A SIGNIFICANT CONTRAST.
By G.
AS Rome continues to win influence with the secular powers of earth, and as professed Protestantism continues to imitate her in order to compete for that influence, it is well to note the contrasts between her idea of conquering the world and the Gospel idea of winning sinners to Christ. For this time one instance will suffice to illustrate the contrast. When King Otho was crowned as the sovereign of Italy in A.D. 962, at Aix-la-Chapelle, the archbishop officiated in the grand cathedral. Among the insignia to be bestowed was the sword and belt, and on handing these to the newly-made king, the archbishop said: “Take this sword, destined to repulse all the enemies of Christ, and to confirm with most lasting power the peace of all Christians.” When Christ met the chief of all enemies, He overcame solely by the Word of God. Matt. 4:1-11. When Peter would “repulse the enemies of Christ” with a sword, the Master told him to put it up, and immediately healed the injury he had wrought, telling him that “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:52. Some years later the apostle Paul gave this inspired counsel: “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” In specifying the various arms, he mentions but one offensive and defensive weapon—“the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” He also gives us the general assurance that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal;” nevertheless they are “mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” The reason that we are not to use carnal weapons is, that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” Our enemy is a spiritual enemy, and therefore must be subdued by spiritual weapons.” See 2 Cor. 10:4; Eph. 6:11-18. The foregoing contrast between the church-and-state policy of Rome and the principles inculcated by the Gospel of Christ is worthy of serious consideration by those who are aiming in various ways to elicit the power of civil government for the enforcement of religion. The appeal to such power is simply an appeal to the sword; for the only power any human government has to enforce anything is the knowledge that somewhere behind it is sufficient physical force to back its decrees. “The peace of all Christians” is “confirmed” by faith in Christ. Rom. 5:1.