Article August 10, 1907 Issue

THE WHOLE ARMOR

JENNIE E. SAWYER

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.—St. Paul.

In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians we learn of what the armor of the Christian consists, and how it ought to be used, that it is only through putting on the whole armor and wearing it continuously that we may fulfil the final command,—"and having done all, to stand." The human sense of "having done all" is very self-deceiving, for unconsciously we are apt to exaggerate our sense of effort and of accomplishment. We soon weary of well doing, and allow ourselves a respite as regards abiding in the faith. In turning the search-light of Truth upon our best efforts, we often find them so pitifully weak and small that we stand self-rebuked, and are shocked out of our self-complacency and sense of "having done all." We must know that the armor is a complete shield against all outside influence, condition, or circumstance, for in the unfoldment of those graces of the Spirit which the armor symbolizes, we have felt the necessity of purification, and of the renovation even, in every minor part, that we may not be hindered from wearing the "breastplate of righteousness;" that we may be "girt about with truth;" be able to carry the "shield of faith," and to wear the "helmet of salvation." Thus armed, and wielding "the sword of the Spirit," we needs must cast out every evil thought within sense and self, that would be a hindrance to our feet, which are to be "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," thereby making it possible for us to pray always "in the Spirit." It is not enough that we put on the armor; we must be clad in it continuously and stand in the full consciousness of its completeness and power to meet any unforeseen exigency.

It would seem that a clear discernment of the whole process of spiritual warfare is necessary, for otherwise our armor may be displaced and the "fiery darts of the wicked" be able to penetrate, and thereby render us unable to "stand." This Scripture brings to our consciousness the great difference between our first understanding of Christian Science and its present demonstration. At first the demand on students seemed so simple and easy to meet, we merely grasped the idea of praying aright, and the healing came in such a wondrous fashion that we stood astounded at seeing so little faith bring so great a reward. The healing of sickness was our chief aim, but as through the teachings of our beloved Leader we are shown how to overcome sin, we advance in the understanding, become "strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." We then find the necessity for putting on the whole armor to meet the more subtle forms of error, the "wiles of the devil," and learn that this blessed truth not only heals the flesh of its ills, but undoes wickedness and sin. We soon recognize the necessity of further purification within, and the need of taking firmer hold of Truth, of recognizing more clearly the mighty power and ever-presence of Love, literally hiding ourselves in the "secret place of the most High," that we may surmount the greater sense of evil which becomes manifest in the world, instead of combating evil or contending against it with force.

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