The San Francisco call., 1906-04-15

p-SZ4fe al dEI1C-C
- Church Militant" which mas
made this festival a great joy
20 the people There are two dis
tinct divisions of this subject The
one looks mainly TO what the armies OF
the world have done in paving the way
for human progress and Christian civil
ization; and the other assemblies all the
believers in Christ into organizations
which have the semblance OF an army.
Webster's definition is The Church
MiIitant-The Christian church on
earth which is supposed 70 be engaged
IN constant warfare against its enc
mics and is thus distinguished from the
church triumphant In heaven" Still.
in common use there are (as above out
Hned1 two senses to the expression.
The Church Militant" One Is the part
the armies Of mankind have played in
preparing the way. in consolidating and
in extending the Christian church. and
the other IS the part that all Christian
believers have had in making converts
10 what is called the Christian faith.
and more still in preserving an active
belief in Christ from generation TO gen
Grafton IN the families and In the or
ganized churches In this second dfvf-
sion all the churches are regarded like
separate regiments, brigades and divf-
slors OF armies. and at the head OF the
whole body is Christ the Lord
The Apostle Paul (Ephesians. vD urges
upon his friends the spiritual warfare in
remarkable language He says: Put on
the whole armor Of God. that ye may be
able TO stand against the wiIes OF the
devil For we vrestIe not against flesh
and blood. but against principaIities.
against powers, against the rulers OF the
darkness OF this world. against spiritual
wickedness in high places. Wherefore
take unto you the whole arrnor OF God.
that We may be able to withstand IN the
evil day. and having done all, to stand.
Stand. therefore. having your 1oins girt
about with truth, and having on the
breastplate of righteousness. and your
feet shOd with the preparation OF the gos-
pei OF peace. Above all. taking the shield
OF faith, wherewith ye shall be able 10
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
supplication In the Spirit. and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and sup
plication for all saints"
The synagogue furnishes the model for
the individual Christian church Every
time 1 have visited synagogue during its
services have been struck with the SINH
larfty between its form Of worship and
that of our own Congregational churches
The instant that a body OF Hebrew be-
levers recognize the Savior as their
prophet. priest and king in a spiritual
sense there appears TO me TO be but a
shadow of difference between them and
US. and am fond OF going into the syna-
gogues where the Scriptures are read
every week; but all benevolent assOcta-
tions distinctively organized and conduct
ed for the benefit Of their fellow men con-
stitute the great army which God is using
for blessing mankind
II
ever. 10 which We above refer, was car
rfed on largely by the children OF Israel
They conquered with arms those people
who were welded to fdolatry and had
yielded themselves to vice OF every de-
scription. They also cleared the way in
Palestine for better civilization: YET
they were most stringent in teaching
clear knowledge OF Jehovah and obedi-
ence 10 his commands Whenever they
obeyed the Lord. following him with all
their hearts. they were successful in their
warfare Whenever they disobeyed him.
whatever form their government took.
Jehovah SiisowHed them and scattered
them and punished them in various ways
The prophets all laid more stress upon
the keeping of the statutes OF God than
upon the results OF fighting or success OF
armies.
We can now very clearly see in the
light of history how our armies have
paved the way and have had great part
in conserving our present civilization. as
in our Revolutionary War. which estab-
Hsf1ed American Independence; as IN the
war OF Is1e. which overthrew particular
form OF tyranny: as IN the war with
Mexico which resulted IN getting Us our
domain from ocean to ocean. as in the
Cfvil.War through which we have passed.
in giving us a nation free from slavery
and a constitution which established our
State rights. with proper State Hmita-
tionss upon a firmer foundation. and as
In the war with Spain. which has re-
r1oved a fearful nuisance ar our doors
giving Cuba Independence and prosperity,
and has brought Porto Rico and the Phil
ippires under the American flag Surely
this was not done with a view to the
extension Of the Christian religion Prob
ably none OF our people had these results
disfincffveIy IN mind yet these results
are some of the benefcent fruits OF the
great contests
was once passing through an immense