The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-12
SERMON BY REV. Mr.. CUTTEN
PASTOR OF HOWARD AYE. B.iPTIST
CHURCH SPEAKS ON"WAR.o
Not Material but Spiritual Warfare,
However-Every Field of Labor Occu-
pied by an Enemy-A Pertinent Ex-
ample In the Philippines.

At the Howard avenue Baptist
church yesterday morning the Rev. Mr.
Cutten spoke on the subject WAR
He discoursed not on material warfare,
however, but on spiritual, and in part
spoke as follows:
Our warfare is spiritual, not a
material one, waged against the forces
of evil. AS such it needs our full
forces. 1t must be fierce and earnest
because it is against skillful enemy,
who takes advantage of our every
weakness, and makes flank attacks.
Wherever we find new fields for labor,
fields which have apparently been idle
and fallow for some time, before we
can take up our position and cultivate
We find it occupied by the enemy and
the seed of tares already, sown. A
very pertinent example Of this is the
Philippine Islands. The missionaries
expected to have a great harvest there
but 10! before missionary could be
sent, the country was flooded with
liquor destroying body and soul of
both natives and soldiers. But while
this is discouraging, we have also en-
couraging features in our warfare. We
have behind us immense resources,
which it is our privilege to use We
must use these if we are to be success
full in this war. To go forward in our
own strength, neglecting the power of
God is to invite failure and defeat.
But our crusade is victorious. There
is an over ruling God, one who holds
the destinies of nations in His hands
and who directs the lives of individ-
uals We know that He will bring us
out more than conquerors if we put our
= trust in Him. Our weapons are spir-
itual, as our warfare is. We cannot
fight the Lords battles with the devils
weapons, although some people try to
do it. True it is that some people laugh
at our means of attack and defense,
examine them and turn away incredu
lous. They use wrong standard of
measurement. Prayer cannot be
measured in foot-pounds, or faith in
kilogrammetres. 1t is not by might
nor by power, but by the spirit of
God that the work must be done. God
uses the weak things of this world to
confound the mighty, and we must work
in harmony with Him. The sword of
the spirit, the Word of God, should be
used by u.s. we should be familiar with
it's every use and movement.
"It is not the quantity, but the quail
ity of the warriors needed, that should
be our chief concern. We want those
who like Gideons band associate with |
the chosen. Not to be an ascetic or
refuse to come in contact with the |
sinful, for Jesus condemned this, both |
by His action and His words, but to !
desire the company of those who can |
help us along in the right way We |
want those who like Gideon'S band will |
follow their leader, the Lord Jesus. Fol-
low in His steps and do what He does, |
for that is Christianity. Every man
stood in his place. That's what we |
need-every man keeping watch, every |
man firm, not allowing the enemy to |
advance a step, and when it's leader |
wants us He knows where to find us
for we are in our places. The warriors
under Gideon did what they were told.
That is hard for us, but to obey is bet
ter than sacrifice. We must do this If
we are to be victorious We may be
at times troubled as to the way which
we should go; we may be confused; we
may be in doubt, but following what
Jesus says is our only safe position, and |
the only way by which we can attain
success. Let us as faithful and true
warriors fight this spiritual battle
with the appropriate weapons, trusting
in Gods power for the overwhelming
victory"