The times., 1899-08-21
A STRUGGLE AGAINST SIN.
a Sermon on the Manly Art of Moral
SeIf-Defence.

Francis A. Horton, ID. D., pastor OF the
Temple Presbyterian Church. Philadelphia.
at the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church preach on the theme of The Manly
Art of Moral Self Defence"
NO subject" said Mr.. Horton, pos
sesses more of vivid reality to the Chris
tian than the struggle of human with su-
perhuman powers for moral mastery
Whether these unseen forces are personal
or inpersonal does not alter the case
Whether there is literal devil with hosts
of subordinate evil inteiligencies, the fact
remains that there is a terrific conflict 60
ing on between our souls and invisible
forces in which we are completely out
elassed and utterly hopeless, except as We
make firm alliance with mighter super
natural powers OF an opposite character
and friendly spirit. The battle is above
us. in the air, and We are the bone Of con-
tentioa.
1T troubles non-professors as well as it
does Christians. Such confess to them
selves the inroads of evil upon their moral
fields; their impotence to drive off the in
truder; their bondage increasing day by
day; their sense of shame and upbraidings
at their weakness; their good resolutions
taken only to be broken: their we'll
grounded fears that life may end in a
dreadful wreck. 1t is not then battle
between Christian and anti-Christian
forces, with nom n-professors looking on as
mere spectators, but it is a death grapple
between human and superhuman, between
whatever forces make good or evil for man.
The contention is, Shall universal man go
up or shall he go down? Hence timely
and pertinent theme, of universal interest
the manly art of moral self-defenoe
''One great danger needs 10 be carefully
signaled. 1t is in very bad proportion.
By this | mean there is so much armor in
it, so much about man being strengthened,
man wrestling, man standing in an evil
day that shall be his special horror OF the
powers of darkness that the single ex-
preston. in the Lord is completely over
whelmed and withdrawn from prominent
notice. Yet those three words hold the
gage of battle. The pre- eminent condi-
! tion OF victory is that a man shall be in
! the Lord; the subordinate condition he
/ shall put on the armor. Oh how I STUN
bled here fer years; how l buckled On the
armor, only to have 1t stripped away in
the first onset; how l grasped the sword
! afresh, only TO have it wrenched from my
hand again. ! made too much of myself
and too little of the Lord
| Having set up this danger signal. we
should harness fer the battle 1t must be
| a careful Harvesting. We must start out
| ing upon God as though we had nothing TO
| do. Twice we are tcld to take on the
| whole armor This may awaken expecta-
! tion OF a severe trial-indeed, it is no
/ child's play that now is on. The evil day
is sure to come-the day when hell seems
70 concentrate its demonaic fury upon us
| to bear US down. The end to be secured
! IS to stand on that day so that when the
next day shall come we r-av look back
| N-ff aOlaz nd
tory won, and not bite the dust and smite
our breasts because of great defeat Be
| warned to take the whole armor
When Thetis dipped her child, Achilles.
In the River Styx to make him invulner-
able. she held him by one heel. The waters
washed every part except that which was
covered by her hand. There only could
ne be wounded. He had a charmed life.
| and was fierce warrior. B6t at last his
evil day came. In the thick of fight be-
fore Troy weapon struck his heel and
/ from the wound he died. We must have
no uncovered places; We must put on the
| whole armor Such has been provided for
| every Christian. Let US go into the armory
and examine the pieces. There is the
| girdle OF truth. Truth here Is not doc
| trine-is not anything external to the war
rior. Its exact equivalent is sincerity The
first point to settle is, am / in dead earnest
! IN the fight So long as We fight uncer-
| ainly we do not fight at all. The Office
| of the girdle is to hold the breastplate in
place. If we are not so intensely in earnest
that We can feel the grip of the girdle con-
| stantly, our loins of strength lack their
proper support. ANY division of soul upon
the subject of mastering our sins; any
allowed dualism Of life; any condoned
hypocrisy; any making of provision for
sin, breaks the girdle It calls for a
| thoroughly honest spirit of war
There Is the breastplate of righteous
ness. This is of no use without the girdfe.
1t must go on first. The breastplate is
made In two parts-one TO cover the breast
one 10 cover the back. The righteousness
Of this breastplate is not doctrine II is
the breastplate OF conscious rightness The
might of righteousness has been an end
less theme-an occasion of admiration
wherever displayed. Helvidius Priscus
having done his duty in the Senate, was
threatened by Vespasian that he should
die. He nobly replied, Did 1 ever tell
you l was immortal? Do what you will,
and / will do what l ought 1t is your
power to put me to death unjustly and in
me to die like a Roman
I'VE put on the breast plate of right
ness when we recall to mind that this
contest against sin has the approval OF
conscience. the approval Of God; that tbs
issue is bondage or freedom for US; that
the keeping Of every holy vow is wrapped
up in it-vows at the marriage altar. or
vows at the baptismal font vows at church
reception, VOWS of public Office and trust
that honor and happiness are being fought
for. 1t is the spirit that nerves the war
riors arm when the cry goes forth
| The speaker referred 10 the other parts OF
the armor-the sandal for the foot-the prop
of the gospel of peace; the great shield o.
faith the helmet of salvation, and the
sword. There are blows to take, the war
rior cries. as well as blows to give He
remembers what use Jesus made of the
sword in his hours of darkness on Quaran-
tania. He uses it daily with earnest prayer
in the spirit. BE yictors in mis- night
The question Is not shall we fight? Tn
less you are the willing bond slaves of your
lusts you are resisting now. The fight
Is on. Shall it be desultory skirInish OF
a sharp action? Take the firm stand ;ga MS
the demands of sin Save yourselves mis-
spent years frequent and terrible defeats
protracted agonies of soul by hiding in tn.
Lord and under his care doing valiant
battle. This is the victory that overcometf
the world, even your faith.
Miss Annie Wheeler Ill.
a letter has been received in this city
from a volunteer officer on the United
States transport Tartar, en- route TO the
Philippines. dated Honolulu August /, an
| nouncing the serious Illness of Miss Annie