The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-16

SSAA' Anc hP@hJ Proseut6u y me
appearance.
The chaplain took for his text, Ephe-
slams, 6:2; "Put on the Whole Armor
Of God" He said in part, 1 select this
subject because I am to preach to SOL
diers. The armor, however, which we
are exhorted to put on Is the armor OF
God. We expecs this to be unique and
we are not mistaken. Life is to be
viewed 90 9 battle. The world ia lit
orally great battlefield. The powers
Of light and darkness are contending
everywhere. The conflict is q deadly
one. Sin has introduced 1t. This put
man against his fellow, and made the
destruction OF man one Of the great
purposes of Satan and his minions.
The enemies described are not flesh
and blood. The conflict ia therefore
spiritual, and for that reason all the
mightier. This country thirty years
since carried ON war that cost eight
thousand millions of dollars and en-
rolled and equipped nearly four million
OF soldiers. That was q tremendous
war. 1t fades Into utter insignificsnce
when compared with this spiritual con.
1ict.
The writer exhausts language. He
d,
the rulers of the darkness of this world
spiritual wickedness in high places.
The armies are made up OF mighty gen.
erals. We contend with Satan ard his
forces, the mighty powers of darkness.
What can man do in the face OF such
foes? He can do nothing without the
help Of God.
For this conflict God has provided
special equipment which the Christian
soldier Is to wear. The picture is at of
Roman soldier covered from head to foot
with armor. The frst piece Ia the belt.
This ia the emblem of truth. He must
be grit about with northumberland
| rightness. Truth in anything is all I'm
portant. We must know the truth.
Sincerity OF belief Is not an an,idote for
ignorance. A mistake is q mistake. A
dose Of strychnine instead of calomel
given to your child destroys it's life even
If you are sincere in your belief that i.
Is what you think it 10. The poison
works it's deadly effects in spite OF your
sincerity. Things are things and their
operation is not counteracted by sin
certify of human belief. Truth is toll
lowed by one consequence and error by
| another. Sincerity will not alter the
effect in either case. 1t will not sitter
the effect OF material, intellectual or
spiritual poison. We must have the
truth.
He must put on the breastpIate OF
| Righteousness, moral rightness. He must
be righteous in his dealings with God
and his fellowmen Morals count for
much in lifes battle. They count for
everything in this mighty conflict Peo.
pie are looking more narrowly now into
the moral character of men. They ask
about the morals of the man of bust
ness. They wish TO know something OF
the moral character of the individual
who ask their suffrages They now
Canvass the whole man. They are right.
How can o man be right upon great
questions when oneshslf, and the best
half Of bis nature, is all ~ry? How can
man do right when in his own life he
Ia doing wrong? Moral deterioration
means deterioration in other respects.
His feet must be shod with the prep
aration of the Gospel Of peace. Sandals
added to mans celebrity, and, there
fore, to his efficiency. Christianity is
active. II Is philanthropic The church
is the most philan.hropic institution in
the world. Christians are the most
philanthropic people. Paul embodied
this fact in thst famous declaration: 81
am debtor both to the Greeks and to the
barbarians; both to the wise and the
unwise." This activity Is not only
philanthropic, 1t is helpful to the SOL
der. II calls into activity his powers.
1t develops them.
He must also take the shield Of faith.
Upon this he would catch and quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked. Faith
in God goes beyond reason 1t goes
where reason cannot follow. 1t enables
the Christian to stand firm.
to - ~
helmet OF salvation. One OF thesthree
graces is hope. It brigh,ens the life.
In this case 1t is the hope of salvation.
1t arouses to greater energy. 1t is said
that II you make a man sure of his SAL
walton that will rob him OF his energy
and take away the incentive to be good
People who gay that have observed
human nature to little purpose. The
very thought OF victory ie an inspira-
tion. Success is one of the Creates.
stimulants to exertion known. The
most active men in business are those
who have been NEST successful. The
principle Ia just as powerful in religious
and spiritual matters as it 10 in others
He Is 10 take the Sword OF the Spirits;
which Is the Word of God. Tho Romans
conquered the world with little short
sharp. two edged sword. God says that
His Word us quick and powerful and
sharper thsn any two-edRed sword I"
The Word OF God is the most effective
weapon one can take In the battle with
sin and Satan. 1t is the most effective
weapon in conflict with any adversary.
The Bible is It's own witness. A man
whose mind is equipped with Gods
Word will And 1t an antidote for scepti-
cism. for temptation. for sorrow. When
Christ was especially assaulted by the
devil, the weapon used was this Word.
His use Of the Word In that contest
drove the devil to the pse Of Il, and ha