“In the name of God we will set up our lament.” Ps 20:3 (Preached April 17, 1881)

Clarksville 17th April 84 80807
1. - 561 - 155 Lo, what a glorious sight appears,
2. - 558 - 198 Say who is she that looks abroad,
3. - 590 - 155 Sing to the Lord in joyful strains,
In the name of our God we will set up our banners. Ps. 20:5
[Now] In order to represent Him & His Govt on earth; in order
to uphold and maintain [this] warfare vs.
Sin, God has chosen to organize His Church
upon Earth, for the double purpose of conquering
and subduing sinners to Himself, and
after winning them back, to furnish
them a safe and secure fortress,
and refuge against the influences
that would draw them [back] away from
Holiness, Peace, and Truth. When therefore
men are thus sweetly conquered by the
spiritual weapons of this Holy War, it is
not only the suggestion of a newborn love & gratitude




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to God that springs up within the regenerate
heart, that prompts the entrance into the army of
their Lord, but it is a part of their new nature; there
has been infused into them the measure of the
Holy Spirit, whereby they have become partaken
of the Divine nature; so that what God loves
they love; what God abhors they hate; what
Gods cause requires they are ready to
do, and their will co-incides entirely &
universally with the will of God, and
His service becomes their highest happiness
& their chief delight, and they
only ask with Paul, Lord what wilt thou have me
to do?
The object which I have in view in these remarks is to introduce the characters
who are represented as speaking the words




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of our text: In the name of our God we
will set up our banners. They are Gods
people who say this; once rebels; now saints;
once against God; now enlisted on His
side; once fighting against Him; now
fighting for Him. And as this warfare is waged
against the Power of Darkness, as it will
continue to be waged until Satan shall be
bruised under Xt.s feet, and as Gods works
are performed by His people, or His agents,
so the people of God when they begin the
Xtian warfare set up banners, as they
proclaim this war, not only to defend
themselves against the assaults of Satan, and
to drive Satan from the control of the
world, but to convert sinners to God as
well.




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Ps. 20:5
In the name of our God, we will set up our banners.
I. We inquire into the meaning of the Banners
here mentioned; and
II. Why such resolution should be made.
I. It is to be observed that a banner is a
flag or standard bearing always a
symbol, and very often an inscription
or motto. In the case of the banner
set up by the people of God. The symbol
is the Cross of Xt. and on it
is inscribed in ineffaceable letters of
light and glory The Lord our Righteousness.
and it is dedicated unto Him that loved
us, and saved us with an everlasting
salvation, to Him be glory & honor
majesty and dominion forever and
ever. The banner of the individual Xtian is the profession




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profession of His faith in Xt. All men can see that.
He is not ostentatious with it. But he believes
in what Xt. said: Whosoever confesseth
tc. and so just the moment he becomes
a conquered rebel himself, and enters
into the number of the followers of the Redeemer,
he becomes a banner bearer in the
army of the great Captain of his salvation,
and comes out fearlessly, honestly, sincerely;
and confesses Xt. before men, and is not
ashamed of Him. True the Cross is
not obtrusively thrust before you in its
sensible and tangible form, and worn
upon the bosom externally; and erected
on the steeples of your Chhs. That is not
the Cross of Xt. It is but the crucifix, the




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It may be abused & has been abused, so that it
[abuse of which by an unholy Apostale [Apostle] Ch.]
has caused the true soldier of Jesus to turn
away from it, and to regard it as anything
but an emblem of salvation.
But the Cross of Xt. which is the true
coat of arms of the Christian soldier, is
the Gospel of Truth; and it is deeply
imprinted upon his heart shown by
his outward conformity to the
doctrines of that Gospel, not needing to be
shown by this Trinket, or ornament, but Known
& read of all men by a well ordered walk
and a godly conversation; a living
epistle a lively stone in the spiritual
building, that temple of the living God
the invisible body of the Lord Jesus Xt. the blood
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bought Church. This display of the banner of profession
is made that all men know the Xtian to be
what he professes to be, and that he is on
the side of the Lord. Then; II.
We learn the reasons for the use of banners in Religion from
analogy.
1. Banners are chosen by those who proclaim
war. The banner bearer of the Army of the
Lord, the true child of God unfurls his
banner to let it be known that he proclaims
war against all that is at war
with God. Let it be ever borne in mind that the spirit, the principles,
the declarations, the laws, precepts, &
injunctions of the Gospel are all in deadly
hostility against the spirit & maxisms
and principles of an ungodly world,
the corruptions of human nature, the ruinous heresies of
human society the sinful follies & fashions




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fashions which so absorb and pre-occupy the minds
of vast numbers. The word of God, which is the
Book of Constitutions for His Government & Kingdom,
distinctly states that His design in redeeming
sinners was to purify unto Himself a peculiar
people. Now if they are a peculiar people, then
there must be some method of distinguishing
them from those who are not His. What if in
a battle between two powerful armies a
detachment of one of them should assume
the banner & all the equipments and uniform
of the other; what would be the possibility of
distinguishing them from those they resembled?
How are Professors of religion then to demonstrate
their loyalty to Jesus Xt., if they fling to the breeze
the self-same flag or banner that is now waving over the




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men of the world? It may be said truly that in
these days of degeneracy it is very often one
of the most difficult tasks to distinguish the
members of the Ch. from the children of
the world. In their commercial transactions; in
their social habits; in their intercourse with
the men of the world; in their indifference
to the services of Gods House; in their neglect
of family religion, what do they more, or differently
from others? Their righteousness does
not exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees,
and Xt. declares of those who are thus deficient, that
they shall, in no case, enter into the Kingdom
of Heaven! Such members of the Church are
not true soldiers of the Cross; they are deserters;
they are not under the banner which the people of




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God have set up in His name. They are marching
under the banner of the world; the trumpet
of their Xtian life gives forth an uncertain
sound, and carries with it no significant
meaning, and utters no word of encouragement
to the army of the living God; echoes no word
of cheer promising of victory; but it cheers and
encourages the enemy; disheartens the timorous;
and distresses even the true soldier of
the Cross; weighs like lead upon the spirit of
the watchman upon the Walls of Zion; and,
what is worse, provokes God Himself; brings disgrace
upon the name of Jesus; grieves the
Holy Spirit; and sets back the advancement of
the Church in its conquest of the world for
many a long, dark, and wearisome year! Such




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men may be in the camp of the Lord; but they are not
true men; they not only do nothing for Gods
glory but a great deal to the dishonor of God.
They are Auchaus in the Camp; and very
often it is on their account that the hosts
of God are defeated and turn their backs
before the enemy. But I remark
2. Banners are set up as Centres of Attraction; to rally
and to lead the hosts engaged. Often in the midst
of the smoke and confusion of battle the line wd
be broken, and the troops dispersed but for the
sight of the banner waving aloft, and every eye
must be seeking for its familiar folds, and
its emblems and mottoes, or they are in imminent
peril of ruin and overthrow. So it is eminently
true of the army of the living God and of individual




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individual soldier of the Cross that the eye must be firmly, & unwaveringly
fixed upon the banner of the Truth, with its Gospel
emblems and its glorious mottoes. Sometimes the
powers of darkness, and the influences of spiritual
wickedness in high places, the clamors of Infidelity,
and the assaults of worldliness, gather all
their forces for one combined attack upon the
Church of God. Under such a battle of warriors with
confused noise and garments rolled in blood,
the crucial test is applied, and the true & tried
spirits of the Church stand firm, and undismayed
amid the terrors of the onset. There are those
whose names are upon the roll, however,
whose souls are melted within them when
the enemy comes thus rushing in like a
flood, and failing to understand that then




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the promise is the Spirit of the Lord will lift
up a banner vs him, look not for the banner as
it still floats high above the din of battle, the reach
of defeat. Such men reach suddenly the conclusion that
the cause is lost, that the Ch. is about to be overwhelmed,
that Lawlessness, Atheism, and worldliness are
about to triumph, and that it will not be long
until Satan & his hosts will achieve the victory
and drive the armies of The Redeemer, and all
the soldiers of the Cross ignominiously from the field. But
under such a pitiful presentation of cowardice,
the true courageous warrior stands by & bids him
look for the banner of the Truth; to rally to that;
to follow that even through the thick of the fight,
even to the fore-front of the hottest battle; and though
he may not be much of a warrior yet let him lay hold




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of the cross, and cling to that, and all will go well; and
let such timorous Xtians take Spurgeons words God is not
dead, and He will beat the Devil yet. As surely as
Jesus Christ won the victory on the cross, He will
win the victory over the worlds Sin. Look for your
banner & if you can find that, you need apprehend
nothing. The Ch. is in no danger.
It may be that the [heavy] hostile assaults made upon
her artworks are heavy, but her towers and bulwarks
are immovable and impregnable; and
so long as the people of God continue to
set up their banners in the name of their
God, The gates of Hell shall not, cannot
prevail against her. This is just as true in
the case of the individual Xtian. Many a hurling
storm of fiery darts must he endure from the wicked




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one, which will try the strength of his faith,
and the courage of his heart. Temptations
may come upon him in the most powerful &
unexpected manner, and before it he may
feel that all must give way as the forest
before the hurricanes breath. And so it will,
if he rely only upon human strength to resist.




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There has never yet been found upon this earth, even so much as one man who
possessed, in himself alone, the courage, the
strength, the will, the fierce indomitable hatred of
sin, whereby he can conquer in the strife with the
great enemy that goeth about seeking whom he
may devour. But thanks to God! All along the
march of history, and all along the line of our lives




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the banners of Gods eternal Truth are standing
set up by His people in past times, set
up by them in the name of our God &
underneath their ample folds in the spot
where the least & feeblest may abide, uninjured &
unawed, while thousands fall on every side,
They rest secure in God. So when found
the only safety is in keeping close to the
standard. Peter followed afar off and
fell. Thomas absented himself from the
gathering of the disciples for prayer, &
was faithless & unbelieving. Judas loved
the wages of iniquity and died by his own
hand. David allowed his heart to go astray
from the banner of truth & virtue & in
an evil hour became guilty of the double




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crime of murder & adultery. So be warned in time,
and avoid everything that is not stamped with
the image & superscription of the Gospel. Allured
as you may be and will be time
after time to scenes & places of earthly
entertainment, always look to ascertain
whether the banner of the Gospel, with the
inscription Holiness unto the Lord deeply
ingrained into it, is floating from their
battlements, and if not avoid it, pass
not by it, turn from it and pass away!
Remove thy way far from all such places
& resorts, & come not nigh the door of the house
for of the presiding genii of such [?] of iniquity,
it may be truly said, While their lips drip
as an honeycomb, and their mouths is smoother than




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oil, their end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a
two-edged sword; their feet go down to death;
their steps take hold on hell! I remark
4. Banners are used sometimes as emblems of
Peace. Preliminary to the close of the war, a
flag of truce a white flag is set up
and this in token of a desire for peace.
I would not, my beloved, that you shd be left
under the impression that God in all the
conflict with sin & error has ever had
other than thoughts of Peace toward you.
Hard fought fields there have been and the object
has been to conquer you, & deliver you from
the power of Sin. But all the period of this
warfare the only feelings of enmity felt by either
party are those you have felt toward God. He has




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had none but thoughts of Love & peace. And when
by the power of Omnipotent Grace He has overcome
your hostility and brought you to see & feel
your sinfulness, and yr lost & ruined condition
what time you have feared to come to Him
He has mercifully displayed the banner of
peace He has made the way open to a cessation
of hostilities, and while it is the same
blessed banner of the Gospel, stamped
all over with the emblem of the cross,
it is full of invitations & promises, and
beseechings, and intreaties to you to come
unto Him & He will in no wise cast
you out; and while the glorious proposal Come
now & let us reason together, saith the Lord, tho
your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow,




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and though they be red like crimson, they shall be
as wool; He declares, He that believeth upon
the son of God, hath eternal life. So under
this emblematic representation of a banner of
peace & hope, we read & understand the
meaning of the apostles declaration:
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God did beseech you by us: we pray
you, in Xt.s stead be ye reconciled to God.
We plant here today the flag of truce, the white
and spotless banner of peace, and we invite
you to come & be reconciled to God. He
is already pacified by the work of Xt., He waits to be
gracious; all that is needful to the establishment
of peace between you is that you come & be
reconciled to God. Come then and come without delay.




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5. Banners are symbols of victory. Gods word
makes frequent mention of Victory & Triumph.
Conquerors in anct. times were decreed what was
called a triumph. Arches were erected underneath
which he passed amid the congratulations
of his countrymen, the weaving of
garlands of honor, and the waving of banners,
amid great rejoicing. The conquests of the
Cross over mens hearts by the power of
Divine Truth and under the influences
of the Divine Spirit, are but feebly & faintly
set forth by such displays. The victory acquired over
sin & Satan when one soul is converted is frequently alluded to in
such terms in Scripture as show conclusively
that is deemed a very precious & glorious event.
The banner of this victory has on it such inscriptions as


these: There is joy in the presence, tc. Rejoice with me
for I have found the piece [of silver] which I had lost. tc. There is more
joy than over 99, tc. This my son was dead & is alive again, was lost & is found.
Let him know that he converteth tc.
2. But a succession of victories awaits the faithful soldier
of the cross. The banners set up on such occasion
have written upon them such inscriptions as these
This is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith a [real????] belief in Gods word; fear of Gods wrath;
hope of Heaven; and receiving Xt. & resting upon Him
alone tc. a sense of Gods presence evermore around
him to witness everything to uphold & support. Only victory
can come to such, and it is of such, that the
words they come off conquerors & more than
conquerors, thro Xt. J tc. and the promise
Hold out faithful unto death & I will give thee a




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crown of Life. To all which we have Pauls personal
testimony: I am now ready to be offered up tc.
3. The banner of Victory is set up over one more
scene, & the last enemy that shall be overcome is
Death. The fears & doubts that harass the Xtian in view
of death may be overcome. But that is not the Triumph here
mentioned. It is completed on the morning of
the resurrection. When this corruption shall
have put on incorruption, tc. and when
Arrayed in glorious grace,
Shall these vile bodies shine,
And every shape and every face
Look heavenly & divine!
When to those who hold out faithful unto death
shall have a crown of glory that fadeth not away
and so our entrance shall be ministered unto them
abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord & Savior.