The Roman soldier had conquered it for Caesar: St. Paul would
conquer it for Christ. The Roman soldier had used bodily force--the
persuasion of the sword. St. Paul would use spiritual force--the
persuasion of preaching. The Roman soldier wrestled against flesh
and blood: St. Paul wrestled against more subtle and dangerous
enemies--spiritual enemies, he calls them--who enslaved and destroyed
the reason, and conscience, and morals of men.

St. Paul and his disciples, I say, had set before themselves no less
a task than to conquer the world.

Therefore, he says, they must copy the Roman soldier, and put on
their armour, as he put on his. He took Caesar's armour, and put on
Caesar's uniform. They must take the armour of God, that they may
withstand in the evil day of danger and battle, and having done all,-
-done their duty manfully as good soldiers,--stand; keep their ranks,
and find themselves at the end of the battle not scattered and
disorganized, but in firm and compact order, like the Roman soldiers,
who, by drill and discipline, had conquered the irregular and
confused troops of all other nations.

Let me, this morning, explain St. Paul's words to you, one by one.
We shall find them full of lessons--and right wholesome lessons--for
in this parable of the armour of God St. Paul sketches what you and I
and every man should be. He sketches the character of a good man, a
true man, a man after God's own heart.

First, the Christians are to gird their loins--to cover the lower
part of their body, which is the most defenceless. That the Roman
soldier did with a kilt, much like that which the Highlanders wear