The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-08-10


If you have everything elso and have
not the shield of faith you have nothing 10
protect you, hence ii is that the Apostle
lays so much Importance upon faith, and
here when his departure was almost at
hand, as it it were to tell us how II was
that ho alwas oamo on victorious, and was
ready to depart in such triumphant hope
he breaks forth. eNclaming--O yc sons OF
God. came hthcr by fighting good
| fight, by finishing my course, that is
Ivy running well the race that was set
before me, and by keeping the faith, that is
the pure faith of the gospel, which ia tho
| gift of God. | 50 run that may obtain
! | know there is an incorruptible crown-
| therefore | strive for the MYSTERY in the
race, press towards the priao-l am pur-
| suaded that ho whom | have trusted is
able to keep that which have committed
unto him honoo | tight not as on beating
| the air, keep my eye fixed upon the object
Christ Jesus my Lord hlvo tho goal
and the crown in view, know that it may
| be obtained, hence faltcr not for mo-
mcnt, knowing thNt there is nothing nec-
| ceSsary but to bo fervent in spirit, diligent
| serving the lord have then but one aim,
| but one plan and I know that every thing
! a1ide from that is vanity. THUS you see
! how it was that Paul thought it gain to
die. he had boen living for death knowing
! that death is appointed unto all mon, aud
! that Life is the time to serve the Lord. The
! timct ensure the great rewards Hence
while no lived, for him to Ii was Christ
and when he WAS called TO lie it was bet
ter, for to depart was TO be with Christ.
After snch glorious biography as this,
what mn st you and conclude should be
/ the manner of our lile? What is the teach
ing of Paul in the language OF the toxt con
ccrning you and me?
We are to fight good fight Who arc
tho enemies then, in this coullictp Let us
look for moment at this matter. As be.
fore limited this warfare is the struggle of
Christ against Satan of holiness against
sin of light against darkness, of heaven
against hell. Christ has set mp his king
dom in tho hearts of his people, and is de-
termined that righteousness shall prevail.
To this Satan is opposed aud dcpraved men
are his allies, hence tho warfare aud one
that must prevail, Every christian is q
soldier in the army of Jesus, he is enlisted
under the banner of king Emmanuel, the
great captain of our salvation, and his Ian
guage is Lord will follow thee whither-
soeVer thou goest" Every where this
conflict is spoken Of the language used con
veys tho idea Of numerous foes. Those
are both internal and external. Our intern
al foes are the evl ipropensities of our dc,
praved hearts. And though they are re-
strained by Divine grace, yet they strug-
glc necessarily to break loose and to eNer-
else their most destructive power. There
are usts which war in our members, against
the"law of our minds, bringing us into cap
tvity to the law of sin" :,
wretched men that we are, who shall
] I a, &, ain, Il In,. |,
o yes!
DARKNESS Will struggle with the light
Till perfect day arise!
Water and fire maintain the fight,
Until the weaker dies.
Thus will the flesh and spirit strive
Aud vex and break my peace:
Till shall quit this mortal life
And sin forever cease"
We have also to contend against tbs
Prince ot the powers of darkness, against
evil spirits, which iul calls 'principalities
Satan is using every means to captivate
the saints which were once snatched from
his malignant power. lie desires TO have
them that he may sift them as wheat, yes
and with all his w!les and cunning de
, signs by which he has so much power over
! us. every influence lie exerts lights upon
: Yet. O. blessed be God with all his willy
[ influence he has not all power, for he il
L overruled by Jehovah our Re lecmer, wht
: will soon "bruise Satan under his feet"
! But again as christians we must con
| tend against worldly influence. Almos
everything in the present evil word is op
posed to spirituality and to the happiness
of our souls ALI, how of,en we forge
: that the friendship of this world is en-
i nifty with God
= The influence of things around us is tC
degrade us, to hinder us, to ruin us. Th
world is full of iniquity, and what fellow
I ship hath righteousness with unrlghteous
u ness?" Everything here is darkness AM
v what commuaion hath light with darkness
If we are christians Christ has chosen II
y ont of the world" And it was from Ili
present evil world that Jesus came to de
9 liver us and among the last words OF Chris
Q we find prayer for his disciples. "Iha
u they may be kept from its facinatinG
J. pleasure, from its unholy secular pursuit
j from the cares of this world, These the
8 are the enemies that you are called to wa
d with, our own depraved hearts, Satan an
his allies and all worldly Influence. Agains
2 these we must contend, over these W
r must triumph. And how are we to gai
u the victory2
3 All, just like Paul did it, by Fighting
'e good fight that is by fighting tue goo
light OF faith"
We must have tho shield of faith. Th
soldier always folt secure when he ha
his shield, Sd is the christian always sal
when he has faith. 1t comes to him
in every attack that is made on him, no ma
Of ter from what quarter: it is the detenc
III and guardian of every other christian grac
" and 1t secures the protection which I'll
rs christian needs ia the whole of the spiri
a nal war, The fiery arts of Satan such 9
10 basphemous thoughts, unbelief, sudde
n temptation to do wrong or thoughts thi
an wound and torment the soul, can be M
10 only by the "shield of faith" by conGdenC
3. in God, and by reliance on his gracior
AZ promises aud aid 1t is not by our ow
r. strength, and il we have no faith in Coz
al we are wholly defeneeless. We shoul
an have q shield that we can turn in any d
ri recton on which we may receive the a
y. rows OF Satan. Our motto must be Gin Go
,e is our trust" Nowhere is there the bgoa
n. basis for conGlenes intelligent and endu
Iy ing confidence. tranquil and joyful con
10 dence, save IN the character, care, wisdOf
~ goodness and po3er of that great and gr
re cions Being who is God over all blesse
forever" God must be known, his fave
We must be secured, his presence felt and .
er joyed, else the changes we pass throuS
he the trials we feel, and the evils whiC
a threaten MS. will disturb our quitnde.