the later, and these several duties to the need of Divine strcn"th 0 wherewHh to dischar"e 0 them in face of the assaults of evil. I. CIIRIBTIANS ARE EXHORTED TO BE BTBONG, Spiritual strength is decision of character and forco of will. Religion centres in our will and character. Un less there is strength, fixity, determination, and energy, then all our elaborate thinking and all our beautiful sentiments are worthless. 1. Clear belief in the gospel is not sufficient. We may believe intellectually, but if we are too weak to act according to our belief that counts for nothing. 2. Feelings of love to Christ are vain if they do not inspire us to faithful service and sacrifice. 3. Passive reliance on Christ will not avail us unless we have also the active faith that puts forth spiritual strength in obedience to his will. We are not only to flee to the refuge in Christ. We are to go forth to battle in the open field. .And then we are not only to be endued with Divine armour, but first to be made strong ourselves. First comes the exhortation to be strong, and only second that to arm in the Divine panoply. It is only the strong man who can wear this armour. 4. It is our duty to be strong. Weakness is not merely a calamity to be bewailed. It is a sin to be repented of. It leads to our falling into temptation and our failing in duty. II. SPIBITUAL STRENGTH IS A DIVINE INSPIRATION. We cannot be strong by merely willing to be so. A wish will not convert the feeble body of the invalid into the robust frame of a healthy man, nor will a wish give to the weak soul fixity of character and energy of will The body must gain strength through nourishing diet, bracing air, exercise, etc. So spiritual strength arises from feeding upon Christ in faith and prayer. 1. There is might in Christ. He is the Lion of the house of Judah. 2. Christ puts forth that might. The strength is the might in exercise. The oak is strong, but passive, and therefore it can do nothing for us. The horse, though less strong, puts forth his power in action, and so works for us. Christ's great might is not a mere latent force. It flows out in energy. 3, This strength is ours by our union with Christ. "Be strong in the Lord." We must, therefore, be in Christ in order that we may have this strength, and the more close our union to Christ becomes the more vigorously shall we be supplied with his strength.-W. l!'. A. Ver.12.-The/oe. The Christian life is a warfare. In order to wage this successfully we must understand the nature of the foes we have to contend with, because the weapons and armour will have to be selected according to the character of tho attack thnt is made upon us. I. 'l'HE NATURE OF TIIE FOE. 1. Negatively considered. (1) Not material. Imagina- tion has given the tempter a material form, e.g. in the legends of St. Anthony, because it is so much easier to grapple with the most fearful enemy that can bo seon and touched than with an invisible, intangible foe. But our foe is not of flesh and blood. 'l'he subjugation of the physical world is easy compared with the task of conquering this invisible enemy. (2) Not human. It is hard enough to think of the obstructive nnd tempting influence of bad men. But we have something worse to re8ist. ,vo aro attacked by an unearthly army. The black tide of hellish sin surges against the shores of our human world and bespatters us with its withering spray. 2. Positively con- sidered. (1) Spiritual. The fact that the word "immaterial" has come to menu "unimportant," is a striking proof of our earthly-mindedness. 'l'he spiritual workl is the most real world. These spiritual foes are the most truly existing enemies we can ever meet. Our experience of them is in spiritual attacks, i.e. in temptations. (2) Dominant. They ure "world-rulers," they are in "heavenly" (or high) places. When St. Paul wrote this Epistle evil was uppermost in the world. Is it not also supremo in many regions now? We have to oust the forces that hold the field and to storm the citadel. II. THE ORABAOTEB OF THE WARFARE. Medireval armour is useless before rifle- bullets. Old castle walls are no protection against modern artillery. Nor will modem cannon drive back noxious gases. Sennacherib's hosts were powerless before that invisible angel of God, the pestilenco. So the foe in the Christian warfare determines the character of the armour and weapons and the tactics to be pursued. 1. Negatively. (1) Physical force will not servo us. Samson's strength is of no avail against teruplb- tion. Money, material resources, scientific skill, arc useless. This is the age of steam, 296 'l'HE EPISTLE '.l.'O 'l'Hbi EPHESIANS. (ol:I. VL 1-24,
steel, and electricity. But such things give us no help in subduing greed, lust, and se\f- will. (2) Httman i11fluen°" is vain. Arguments, threats, and promises; influences of authority and of sympathy; appeals to the reason, the feelings, and the conscience;- these methods that affect our fellow-men do not touch the awful foes we have to contend ~O'llinst. 2. Posi,tivdy. (1) Spiritual armour and weapons are needed, i.e. truth, righteousness, the preparation of the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, prayer (ve.rs. H-18). (2) These must be obtained from God. They constitute "the wh_ole armour of~•• There is nothing !n the armoury of human resources, physical or mtellecto.al, that 1s adequate for meeting the dread spiritual foes of our warfare. The Christian warn.or must be a man of Divine strength girded about by Divine graces.-W. F. A.