The Authoritative Life of General William Booth, Founder of the Salvation ArmyRailton, George S. (George Scott)
History
The Authoritative Life of General William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army
Railton, George S. (George Scott)
Booth, William, 1829-1912; Salvation Army
"But, while thus inventive, The Army does not content itself with
hopes and theories merely; it seeks to put every fresh idea to the
test of practical application, waiting for the issue, before it
regards it of permanent value. At least, that has been my own
usage, and the practical character of my mind and work has come to
be generally allowed.
"While, then, I glory in the fact that our religion is Divine in
origin and manifestation, I equally maintain the necessity for
human skill, human energy, and human enterprise, in the efforts put
forth to establish and extend it; and, accordingly, I have only
adopted any efforts so far as they have proved themselves effective
in the school of experience.
"So with this confidence in my convictions I proceed once more to
push them upon your attention."
In the _Orders and Regulations for Soldiers_, perhaps the concisest
description of earnest living ever written, he says:--
"The Salvation Soldier must have been converted or changed by the
power of the Holy Spirit from the old, worldly, selfish, sinful
nature, to the new, holy, heavenly, Divine nature; and not only
must he thus have received a new heart, but he must have the Holy
Spirit living in that heart, possessing it, and working through it,
to will and to do the good pleasure of God.
"This is the first and main condition of Soldiership. It is
understood that every Soldier has come into the possession of this
true Religion by passing through that change which is usually
described in The Army as being 'saved.' There is nothing more
common throughout our ranks than! the expression, 'I am glad I am
saved!'
"As it is impossible for a Salvation Soldier to perform the duties
hereafter set forth with satisfaction to himself, and profit to
others, unless this change has been experienced, it will be well to
describe it rather particularly, so that every Soldier who reads
these Regulations will be able to satisfy himself whether he has
really undergone this change.
"If on reading this description, any Soldier should have reason to
believe that he has not experienced this change, and is still in
his sins, or that he has been unfaithful since he did realise it,
and is, therefore, a backslider, the first business of such an one
will be to go to God and seek Salvation; otherwise it will be
impossible for him to be a good Soldier.
"Salvation implies the devotion of the whole life to the
accomplishment of the purpose for which Christ lived and suffered
and died. It means that the Soldier becomes His disciple.
"Enlisting in His Army, the Soldier receives not only power to walk
in His commandments for himself, but to subdue other men to the
Lord.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account