Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/95

Rh heart. I have often hoard it said, 'The worse the man, the better the soldier!' Facts contradict this untruth. Were I ever, as leader of a forlorn hope allowed to select my men, it would be most certainly from among the soldiers of Christ, for who should fight 80 fearlessly and bravely as those to whom death presents no after terrors? I was surprised to hear of the death of that poor navvy whom we visited; but I will cling with you to the hope that he died a 'pardoned sinner.' He loved prayer; this was not a natural desire, but implanted in his heart by God the Holy Spirit; and we may rest in a good hope that He who 'despiseth not the sighing of a contrite heart,' has been very merciful to him, and that he has gone to swell the number of the ransomed throng; and we shall meet again! The days of our appointed time will ere long have run out, and then our change comes. In that, our hour of need, when the heart shall prompt the rising prayer, 'Forsake me not when my strength faileth,' then shall the words of Jesus comfort our departing souls, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' A near view of Jesus, with those words ringing in our ears, is all that we shall want then.

'In thy presence I am happy,
 * In thy presence I'm secure;

In thy presence all affliction
 * I can easily endure.

'In thy presence I can conquer,
 * I can suffer, I can die.

Far from Thee I faint and perish;
 * O my Saviour, keep me nigh."

"The little book of Psalms you gave me, I take with me whenever I go out to walk. I have just learned by heart Psalm xci., and it has filled me with confidence in Jesus.