The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-17

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armor of this world. whose wisdom is
foolishness, and whose strength is mad
ness, when measured by the unerring
eye of Him. who is God over all,
blessed for ever. The worlds wisdom
seems so wise-it gives it out that the
right way to do is to proceed on the
principle Of every man for himself is
to get ahead of others by means fair or
fouls to use men as loag as one can
for ones advancement, aud then cast
them away-is to scheme, and spread
slanderous reports, and place upon ac-
tions the worst possible construction.
and undermine, and iosinuate, and in
every manner render obnoxious. those
who stand, or SEEM to stand. in the
way of ones progress. 1t refuses to
recognize universal man as our bro
tber, and every needy man as our
neighbor it laughs at the notion Of
loving our ueighbor as ourselves, aud Of
doing unto others as we would they
should do unto us; it teaches us to
amass for self, instead Of distributing Of
our own to help them who are in worse
case than ourselves; it would have us
find enjoyment in ministering, aud get
ting others to minister, to ourselves,
rather than in ministering to them, and
finding genuine pleasure therein.
These things weld around those that
practice them, an armor Of sel6shness,
hardness aud unbrotherliness, that dis
qualify them from knowing God or en-
teriug His kingdom of sharp aud even
dishonest competition, which is largely
responsible for the condition Of things
now existing, and has made more bank
rupts iu fortune and character, than all
other agencies combined Of cupidity
and greed which has driven thousands
to desperation, and peopled Christeu-
dom with beggars and bomb-throwers,
With the hopelessly poor, and the reck-
lessly violent, seeking to overturn
government in the frantic hope that
something better may emerge: and yet,
in face of the fast multiplying facts that
these things are So, men of :eputsd in
telligence, religious men, Christian men,
protesting belief in the morality of the
Sermon on the Mount, and having HIM
for an example Of gcdly life. who said,
.Love one another as have loved you,
aud who for love Of us men and for our
salvation, became obedient unto death,
even the death of the Cross. Even HIS
followers are found flying straight iu the
face Of their Lord and His teaching,
and justifying themselves 90 the ground
that it is the way Of the world, and that
to fight the battle of life successfully one
must close his ears to the voice of con.
science, and harden his heart against
Gods commandments, and treat His
Word with contempt.
Did ever any one hear an argument
more satisfactory to the powers of hell
than this Was there ever completer
instance Of surrender to the Evil One,
and treating of this world as his
more entire than this?
Why, my friends, it represents
dreadful eclipse Of faith, frightful for.
saking of the principles of a godly life,
monstrous desertioD of the standard of
the true God by them who in name.
aud by inheritance and profession are
enlisted under His banner. 1t is an
invitation to the arch enemy to come
aud rule over Us. 1t is as If David had
gone out to meet Goliath all encumbered
with Saul's armor, and running into his
arms, and saying, Take me, clad as /
am in the armor of my king, bearing his
name and signet on my helmet and
breast plate, protesting allegiance to
him as my earthly sovereign, and to
God as my heavenly kipg-yet, take
me, bear me away in triumph to the
army of which you are the champion.
let me kiss the hand Of your king in
token of my submission; let me knecl
before your false gods, and become
hateful idolater and image worshipper-
a traitor to my King, an apostate from
my God'
Bu. how different, in reality, was bis
action. Thou comest to me with
swosd, and shield. and spear. l come
to thee in the name Of the Lord OF hosts.
the God Of the armies of Israel, whom
thou hast deded y
Yes! my friends, this must ever be
the attitude Of the believer in God;; this
must always characterize the answer OF
them, who when tempted to do wrong,
to 90 back from promises and VOWS. and
to desert the teachings Of Gods eternal
truth, raise supplicatipg voice to the
throne of grace, and take their stand
upon the Everlasting Rock, holding
them fast by God. Lay aside the
treacherous armor Of the world, take up
the simple weapons Of faith, and prayer.
md +rnet ond r., the name and strength