Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 1.pdf/315

 spear into a pruning hook. But when again changing from cultivation to warfare, the command in Joel is equally important, "Beat your plough-shares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears," and the weak in themselves are to go forth strong in the Lord's power. Thus Truth combating is a sword; Truth cultivating the mind is a plough-share; when, by its operative power, it enlightens the understanding by revealing the wonders of an hereafter, it is called light, the true light that enlightens every man that cometh into the world. Truth, in reference to its cleansing properties is the pure river, whose streams gladden the holy city, or church of God: when imparting internal strength to the soul, it is the wine of the kingdom. Thus in every case truth accomplishes all for man, and in him; so that the sword is as necessary as the plough-share, and the plough-share as the sword. The Lord, in His church, subdues our foes; "There brake He the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle." (Psalm lxxvi. 3.)

HE question, "What must I do to be saved?" was put by a keeper of a prison to Paul and Silas, and the questioner was answered by, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." This advice was cordially received by the keeper, and immediately acted upon, for "he was baptized, he and his, straightway, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." (Acts xvi. 30-34.)