soldier. He went to his king and
rebuked him to his face, like Peter's dealing with Ananias (only David
embraced his opportunity and confessed), and unlike the Chocolate
Soldiers of today who go whispering about and refusing either to judge,
rebuke, or put away evil because of the entailed scandal forsooth.
Veritable Soapy Sams. They say "It is nothing! nothing at all! A mere
misunderstanding!" As though God's cause would suffer more through
a bold declaration and defense of the truth and the use of the knife, than
by the hiding up of sin, and the certain development of mortification in
the member, involving death to the whole body. "He that doeth
righteousness is righteous," and "he that doeth sin is of the devil," and
ought to be told so. He that is a second time led captive by the devil
needs neither plaster nor treacle, but the brace rebuke and summons to
repentance of a righteous man to effect his salvation. WE ARE
BADLY IN NEED OF NATHANS TODAY, who fear God and nought
else, no, not even a scandal.
DANIEL was another hero. Of course he was! Was he not the man
greatly beloved of God who sent an angel to tell him so?
I love to watch him as he walks, with firm step and radiant face, to the
lions' den, stopping but once--like his Master en route to Calvary--to
comfort his weeping and agonized emperor. God shut the mouths of the
lions against Daniel, but opened them wide against those who had
opened their mouths against His servant.
A man is known by his works, and the works of Daniel were his three
friends, who, rather than bow down to men or gold, braved the fiery
furnace.
Again we see him going to the banquet hall, and hear his conductor
whisper in his ear, "Draw it mild, Daniel, be statesmanlike. Place and
power again for you if you are tactful and wise--especially tactful!"
And Daniel's simple reply, "Get thee behind me, Satan!" There he

stands before the king, braving torture or instant death--but it's the king
who quails, not Daniel--who tells him to his face the whole hot truth of
God, diminishing not a jot.
JOHN THE BAPTIST--a man taught and made and sent of God--good
old John! Who doesn't love and admire him? Why, even Herod did. A
genuine deficiency of oil and treacle in his composition. He always told
the bang flat truth, with emphasis. As he loved, so he warned. He knew
not how to fawn. HE WOOED WITH THE SWORD, AND "MEN"
LOVED HIM THE BETTER FOR IT. They always do.
The leaders of religion sent to John to ask him the dearly loved
question of every Pharisee, "By what authority doest thou these (good)
things?" They asked that of Christ Himself, and crucified Him for the
doing of them. John's answer was plain and