Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1938-03-04
Armor for All


all. He said (Matthew SAD, Love
your enemies, do good to them
that hate you" Some might think
this an infirm law-that the express
sion of love and forgiveness is weak
ness. Some are afraid to show len1-
ency, lest another take advantage
Of them. Others are hesitant to ar
bitrate, lest Cancellation be One-sided
and partial. Yet no one can study
the life of the master Christian with
out recognizing his power and au-
thority. There was nothing faint
hearted about him, although he used
no worldly weapons, but practiced
and preached the law of Love.
In commenting on the command
ment, Glove one another, as / have
loved you" the Discoverer and
Founder of Christian Science, Mary
Baker Eddy, writes (Message to The
Mother Church for 1902, p. 49,, mo
estrangement, no emulation, no de-
ceit, enters into the heart that loves
as Jesus loved" Then she asks, BE
loved, how much of what he did are
we doing?"
Wars have been common because
men have allowed material sense,
greed, egotism, selfish ambition, and
fear to prevail Much progress has
been made since the olden days when
Deity was known as ga man of war,
a tribal god to be worshipped with
fear. A wise man proclaimed PRO
verbs 20:3), cit is an honour for
man to cease from strife" Love only
can liberate the world. Desire for
tranquil, amicable relations with one
another is becoming widespread. 1t
Is a joy to see the prayer for peace
taking possession of families, COM
munities, and nations. World peace
will be the far-reaching result of in
dividual love for God which is so
deep and pure that it includes all
mankind. Indeed, one cannot rightly
worship God without practicing low
ing-kindness to his brother.
Paul, who had himself been re-
deemed and completely regenerated
from life of strife, narrowness, and
persecution of innocent persons,
stated definitely that our weapons
"are not carnal, but mighty through
God to the pulling down of strong
holds" Later, reminding the Ephe-
slams of the nature of their equip
ment against the wiles of the devil, ,"
he told them to put on "the whole
armour of Cod" One of the captions
at the top of the chapter in one
Bible reads: "The complete armour
of a Christian
Wearing 1.-THE breastplate of right
eousness," we find that right think
ing is always more effective than
wickedness, that love is greater than
wrath and will eventually be victo-
rious, regardless of how domlneerlng
or influential error seems to be. 10
be "shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace" is to put God first.
It requires self-improving qualities
resolution and self-discipline, relin-
Quishment of material desires, aims,
and fears. Faith by which to quench
'the fiery darts of the wicked is an
essential quality. 1t includes trust,
confidence in good, hope, love. Who
would not exchange the carnage OF
material warfare for this equipment,
this armor of Love, with its untold
power and dominion, and have the
world transformed by the renewing
of individual thought!
1.-THE helmet of salvation" may be
regarded as the understanding OF
God and of man as His reflection
which is able to demonstrate Truth
as supreme over the clamor of evil.
Paul mentioned as the last Item OF
the Christians equipment 1.-The sword
of the Spirit, which is the word CT
God" What better, more dynamic
weapon can we have than this? What
adequate protection, what friendly
living, would result if every world
citizen lovingly welded this Sword!
World peace would be an assured
fact
Quarrels and strife result because
we have believed in enemies.
Evil is false belief, and wrong
thoughts are our only enemies, for
they would attempt to deface the
Christ-image. Matter and evil beliefs
are inseparable. Greed, dishonesty,
human will, and hate are the inevi-
table result of choosing evil, material
thoughts. Rejecting these scientifi-
cally, we come into our rightful heri-
tage, expressing the perfection of the
one perfect Maker. When Spirit is
understood to be infinite Love, just,
ever present, mo respecter OF per-
sons" then men will experience
health, progress, and normal living,
for this is the birthright of the chill
dren of God.
All that Paul had counted as gain
was laid aside, and what victories
were his through the power of Christi!
II every person on earth today were
to arm himself with "the whole ar
mour of God"-the understanding of
Truth and Love-there would be no
need for other ornaments, and reci-
procity, cooperation, and peace
would be established. Funds for
merly used to finance wars could he
diverted to education and improve
ment, for the only cost Of these arma-
ments would be the REIMBURSEMENT
of hate, pride, and fear, and the
exquisite reward-the kingdom of
heaven on earth! Mrs. Eddy writes
(The First Church of Christ, Sci
enlist, and Miscellany, p. 210l:
"Good thoughts are an impervious
armor; clad Herewith you are COM
pletely shielded from the attacks OF
error of every sort. And not only
yourselves are safe, but all whom
your thoughts rest upon are thereby