Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

or, The Rebellious Soldier

A very remarkable story is related as having taken place in Edinburgh Castle in connection with the restoration of Charles II.

Cromwell’s soldiers still formed the garrison, and they were ordered by the Governor to parade and fire a salute in honour of the restoration. All obeyed with the exception of one of Cromwell’s veterans; he bluntly refused to obey the order, saying he hoped he might be blown into the air if he fired a cannon that day.

To fire a salute meant to acknowledge the King, and to refuse to do so was to be guilty of rebellion. Rebellion against the rightful earthly sovereign is a serious offence; but who shall measure the enormity of rebellion against the Lord Jesus Christ? Yet there are heedless multitudes to-day who are in rebellion against His rule.

The soldier of our story was compelled, however, to take his stand at one of the guns overlooking the West Church and to apply the match; strangely enough, the cannon burst and blew him to atoms. Of course, such an occurrence may be accounted for in many ways, and it was but a coincidence that this man should have fired the one cannon that burst that day. But the story shall serve as an illustration to press home a solemn truth.

Those soldiers had to acknowledge Charles II. as King some did it willingly but this unfortunate soldier was compelled to do it, and he was destroyed in the very act.

 

---

Now God has set His beloved Son upon the throne He who was once despised and rejected. “God has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11.)

This is God’s unchanging decree. All must acknowledge Jesus as Lord. We learn from God’s Word that those who do this in the day of God’s grace will be saved and blessed for ever; for there is no blessing too great for God to give to those who honour His dear Son by bowing the knee to Him. If you have not done this as yet, do it — do it to-day. He is worthy that all should bow to Him and own Him Lord and they are wise indeed who do it willingly.

But, alas! many refuse to bow to Christ; they love their sins, their self-willed ways, the world — its pleasures and its prizes. They will not turn from these to Jesus, and they manifest the rebellion of their hearts against God by refusing to own His Son as their Lord. They will not have Him to reign over them.

How great is their folly, since God has declared that all must submit to Christ! Those who refuse, while mercy lingers, and grace can save, will be compelled by the almighty power of God in the day of judgment; but, bowing in that terrible day will only be followed by banishment from the presence of God and the glory of His power.

O reader, bow to the Saviour to-day! Learn a lesson from the story of the rebellious soldier in Edinburgh Castle: do not refuse to own the rightful Lord and King until you are compelled by the power of God, lest you perish for ever in your folly.