Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-08-07
CHRISTIAN ESDFAvoR.

kspic For the Week Beginning Aug.
I 11-Comment by Rev. $. III. Doyle.
| Tor1c.-Enemies and arms.-Eph vi, 1o-1s.
] In this familiar passage Paul repre-
bents the Christian life as warfare.
His residence as a prisoner at Rome
may have suggested this figure. The
equipment and discipline of soldiers
were q daily spectacle in Rome and
would naturally suggest such par
nIlel. The figure, moreover, is an ex-
reedingly apt one. The Christian life
d a struggle, warfare. 1t is a fight
for God, for truth, for righteousness,
for justice against the opposites OF
these things. 1t is constant struggle
and warfare.
Meier think the victory won
Nor lay thine armor down.
The heavenly race will not be won
TIL thou attain thy crown.
'sThere is no discharge in this war"
1t continues so long as life itself con-
tnues.
The enemies and the arms of the
Christian warfare are the especial sub
jects of our study.
l. The enemies. % These enemies
are not physical, but spiritual I'VE
wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against pow
ers. against the rulers Of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wicked
ness in high places" (2) Being spirit
ual, these enemies are invisible. The
enemy of the human soul and his hosts
are shrewd and cunning and all the
more powerful because invisible.
Their battles are the rush of a sudden
ambuscade. They fight not on a
pitched field, but by sudden assault
and secret and cunning onslaught" 90
The enemies of the Christian are pow
erful. Just how much power satan has
over man we do not know, but we do
know that his power is great and is
not to be despised, but constantly
guarded against.
2. The arms. To meet such enemies
both defensive and offensive arms are
necessary, and they have been provid-
ed. The Christian soldier has an ar
NOR. Paul calls it the whole armor
of God" and specifies its separate
pieces. o. The girdle. The girdle in the
ancient armor was the military belt
which held the rest of the armor in its
place, and hence was very important.
The spiritual girdle is truth. (2l The
breastplate. The Roman breastplate
covered and protected the heart. The
Christians breastplate is righteous
ness-not his own righteousness, but
Christ's righteousness. (3) Sandals.
The legs of the Roman soldier were
covered with greaves, kind of militia
~ leggings, and the feet with sandals,
a kind of light, spiked shoe. To give
swiftness of movement was the pur-
pose of the sandal The Christian
needs to be prompt and swift, and the
sandals which assist him are the eff
fects of the gospel of peace. The Cos
pei brings peace. 1t scatters doubts.
In so doing it destroys timidity and
fear and inspires courage and prompt
ness in obedience to all orders. "a The
shield. Roman soldiers used two kinds
of shields-a small shield, called buc-
kler or target. which was held in the
left hand during hand TO hand strug-
gle, and a larger shield, which covered
the entire person. Paul refers TO the
large shield, which covered the person
and protected the armor of the soldier
from being pierced. The Christians
shield is faith, unwavering confidence
in God, which guards the mind against
doubt or unbelief. % The helmet The