The Chocolate Soldier: Or, Heroism—The Lost Chord of ChristianityStudd, C. T. (Charles Thomas)
Religion
The Chocolate Soldier: Or, Heroism—The Lost Chord of Christianity
Studd, C. T. (Charles Thomas)
Christian life
But here are other foot-tracks--outrageous ones: they can belong only
to one man--THAT GRANDEST OF CHRISTIAN PARADOXES--THE LITTLE GIANT
PAUL--whose head was as big as his body, and his heart greater than
both. Once he thought and treated every Christian as a combination of
knave and fool. Then he became one himself. He was called "fool"
because his acts were so far beyond the dictates of human reason, and
"mad" because of his irresponsible fiery zeal for Christ and men. A
first-class scholar, but one who knew how to use scholarship
properly; for he put it on the shelf, declaring the wisdom of men to
be but folly, and determined to know nothing else save Jesus Christ
and Him crucified. The result--he made the world turn somersault. His
life was a perpetual gamble for God. Daily he faced death for Christ.
Again and again he stood fearless before crowds thirsting for his
blood. He stood before kings and governors and "turned not a hair".
He didn't so much as flinch before Nero, that vice-president of hell.
His sufferings were appalling; read them. He trod in his Master's
footsteps, and so received--God is always just in His favors--the
same splendid compliment that Jesus did. "All forsook him." So there
were some Chocolate Christians in those days too. Anyone who forsook
Paul must have been made of Chocolate. Doubtless the "CHOCOLATES"
excused themselves as they do today. "Who could abide such a
fanatical, fiery fool? such an uncompromising character? Nobody could
work with him, or he with them!" (What a lie! Jesus did, and they got
on well together.) A tactless enthusiast, who considered it his
business to tell every man the unvarnished truth regardless of
consequences. He won his degree hands down, and without a touch of
the spur. A first-class one, too--that of the headman's axe--next
best to that of the cross.
And so the tale goes on. Go where you will through the Scriptures or
history, you find that men who really knew God, and didn't merely say
they 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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