The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-03-05
Christian Life Column.
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF PAUL.

be known to all men. 1t was spir-
itUaI foes. eve wrestle, nOtagainst
flesh and blood, but against the spir-
final hosts of wickedness," he told
the Ephesians. Against these he
waged implacable a
Sometimes he spoke of this conflict
as a wrestling-match, as in Ephe
slams 6: -; sometimes as a race
n Cor. 9: 2D and again as a boxing
contest Il Cor 9: 26). But always
his foes were spiritual foes, either in
high places or in his own heart.
Well Paul knew that he had moth
Ing to fear from them except as they
found a way within. So long as he
held the citadel of his own soul
secure, he could smile at his foes
without. In his warfare, accord
inglv. he did two things he kept his
eve on the conflict, it's course, and
its desired end and he obeyed all
the rules of the struggle, including
those rules of training by which
alone a man could command all his
powers and accomplish most.
i run" he said, "as not uncer-
tainIy. So fight I as not beating the
air" He knew what he was after,
and he was after that. There was
nothing indefinite or miscellaneous
about him. He ran, and he struck
straight and strong and sure. That
is a good lesson for life. Of too
many lives you cannot tell what they
are driving at. Is that the trouble
with yours? Nobody could be doubt
full about Paul's. He was fighting
sin. He was seeking strength and
purity. In this he was just a true
Christian. For every true Christian
has q certain clear goal to reach,
certain plain foes to fight, and he
ought to be running and fighting
so that everybody knows what his
goal Is and who his foes are.
And Paul fought hard and fair.
Therefore he obeyed all the rules of
the conflict, and he trained for it so
as to have every power available.
To this end he was temperate in all
things. and he brought his body
into bondage. He knew his W
inner temptations, and he fought
them down.
This lesson from Paul's life is
wide-sweeping. 1t overs all inner
life and temptations. But COnfne it
now to the one matter of temperance,
as we use the word in relation to
drink. The use of liquors of any
sort is not only not a preparation for
the conflict of life with sin, but is u
distinct disqualification. In athletic
training it is forbidden to the COM
ra-ltgrs. 1t weakens the tissues it
~Llminishes the power OF endurance
1t u~nsteadies the nerves it uncovers
weak spots, and makes them vulner-
able
and what it does in athletics it
doe, everywhere. Employers do
not want servants who drink. Rail
1.aL- di9trust them. Why? Because
they have untitled themselves for
conflict, for the time of crucial
testing.
Eat, above all else, intemperance,
even what men call the temperate
u~~ 1T liquor, weakens IA man for
shat inner conflict which constitutes
Lis lie, that warfare with weakness,
with -elf-indulgence in every form,
with his own body, its lower appe-
-ras and passions, out Of which
character energies strong aud clean
sr weak and furnished.
II buffet my body" What a rev
.arl9n Of the humanity of the saint
whom Peter calls "Our brother
Paul" He had to fight his body
tsJ. There we're lower things in
him Just as there are in us tenden-
-les to weakness, evil inclinations.
And ne struggled against these, and
-vercume them. Whatever he found
l.nlcred him in this struggle, he
gave up. He proposed to do this,
even though it cost much, rather
shan to turn out d castaway, a
.lthen man, after he had told
.ers how they might conquer in
flee fight.
This or that sensual taste or bodily
a.petite Is Il small thing to give up
Il camDarison with the prize that
awaits the victor at the goal. eff