Some are drawn to the Lord Jesus by a slow and steady growth of faith. But there are certain times when the Lord suddenly arrests a man in a startling way. Moses met God face-to-face at the burning bush. Paul was thrown to the ground by a blinding light on the Damascus road. So it was with Colonel James Gardiner, a British army officer who was suddenly arrested when God revealed Himself.

Since the days of Joshua, Gideon, and David, the pages of history have been adorned with accounts of Godly, brave soldiers. Although the profession of arms is naturally associated with many vices, such as gambling, swearing, and drunkenness, still plenty of noble examples of men of God exist who have shown the world a faithful example of a Christian soldier.

One name in this class of valiant soldiers is Colonel James Gardiner, a Scottish dragoon officer (cavalryman) who served in the British army during the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. His life story was of such importance that Philip Doddridge, the famous minister and hymn writer, wrote about the man’s life and testimony as an example for other Christian soldiers.

James Gardiner was born in 1688 near the Firth of Forth in the central lowlands of Scotland. His father, Captain Patrick Gardiner, was an army officer who gave his loyalty to the monarchs William and Mary during the Glorious Revolution. He commanded a company of foot soldiers and was killed in battle in Germany during the War of Spanish Succession.

James Gardiner was raised by his mother, Mary, a woman of sincere piety and kindness. She lost her husband, her brother, and her eldest son in battle. She urged her son James not to enter a military life. But the young man, heedless of these entreaties, felt drawn to take up his father’s sword. Thus, despite his mother’s pleas, he entered the military.

As a young man, Gardiner was very hot-tempered. Soon, to his mother’s great grief, he was drawn away into dangerous temptations. He fought his first duel at the age of eight years old! This duel resulted in a scar on his right cheek that was always very apparent throughout his life. The scar later served as a reminder to an older, more mature man the follies of his youth.

Gardiner entered the British military at the age of fourteen. He received an ensign’s commission from Queen Anne. During these days of youthful folly, Gardiner acquired the very vices that his mother had warned him against. He began using profanity and became immoral. He vainly thought that he must win the respect of his peers by imitating their vices.

At the Battle of Ramillies in 1706, which was part of the War of Spanish Succession, nineteen-year-old James Gardiner was serving in Belgium under the command of the Duke of Marlborough. Young Officer Gardiner was assigned to the forlorn hope (a unit who were given desperately hopeless assignments). He was immediately given charge of an almost impossible assault. He planted the colors of the regiment in advance of his men, and called upon them to follow him into the very earthworks of the enemy. Gardiner was shouting a stream of profanity when a musket ball tore into his mouth, sliced through his profane tongue, pierced the back of his throat, tore entirely through his neck, and came out very near the vertebrae in the back of his neck! Miraculously, the musket ball did not touch his teeth nor sever any arteries.

Taken from the battlefield, Gardiner was assumed to be dying. The local women who cared for him urged him to embrace the Catholic faith and warned him of the error of his sinful ways.

The severe wound, coming into his mouth as it did, sobered the young officer for a time. But after healing, Gardiner returned to his life of sin. His bravery in the face of danger soon gave him promotion, and he advanced rapidly through the ranks of the British service.

Gardiner was appointed to a military post in Paris, France, after the conclusion of hostilities. While in this city he gave free reign to sinful lusts. Occasional checks of conscience would come over him, but he always was able to suppress them. Sometimes he would recall his mother’s tears and prayers. At other times, he would remember his remarkable deliverance from death on the battlefield. But the pull of sin was too strong for him to overcome by his own natural strength.

One Sunday in July of 1719, the now Major Gardiner had spent the day in frivolous pleasures. He had an appointment with a married woman at midnight, but the party he was attending broke up at 11:00. Having a tedious hour to kill, he sought an amusing book to occupy his time. He accidentally pulled out a book titled The Christian Soldier that his Godly mother had put into his portmanteau. He began reading it to find some diversion or something to mock in the attempt to spiritualize the profession of arms.

While he was reading, Major Gardiner saw an unusual blaze of light fall upon the open book. He lifted up his eyes to see a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory. He heard a voice that said, “Oh, sinner! Did I suffer this for thee, and are these the returns?”

The Major sank almost lifelessly down into his armchair! He remained so for some time. Missing his adulterous midnight appointment, instead the man agonized over his sins. For the first time, he saw his sin in the light of the sufferings of the Savior. The words of Scripture, pressed upon him by his pious mother, came flooding into his memory.

There in Paris, Major Gardiner repented of his sins and was converted to Christ. He rarely told anyone the unusual circumstances of his conversion; it was only after his death that Philip Doddridge published the narrative for all to read.

Old habits were instantly put away. Major Gardiner astonished all who knew him by the abrupt change in his life. He became sober in speech, pure in personal virtue, humble, kind, truthful, patient, and forgiving. He read his Bible; he attended preaching with attention; he urged men around him to turn from sin to salvation. When a military disagreement with a brother officer resulted in a challenge to a duel, Major Gardiner said, “I fear sinning, though you know I do not fear fighting.”

Gardiner married a Godly young woman named Frances Erskine. The Lord blessed them with thirteen children, although only five of these survived to adulthood. James Gardiner was a loving husband and faithful father who prioritized his God and his family in all matters.

Gardiner’s Christianity made a brave man even braver. He was a model officer, obedient to his superiors and firm but kind to his men. He was eventually promoted to the rank of colonel and given command of the 13th Hussars, a regiment of light dragoons who were regarded as one of the most prestigious cavalry regiments in the British service.

While leading this regiment, Colonel James Gardiner was killed at the Battle of Prestonpans during the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. He fell mortally wounded in sight of his own home. Gardiner died as he had lived—a faithful, committed Christian soldier. He left a bright and shining testimony to his children and to his brother officers. Gardiner had fought a good fight. Indeed, he finished his course, and he kept the faith.

Sources and Further Reference:

Doddridge, Philip. The Life of Colonel James Gardiner. Philadelphia, PA: The Presbyterian Board of Publication. Public Domain.