more prominently than any other man.  To them he is the Ambassador and Representative of God.  He is their Captain, their Brother, and Friend.  Their eyes are on him night and day.  They regard him as the pattern expressly set for them to copy, the leader who at all times it is their bounden duty to follow.

     “How important it is, therefore, that every Officer should be
     careful to perfect his character to the utmost in order that he may
     be useful to the fullest extent.

“The Field Officer must lead his Soldiers on to the full realisation of the baptism of the Holy Ghost; he must make them Blood and Fire.  The work of the Spirit is to fill the soul with burning zeal for the Salvation of the world.  Christ’s work must be finished.  He has left that task to His people; it can only be continued and carried on to completion by His Spirit working in the hearts and through the lives of His people.  The Holy Ghost was promised for this end.  This is what His people have, therefore, a right to expect, and without it they are powerless for the War.

“In order that his Soldiers may be effective, the Field Officer must not only act for the purification of his Soldiers, but to have them filled with the Spirit of Christ, in order that they may be competent for the mighty work they have to accomplish.

“This will make them wise.  They will understand how to fight, what to say, what to sing, how to pray, and how to talk to the consciences and hearts of men.  The Spirit of God will lead them into right methods of action, will show them how to make opportunities, and how to put these opportunities to the best use, when they are made.

     “The Holy Spirit will give them perseverance, keeping them going on
     in the face of difficulty.

     “The Holy Spirit will give them power, making them not only
     willing to endure the Cross, but to glory in it.

“The Holy Spirit will give them the fire of love, the seraphic spirit, the live coal from off the altar, making them both burn and shine.  With this they will come to Knee-Drill, to the Open-Air, to face mocking crowds, and to endure the scorn, and hatred, and persecution of men; not merely from a sense of duty, dragging themselves to it, because it is the will of God; or for the good of The Army; or as an example to their comrades; or even for the Salvation of souls; but because they love it, and cannot stay away.

“This baptism will be a fire in their bones, which must have vent.  It will be a spirit that must have a voice.  It will be a love, a burning love in the heart, which all the waters that earth and Hell can pour upon it, cannot quench a love with which no other love can compare.  It will be the Saviour again loving a dying world through His people.  It will be Christ indeed come again in the flesh.

     “The Soldiers must be baptised with fire.  It will give them the
     Soldier’s spirit; and, with that, all a Soldier needs in the way of
     drill, and duty, and sacrifice will inevitably follow.”