Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-08-09
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Tonic For the Week beginning Aug.
II, "Enemies and Arms.'
Text, Eph. vi, 1918.


our progress in this life-not always
openly, most frequently in disguise and
difficult to be recognized. Often they
appear as friends and in attractive
form and thus are more effective in al
Turing us from the ways of right. Our
enmity Is to be directed not at the per
sons of our fellow men. We are to dis
Germ the evil spirits which impel them
and direct our opposition toward these
overcoming their influence in ourselves
and rescuing our friends and neighbors
also from their power. The powers of
this worlds darkness are the foes we
are to fight. Whether we hold them to
be individual personalities or simply
influences personitied, we must make
no mistake as TO the deadliness of their
enmity and the tremendous sweep Of
their power
We must get firm hold, as wrestlers
do, on these influences which are harm
full to our spiritual life, and we must
throw them and show no mercy until
they are destroyed. Look closely TO
your own life and see what are its most
powerful temptations. Does pride of
any kind puff you up with sense Of
superiority over your fellows? Do a
Gripping diftidence and timidity keep
you in constant restraint? Does sense
of envy and jealousy torment you as
you see the work and ability of others:
DO a narrowncss Of mind and mig
gardliness Of spirit keep you from open
handed and open hearted generosity in
dealing with others? Does self seek
ing and grasping desire begin to creep
over your thought and calculation!
DO a lightncss and jaunty frivolity, a
free and easy air of recklessness, at
tract you in others until you initiate
them as mark of distinction? Are
you beginning TO crave pleasure more
than worth and praise above conscious
ness of merit? Then put yourself in
shape for settled war on the evil in
yourself.
ipment.-Principle never change,
and laws In the natural world and spir-
itual realm are the invariable modes in
which powers act. Applications are In
cessantly changing. The same arms
which Peter and Paul found effective
In their warfare will be efficient in our
times.
We need the whole armor of God.
To use a part only will leave us eX-
posed at some vulnerable point.
Truth.-It is like the girdle or belt
which, buclsled tightly around the
waist. gives strength and permits
strenuous eXertion without danger of
rupture in vital parts. What n figure
of speech is this, and how accurately
does IL fit the case. The first essential
in all codl!ness is absolute truth; not
a weak desire for some truth and a
fear of the whole, not wavering and
compromising half hearted falsity.
Genuine, deep. unreserved truth viii
make one strong and fearless. Pull up
another notch in that belt OF yours and
buckle it tighter lest you so TO pieces
in the critical moment of life and death
wrestling Live the truth, all and only.
Righteousness.--As a breastplate il
keeps the soul securely. There can be
no fear. no timidity, no distressing
doubt. where there is the clear knowl-
edge. Il know l am right No panic,
no stampede, can affect such heart
1t is rock based and immovable. On
it all weapons shall beat and break,
but shall not break it, for it is impene-
trable, stronger than triple steel. 1t is
armor plate unpierceable.
Peace.-Feet swift TO spread harmo-
ny! How different from the foot of
mischief and strife!
Faith. - Confidence unwavering in
God is protection against all arguments
and adverse evidence. We see only n
part, but by faith we know the facts Of
the whole. Disaster here is only a
local incident and cannot shake conf
dence, for we are assured and confident
that on the field. as n whole, God
moves His squadrons to irresistible vic
tory.
Salvation.-That covers the head. 81
know whom l have believed and am
persuaded that He is able to keep that
which | have committed unto Him
DO