Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-10-01

ous damage which can be inflicted up
on the church Of the Lord Jesus Christ
Is done not by his avowed enemies
who are outside the church, but by
traltorous foes within.
The Best Year For n New start.
But / take step further In this
mighty subject. We have a wonder
ful time In which we are to enter the
coming campaign for Christ. This Is
the youngest of the centuries, but into
II are gathered the ripe fruits OF the
past. The thought and experience or
all the centuries that are gone have
in these years come to fruition. 1t Is
the mighty movements and trials and
struggles of past generations which
have made the present time possible
From the triumphs and failures OF the
past, from the wisdom and the mis-
takes of our forefathers. we have learn
ed lessons which should make us mas
tiers in the art Of soul winning and sue
cessfu leaders In the assault on the
intrenchments Of sin. This Is the very
best year Of all years to start In
gospel campaign for Christ
But take another step further in this
momentous subject. We have another
campaign blessing in addition to these
two of which we have spoken. We
have a church with all of its great
| leaders as well as thousands and tens
of thousands of members moved to
! holy enthusiasm. by knowledge of the
strength of the Satanic enemies we are
about to meet in combat We know
that as the church of Christ Is strong
the Satanic enemies are strong also, so
strong that unless we go forth to this
battle with full endowment OF the
Holy Spirit to fight as we ought to
fight for Christ we shall fail ignomin-
iously, as we deserve to fail.
Outside of his own intrinsic strength
nothing brings out the hidden power
of a general more than the realization
that his enemy is strong and willy
an adversary whose power it would be
folly to underestimate, against whom
he must marshal his forces with all his
skill and develop their fighting quail
ties to the highest efficiency. When
Goliath saw the puny form Of David.
who was to give him battle. the Phil
istine giant laughed him to scorn. He
sneeringly cried. "Am dog that
thou comest, to me with stonesY That
| contempt lost him the battle. Not so
with David. His weapons were those
with which he was familiar, and he
employed the skill developed by long
experience. He knew his enemy to be
superior In might and cruel and relent-
less. and he nerved his strength for the
unequal struggle. The church OF
Christ Is made resolute by the knowl-
edge that 1t is to meet strong arm
ed foe. We know we must fight hard
TO win. And we also know that unless
like David, the shepherd boy, we &c
forth In unfaltering faith in the divine
reinforcement we shall fail in the bat
tie. A stalwart foe always brings out
the,best that is in worthy opponent
I Let me illustrate my thought by
homely scene OF vacation life. Some
weeks ago, with my wife and little
children. | was driving over the hills
of southern California. We were fal
from any human residence. Suddenly
1ust upon the hillside overlooking the
road. ! saw the cleaning eyes and thu
crouching form Of coyote. was a.
the time entirely unarmed. But
though knew that poor miserable
brute had Just As sinewy limb as
mountain lion, that he was as swift o.
foot as deer, that his teeth were al
white and sharp as tigers molars
that he could, II he would. leap at ny
horses throats and leave us helpless
before his attack, still also knew tina
he was a coward. He belonged to
race of towards. Therefore ] drov'
right past him. When my children
hallooed at him be turned and skulke'
away.
Must BE Always on Guard.
Had the church of Christ only crayel
hearted foes to fight II would becom
as Indifferent to them as was towar
that sneaking coyote, whose wors
depredations are found in the barn
yard among the dead chickens. U1
less starving and in numbers, he neye
| attacks a strong foe But today tn
, church of God has no cowardly enemy
Like a hunter stalking the man eatin
monsters Of India or Africa, the churc
, is and must be continually on II
, guard AS it goes forth into the con
ing winters campaign to do the bes
I It can and with the help Of the Hol
l. Spirit to do all it can for Christ, tn
! consciousness that It's foe has almos
unlimited prowess has made til
D church strong and confident.
! But where is the gospel campaign
( this church during the coming winte
. to be fought? We have talked abor
b the time. We have spoken about th
t oneness of purpose and the divin
0 strength In which we are to enter tn
e conflict. We now speak about the ge'
o graphical region in which we are
e fight. We must find our church's Plai
I of Esdraelon and its Marathon pas
s America is to be the geographical plai
e OF gospel maneuyerings for the Amer
d can church. 1t Is the foremost natlo
b in the world today. and its power an
n influence are rapidly growing. In enc
o gy, In wealth, In enterprise, it take
: the lead among the nations of I'll
b world. If it boldly takes its sts.dd fC
u Christ and declares that the principle
!. of Christ are its guide and that he
v its supreme ruler the effect on tt
q world will be overwhelming. An emo
nous step will then have been take
I toward the conquest of the who
: world for him, America Is the STR
I tegic point in the Christian campaigl
q Let every Christian church in tn
! country realize that fact and unite
Ill.