The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-24
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Lesson For the Week beginning Nov. 20.
Comment by Rev. w. j. Yates, A.
M.--Topic, The Divine
Panoply.

SCRIPTURE READING vi. 14-ls.
The sight of soldiers was familiar
one to Paul and his writings have fire.
quent reference 10 them. He often COM
pares the Christian to "a soldier. This
figure has been favorite one with re-
ligious writers. In this passage the
apostle compares the virtues of Chris
tian character to the armor commonly
worn by Roman soldiers in his time.
Truth. This is like belt or girdle
wound around the waist Greatly does
it strengthen one who has heavy bur-
dens to lift or carry. 1t prevents strain
ing and rupture. 1t is the first and in
dispensable need of every follower Of
Christ Be true! This is much more
than telling the truth. See the truth in
all things; search till it be found, what
ever the cost. Rest not in any half truth.
| Love it, cling to it at all sacrifice. Sur
render life first Live it. Girdle your
self with it. Here only is strength in
the day of battle and wrestling. All
| else is weakness.
Right, Brightness, Righteousness
The basis Of all right is an eternal truth
and the foundation of truth is the nature
of God Things are as they are because
God is as He is. Truth appeals to the
reason. 1t is the real and reasonable.
| Opposed to it is the false. Whatever is
true to the reason is right for the will
! to perform. 1t then becomes the law to
man. God says, "Thou shalt. And
man feels, Il ought, because this is du-
ty." Righteousness is doing what one
ought What his reason shows to be
true, his soul recognizes, he ought to
love and perform. 1t is like a breast
! plate. 1t covers the heart and protects
it. Only as man does his duty and
lives rightly does his heart rest in peace.
This is holiness Neglect of it is wrong
doing and sin.
Peace. A Christian is under obliga-
ton to make peace wherever he goes.
He is never to stir up strife. His feet
are not to be swift to run into mischief.
"How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, that publisheth peacer'
Faith. This is like "a shield. Doubts
arise. All things must be tested. Intel
lectual things must be subjected to the
| test of reason. No one is under obliga
| ton to believe the unreasonable, the
| false or absurd. No one can believe it.
| Whoever says he does so believe either
| misunderstands or speaks lies Faith is
conviction of the reality and truth Of a
| matter. 1t is confidence. 1t comes after
| investigation and proof. 1t is not depend
I'll
firmest knowledge does not rest on a
process of argument but is intuitive.
We know thing to be true, but cannot
| tell how we know it to be So We trust
without a fear or doubt in many cases
where we have never fully investigated.
| So our faith in God is firm, not because
we can understand all His nature and
| plans, but knowing some Of His truth
! we have confidence in His wisdom and
love and all doubts are broken ON this
| buckler of faith.
Salvation. person can know he
loves God and his fellow men and be
| conscious Of salvation. This conscious
| ness covers him like a helmet and keeps
his powers Of thinking safe.
The Word No substitute can be
found for the Bible as the Christian s
best weapon Of defense. 1t is truly the
! sword of Gods Spirit.