mi
ZION’S LANDMARKS
53
Chiiot;” Jet us trace tire footsteps of
Paul and be comforted—they fought
the same enemy ^Ye fight to-day—the
vorid, the flesh and the devil; they
hated tlm governing principle of the
v-hole—the carnal mind—that we
also hate—and God himself hated
Esau ; tliey fought a harder fight, for
we luive not yet resisted unto blood.
Put as this warfare is a, spiritual one,
we must be very careful to use spirit
ual weapons. EW if we were dead
to Christ and alive only to the law,
we would never find ourselves in this
battlefield, we would not see or have
any knowdedge of those spiritual en
emies ; while on the other hand if wm
were always certain that wo were
(diristians the warfare would cease,
and we would find no synonymous
language with those who have gone
before ; a good part of the scriptures
W'ould be a blank, and Ave Avould lose
tliat comfort and hope drawn from
them, Avritten aforetimes for this very
])urpose ; lienee, I hope I haAm drawn
comfort irom the passage referred to
in Jude.
If these contentions Avere Avith vis
ible enemies, Ave might use visible
Aveapons, and Aviih natures discrimi
nating eye measure strength. Job in
ills trials Avas not only a figure of the
chinch, but of an individual christiam
also in his spiritual warfare. Behold
not doAvn, I chose out their way, and
dAvelt as a king in the army.” When
grace reigns the ncAV man dwells as a
king or governing principle over all
the army, or “men of my tabernacle”
they arc all brought into subjection
and no “conspiracy is found among
the men of Judah.” Hear David 4I-
so in relation to these enemies—
“False Avitnesses did rise up, they
laid to my charge things that I know
iiot—deliA'er me not unto the will of
mine enemies—plead my cause 0
Lord Avith them that strive Avith me—
fight against them that fight against
pretended friends (hoAv like
the suggestions that often arises Avutli
us—that seems in the character of
friends—to convince us that we be
lieve not aright, and have not the
true (jualifications of a believer, and
liius as a true friend Avould sIioav us
our position,) Avhose remembrances
are like unto ashes, and whose bodies
are like unto bodies of clay, (of a
nature to fade and decay—of the
earth.) Job tells them “ye are all
..orgers and liars—physicians of no
value—•hold your peace and let me
alone—only do not tAvo things unto
me—withdraAV thine hand far from
me, and let not thy dread make me
afraid, for thou Avritest bitter things
against me.” Have we not striven
with these same enemies, and been
Avearied by their long contentions
until Ave could not cry out in the
words of the servant of God ? “Oh
taat I Avas as in months past, as in
the day Avhen God preserved me, Avhen
his candle shined upon my head, and
when by his light I walked through
darkness;” are Ave net able to recall
such a time, and say Avith Job of
these at such a time—“If I laugh
ed on them, they belicA'edit not, and
the light of my countenance they ca.st
me—stand up for my help—say unto
my soul 1 am thy salvation.”
I belicAm I will instance a fcAv cases
found in our day and close. And as
the aspect of the outAvard appearance
of the w'orld has changed Amry mate
rially, it is perhaps, not amiss to
glance at it, as it is, in order to get
at these instances. Generally speak
ing, the world has assumed the garb
of religion of one kind or another,
and the same arch enemy has
in accordance, assumed the same
garb, the better to effect his mis
chievous designs. To discriminate
between the different religions is no
hard task, after the proper reduc
tions—for in that case there is but
two kinds—laAV and grace—or Avorks
I believe you can bear witness with
me, when his emissaries haAm said in
the first place—“salvation is by the
deeds of the law, (a thrust at faith.)
And then “if you must be religious,
put on tbe popular garb—go into the
fashionable societies and institutions
of this bright and progressive age,
and still retain the smiles and pleas
ures of the Avorld, and ensure success
in every department of society and
business, and above all other don’t
join that little ignorant sect that all
the AYorld hates and speaks evil of,
it would be degrading to one of
your intelligence and position in the
Avorld. And then, unavailing here,
thejr make a neAV assault and Say,
“noAY you are in the church, let the
law of grace have an easy sway, and
look to your Avorldly interest, for he
that provides not for his household,
is Averse than an infidel; conform to
the fashion of the Avorld, and proba
bly Avield a greater influence; do not
pay your preacher too much, poverty
Avill tend to keep him humble, and
much of this Avorld’s goods may puff
him up; do not go to your meetings
if the weather is inclement, it is your
duty to take care of your health ; do
not join in foot-washing tO-day, a
large and refined audience Avill be
there, and it is not considered decent.
as a minister, just as he does the laAV
concerning him as a Christian; he
comes just about as near the one as
the other, and if he Avas perfectly
satisfied in either case he Avould not
knoAv the full meaning of the pre
ceding verses. In our minds, or Avith
the Spirit we all fully serve the law
of Christ, Avhether as ministers or
private members, and thus in Spirit
Avalk in all the ordinances blameless.
Dear sister, here is something the
and faith ; the greater mass of imui-,a*i(i^fings be done decently and in
kind hold to the former, Avhile a Amr}^
few are as tenacious for the latter.
These few, of all the AA’orld, have a
spiritual weapon—the shield of faith
—that; none others have—by this
they have successfully withstood
every attack of the enemy, in what
ever direction ; and to get this shield
is the main object, and ever has been,
of the enemy ; he does not come up
openly, or fight his way up bravely
and say “surrender your shield and
thereby your life,” but as an insidious,
hypocritical, pretended friend, under
the garb of religion, Avho Avill even
quote scripture, Avhile he manouvres
by strategy and every lying art to,
unsuspectingly, ensnare and entrap,
and thereby gain the shield of the
fcAY and faithful. Oh this shield, my
sister, let us hold fast to it, and close
ly Avatch our steps, or Ave Avill be taken
unaAA'ares, for enthroned as the chief
enemy in principality and high places,
his emissaries are always out, and
having the advantage of our carnal
mind—the Avorld and the flesh ; our
Avar fare is not only fearful, but con
tinual, and Ave must not look at it as
a visionary encounter, but as an ac
tual, real war ^continually about us.
order,” &c., &c. ; these are intended
to be the outward effects of the war
within ; not to instance the assaults
upon the soul, all summed up in the
assertion “you surely can’t be a child
of grace,” because you do not 'per
fectly fill the literal law of grace in
the tvhole man.
I have heard ministers complain
ing and doubting their capacity :—
“Ah I do not fill the Gospel require
ments in regard to a true minister;
he must be blameless, &c. I feel that
my deportment is censurable; he must
rule his oAvn house well, &c., &c; this
I do not.” Neither is he in the flesh
a Christian; he does not fulfill the
laAY of Christ as a lay member in
every outward appearance, and the
dear blessed exclamation of Paul—
Avho Avas a minister as high in the
favor of God as any—“I thank God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord; So
then Avith the mind I myself serve
the law of God, but with the flesh
the laAV of sin.” This applies to the
minister as well as the private mem
ber, and should comfort him with the
same comfort; for if he is truly a
minister, Avith his mind he desires to
fulfill the whole law concerning him,
devil can’t touch—our life; our
Spiritual life is beyond his reach,
being hid in God; he may torment
through the flesh, and then insinuate
because we serve not in the flesh, or
outward appearance, that we are not
born again, but there is a life even
Avithin us, that he can never, never
touch, or contaminate; this is the
opposing poAter at war, and whoever
finds a Avarfare in his soul Avith this
father-of lies, is born of God; then
should Ave not rather rejoice that Ave
are counted Avorthy to suffer for
Christ’s sake-it is IDs Spirit, His
life Avithin us, contending for truth
and righteousness that causes this
warfare. Then let us cheerfully fight
the good fight of faith, for there is a
crown laid up by the righteous judge
for such.
I can say with you, -“-I
that I have ansAvered your precious
letter,” but I have done the best I
could under the cloud that seems to
be above me. You can’t possibly
feel more dark and Aveak than I do.
You speak of my being gifted. If I
desire any thing, it is that the Lord
would give me to comfort and to
strengthen my brethren and sisters.
I th nk I Avould be satisfied Avith your
gift. You seem to regard me as pos
sessing more ability than yourself;
You art; not AVorthy of such a cor
respondence,” &C., &C. That’s just
the Avay I regard you, beloved sister.
Let us hope that the same kind Father
is alike gracious and merciful to all
His children, and let this similarity
in feelings establish us in the belief
that we are taught by the same Spirit.
When you feel the power of faith,
remember me at our Father’s throne.
Write soon ; your last letter was, and
still is, a source of much comfort to
mo. May the Lord guard your shield
and keep it strong and bright, and
bless you abundantly otherwise.—
Please respond immediately.
Yours in love and hope of final
peace.
li. ANNA PHILLIPS.