PART FIRST — THE PANOPLY OF WAR
The Shield of Faith
I. Is there a God?
1.THE young man's lot is to go out into a hostile life. What is necessary for him? Behold the warrior, as he goes forth to the field of battle. Is he not amply provided with' all needful weapons? When you, my dear young friend, go forth into the world, you are going to encounter mighty enemies, the enemies of your soul. You must, therefore, put on a strong suit of armor, one which is capable of protecting you. And what is this suit of armor? The apostle St. Paul describes it in the following words: "Put you on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil" (Eph. vi. 11).
The first and most powerful weapon in this suit of armor is the shield of faith, as the same apostle says: "In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one" (Eph. vi. 16). And, indeed, faith is an impenetrable shield against the fiery darts of the devil. When the latter strives to lead us astray, by inciting us to voluptuousness, faith lays bare to our view the abyss of hell, in order that we may behold
