The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-20
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
Nov. RI, 1s97-Ephesians vi, 1920.


The animal is strong only in the power with
which nature has endowed him. He has no
troll over any reservoir of power outside of him
self. He is oblivious to the forces of nature. He
can see no further than his eye is naturally
capable of seeing. He is strong and speedy only
as nature has made him so. Mans
per1ority is apparent at this very point. Weaker
than many of the animals he vet knows how to
avail himself of the reservoirs of power. The
lion roars but cannot make himself heard beyond
the jungle. Man strings wire, and whispers into
a human thousand miles away. So he also
incredibly proongs the range of his vision and
conveys himself speedily where he wills. Thus
man supplements his inherent power by the extra
forces which, in increasing measure. he subdues
to his will. spiritual analogy is here.
Inc soul environment is limited and at times
unIavorable. Failure to recognize this is one of
the sources of weakness in the current religious
life. TO underestimate the strength of an enemy
is grave error. 1t was the blunder of the civil
war; Not weighing well the odds against the soul
Paul describes the spiritual equipment Of the
soul under the figure of the armament of a SOL
been chained to a Roman trooper for five years.
he had noted his comparative weakness when his
armor was dotted: his strength when it
donned. In the apostles eye the case stands so
n an .1e 6T e is or eak or as ne
the figure is sometimes frittered away by dwelling
armor. 1t Is similitude showing how may
draw upon the resources of heaven for our SOUL
mented by divine STRENGTH; how heavens reservoir
may be drawn upon by faith and prayer and one
in the strength of his might.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
Power of his might: Christ's strength becomes
our strength only in Him are we strengthened.
-Braune
Whole armor: In classical Greek the word here
used stands for the full armor of a heavy armed
soldier.-Vihcent.
Able to stand: military term ito stand your
ground" as opposed to defeat or. fght.-Hurlbut.
a fact in ifc
ha1S t me contest IN i9s esenGS h Is
for himself is attacked-I4ange.
press the united controlling, mighty influences
against which the Christian has to contend.
With these images in his mind dawn from
the daily spectacle of his prison, he tells his
Caesar, but of Christ, in What panopiy they vi may
resist the world-rulers of this darkness. the spr
-Farrar.
Loins qirt: The girding is the own act, by grace.
of the degenerate wll.-Moule.
: Feet shod Sandals bound. by thongs over the
instep =, sole studded with nails;-vncent.
from the door, because size of door.-Peoubet
ing intellect, by which the whole battle is guided.
sword-word: Fight is defensive, but REQUIRES the
thrusts of the defender.-Moule.
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
1. Lack of seriousness is of the character
istics of current religious life. Hymns, earnest
and solemn, are looked upon as literary curios-
tiles. Yet even the Puritans, now so despsed,
were not so foolish as the children of this gen.
Grafton who smirk and litter in the face of
the , egnemy's shotted guns
Of Christ arise!' II must fight If would reign
3. The night before l crosset the St. Theodule
Glacier Pass. my guide, filed the soles Of my
sensation as | first, stepped upon the ice. My
b e a ued o slip seemed i'm
feet shod with the preparation of the gospel"