The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-19

OF panoply that Christ, the spotless
Lamb of God, wore-the same mind, the
same purpose and spirit, the same state
OF mind which led Him to die for the
sins of men-the hatred of sin and the
love of righteousness; the love of His
Father and OF good; the desire that ali
the world should live the heavenly life.
The Apostle Paul struck the same key
pote OF moral battle and aspiration when
lie extarted men Ito put on the whole
armor or God that ye may be able TO
stand against the wiles OF the devil.
Stand. therefore. having your loins girt
about with truth and having on the
breastplate of righteousness. and your
feet shod with the preparation of the
gospel OF peace. above all taking the
shield of faith wherewith we shall be
able to Quench all the fiery darts Of the
wicked and take the helmet OF salvation
and the sword OF the spirit. which is the
word of God. praying always with all
prayer and duplication in the spirit and
watching whereunto with all persever-
ance and duplication for all saints.
The Strange Life.
The man who does not run with The
fashions OF his times is always thought
to be strange The sanity. heavenly.
Christlike life lived on earth is always
strange, '-unearthly." The apostle says:
They think it strange that ye run not
with them into the same excess OF not
speaking evil of you" A truly Cody
man is always mystery to an ungodly
one. Often the ungodly man resents Tire
godliness of the righteous and will not
only speak evil OF him, but will try
to injure and destroy him. This is part
OF the persecution that a really good
man always receives at the hands of the
world. A good mans life condemns a
bad mans life. when one has become
thoroughly corrupt himself he ceases to
believe in the honor and virtue OF 9TH
ers. None of these can understand Why
others do not join them in their flthi-
ness. To bring others down TO their
level they become tempters, and when
they do not succeed they slander On
account OF the spite resulting from their
disappointment if it be possible they
are ready TO do an injury Thoroughly
bad men often exhibit this temper one
approaches 1t just in proportion as he is
bad +"
This disposition in men is as common
today as it was 1000 years ago. But
1T is not hard. even from our own ex-
perience. TO picture to ourselves the
surprise OF the heather when he found
his friend refusing an Invitation TO a
banquet. shrinking from contact with the
prostitutes. OF Greek cities. or when
there passing the wine cup untasted. >"
The first Christians were Incompetent
sible people 10 their heather neighbors.
because they would have nothing TO do
with their reyelings and uncleanness. It
Is a bad sign OF church when non
Christians do not think them strange. Our
difference from the fashionable vice OF
our times should be very plain on the
surface. and we should seek for It as
testimonial to character that the world
cannot make out what they mean.
Fearful sensuality ran riot in the
great cities OF ancient times. and that
with the sanction Of the religion OF the
day. The streets OF Ephesus were
thronged with drunkards every night
during the games In honor OF Diana. and
the worship Astarte was unseparsbly
associated with unutterable abomina-
tons" IL was in this kind OF atmo-
sphere that the early Christians had TO
contend with everywhere