Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-02
THE ARMoR OF GOD.

as the armor Of God wearing out?'
Is the question asked by DR., Theodore
L. Cuyler in the Independent. He has
noticed the quite general lament over
the falling power OF the Christian
denominations to make converts In the
world, and the demand that new meth
DDS, new theology a new Gospel be
applied to the changed conditions.
The doctor does not believe that new
methods are needed He very properly
calls attention to the fact that the
methods that were employed in the
conversion Of the Roman empire should
insure success In the struggle against
modern Vandals and Phillstines. The
weapons Of the first Apostles we're
truth and righteousness, the shield of
faith and the sword Of the Spirit,
backed up. by prayer and suppllcation.
This "aumor Of Cod the contributor
to the Independent does not believe Is
armor wearing out. But is II used as
there might well be a jubilee In hell
over our suicidal folly"
There Is certainly no danger Of the
armor weaving out But is II used as
It was in the ages Of the triumph OF
Christianity over paganlsm? Is It not
a fact that christian" mulutudes,
though retaining the profession of
faith, are gradually sinking TO the
moral level OF pagan Rome? Why is
the gulf between wealth and poverty
steadily widening? Why are the vacant
places Of the spurgeons and the Henry
Ward Beechers In the pulpits being
filed with medloerity? Whence come
the increasing dissertation Of the Lords
day. and the neglect Of family devo-
ton? How Is IL that in Chrlstendom
there Is a divorce problem, added to the
immeasurabe moral corruption that
seems to be spreading In all directions?
Why is the deluge Of drunkenness,
suicide, homicide, insanity gambling
cheating, deception, hypocrisy and
falsehood not falling low enough for
the ark Of salvation to find resting
place on some mount? Certainly not
because the armor Is wearing out, but
because 1t has been hung away and
in It's stead are used the poorest Of imi-
tations.
Look al the modern armor! Not truth
but the doctrine Of man, Is the glrdle
broken In many places and poorly tied
together in ugly knots, selhshness has
taken the place Of righteousness
competition and war are more conspicu-
Gus projections than "the Gospel OF
peace" argument and poor logic are
made 10 do service as a shield In lieu
OF faith" and It is shot through and
through by the fiery darts Of the wick
ed" moral polish is thought suiii-
Client for helmet, instead Of saliva
ton" from the power Of sin, and the
ology is welded as a sword, instead Of
the word Of God" The situation is
correctly and striklngly described in the
Doctrine and Covenants
For they have strayed from mine
ordinances, and have broken mine
everlasting covenant; they seek not the
Lord 10 establish His Righteousness, but
every man walketh In his own way. and
after the image Of his own god, whose
image Is IN the likeness Of the world,
and whose substance Is that Of an IDOL
which waxeth old and shall perish In
Babylon, even Babylon the great which
shall fan
The armor Of God is not wearing out
But the Christian" world should take
lesson from the Jewish polity at the
time Of Christ The people then had the
written word Of God, and learned ex-
FOUNDERS thereof They had their mag
nlAcent temple FOR ritual obseryanees.
They had their sects and zealots-every-
thing but the abiding presence Of the
Lord I'm His habitation, The Urim and
Thummim with the ark and the mercy
seat had been taken away With what
result? That Pharisaism and Essene
asceticlsm took the place Of true re-
llelous life, and that inhdels and liber-
tines reigned In the ecclesiastical eoun-
oils Of the nation, bringing about
the murder Of Him who came
TO declare unto them the knowl'
edge Of the Father But then
the end Of that pollty was near
ana a new dispensation took It's place.
There IL a lesson IN this to the pres
ent age. The "armor Of God Is still
bright and intact, and through It truth
win triumph. The promise IS that THE
Captain Of our salvation will appear In
glory. and toward that event taith
Looks with 10Y and unfalterlng hope.