Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-04-18
NUMBER SO
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvDh.
Topic For the Week Beginning April Ell
Comment bV Rev s H. Doxte

Topic For the Week Beginning April 2I.
Comment by Rev. 5. II. Doyle.
7 ToPIC.-On guard-oyer what; how7-Eeh-
/ iv, 6-&3. "A temperance topic.)
Y Nehemiah and his followers ia re-
building the walls Of Jerusalem after
their return from captivity are opposed
By the allied forces of the surrounding
heathen nations. They hoped to take
/ them BY surprise, but Nehemiah heard
Of their intentions and made prepara-
/ tions to meet and repulse his assailants.
Y This may illustrate to US the necessity
Of being on guard against the enemies
Of our souls, and in the way that Nehe-
miah guarded himself so may we guard
ourselves against the assaults of sin and
satan.
1. We must be on guard over our
souls. The enemies of Nehemiah were
both from without and within With
out were the combined, angry, deter
mined, willy leaders Of the heather
armies about them. Within there was
the opposition Of the despondent and
the discouraged laborers. In guarding
the soul the Christian must meet the
same kind Of enemies The enemies Of
the soul are without in the form Of sa-
tan, sin, temptation, evil men, who are
anxious to lead Gods children astray,
and in many other forms Within are
the doubts and discouragements that
arise from the natural weakness Of the
human nature. We must keep guard
over all these things if we save the
soul from destruction. Then must also
skill be displayed in guarding ourselves
against the assaults that are made upon
us. Nehemiah very carefully arranged
everything to meet successfully the at
tack Of the enemy against him. Tact
and skill must be displayed in guarding
ourselves against temptation and sin
We must know what are our weak
nesses, that we may fortify them spe-
cially, for it is here that the most Wig
orous assaults win be made We must
understand ourselves; we must under
stand the enemy and be on constant
guard
2. How must we guard ourselves? l.
By prayer. Though Nehemiah had a
strong, determined enemy against him,
he was not discouraged, but first prayed
unto God Prayer is our strongest safe
guard. The enemy may be numerous
and strong, but God is strength both
against numbers and might He can
give US strength to overcome the might
lest enemies il we but ask Him. He
knows our foes. He understands our
weaknesses. He desires our safety. He
has promised to sustain us, and our
hope should be in Him o. WatchfuI-
ness The Jews not only prayed, but
watched day and night 50 we should
habitually watch ourselves and the
temptations and sins that easiest gain
the victory over us g. Prayer and
watchfulness. Watch and pray, said
Christ to His disciples. The two must
be combined. Prayer aids watching, and
watching aids prayer. Prayer alone is
7 presumption; watchfulness alone is sin
full self confidence. Both together in
sure safety and deliverance Watch,
I therefore, unto prayer.
Bible Readings -Ps- XII, 8; Prov.
\ j, 1915; iv, %; Matt xiv, AZ; XVI,
Al; Mark xiii, 35-37; Luke xii, 81; xxi,
So; Cor. x, IL, 13; Eph. vi, 1918;
Col. iv. 2; Tbess. ', s.; III Tim. iv, 5;
I Pet. iv, 7;v, s. o. Rev. iii, 2; xvi, To-