The Chocolate Soldier | Page 5

did, were invariably Paragons of Pluck; Dare-Devil Desperadoes
for Jesus; Gamblers for God. "Fools and Madmen," shout the world and
the Chocolates. "Yes, for Christ's sake," add the Angels!
Nobly they fought to win the prize, Climbing the steep ascents of
heaven, Thro' peril, toil, and pain. O God, to us let grace be given, To
follow in their train.
The Chocolate Christians of today can at least boast of having ancient
pedigrees. There are CHOCOLATES A LA REUBEN, who have great
searchings of heart, and make great resolves of heart too. But somehow
they still sit among the sheepfolds, listening to the pipings of their
much-loved organs and church choirs. It's good to have a great
heartsearching. It's better to make a great heart-resolve. But, if instead
of obeying, we squat among the sheep, leaving our few hard-pressed
brethren to tackle the wolves by themselves, verily we are but
Chocolate Christians. You made a great resolve to go to Africa for
Christ a year or two ago. Where are you now? In England? Yes! Yes!
Lollipop! (Judges 5:16.)
There are CHOCOLATES MEROZ, who earned the curse of the angel
of the Lord. War was declared; the battle about to begin; the odds were
outrageous, and Meroz remained in England attending conventions
until the battle was over, then he went, in comfort and security, as a

Cook's tourist! Doubtless they said, "They couldn't fight till they had
been properly ordained, and, besides, there was so very much to be
done in fat, overfed Meroz, and surely to feed a flock of fat sheep in a
safe place has always been considered the ideal training of war"; as
though the best training for the soldier was to become a nurse-maid!!!
(Judges 5:23.)
CHOCOLATES DU BALAAM begin first-class, and earn the name of
prophets. Then they develop a squint, melt, and finally run out of the
frying-pan into the fire, thus Balaam.
One day he couldn't get his left eye to look at God. It would look at
earth and mammon and that chit of a girl, Miss Popularity. He ought to
have done as God told him, and plucked it out. But he said that was too
much to ask of any man, and besides he wanted the best of both worlds.
He had a hearty desire to die the death of the righteous, but he wasn't
willing to pay the price of a righteous life. He hadn't the pluck to curse
God's people, so he made plans for others to make them sin. But one
day, while his dupes were putting his chestnuts into the fire, they fell in
themselves, and Balaam with them (Numbers 22-24).
"I counsel thee to buy of me eyesalve, that thou mayest once again have
a single eye, and be enabled to see the folly of flirting with the world."
CHOCOLATE DEMAS, who left old fiery hard-hitting Paul for an
easier path. He said he thought Paul should wink at, or slobber over sin,
instead of rebuking it. "He was so very fond of the knife, you know;
and he never would use sticking-plaster, because he said it never healed
the sore but made it burrow underneath and become bigger, worse, and
dangerous" (2 Timothy 4:10).
MARK joined the Chocolate Brigade once. He left Paul and Barnabas
in the lurch, and went back to Jerusalem for a rest cure--a religious
retreat. Thank God he got sick of it ere long, resigned his commission,
and re-enlisting in God's army became a useful soldier (Acts 13:13).
MANY FINE YOUNGSTERS ARE TURNED INTO CHOCOLATES
BY OLD PROPHETS. Old prophets who have lost their fire, or fire off

words instead of deeds, usually become Great Chocolate Manufacturers.
That poor young prophet. He did so well when he obeyed God only,
but it was all over with him when he listened to another voice, even
though that of an old prophet. Didn't the old prophet say he was a
prophet? and say he'd got the message straight from God? What a
damnable lie! The floor of Christendom and elsewhere is littered with
wrecks made by old prophets. God won't stand nonsense from any man.
Every man has to choose between Christ and Barabbas, and every
Christian between God and some old prophet. Better be a silly donkey
in the estimation of an old prophet than listen to his soft talk and
flattery, and afterwards become a wreck. "This is My beloved Son, hear
HIM." No! not even Moses, nor Elijah, nor both. "HEAR HIM." "You
have an anointing from God, and you have no need that any man teach
you." You say you believe the Bible! do your deeds give the lie to your
words? (1 Kings 13).
THE TEN SPIES WERE CHOCOLATES. They melted and ran over
the whole congregation of