his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.'"

"Yes," said David, thoughtfully. "Mr Strong is a soldier, and, Frank,
he is fighting the very same battle that papa is fighting--for the
honour of Christ. It is that they are all fighting for in one way or
other. It is that that makes it warring a good warfare, you know."

"No," said Frank, "I am afraid I don't know much about it. Tell me,
Davie."

"Oh, I don't pretend to know much about it, either," said David, with a
look at Jem. But Jem shrugged his shoulders.

"You should have asked papa," said he.

"Go ahead, Davie," said Frank.

"Well," said David, with some hesitation, "it is supposed that all
Christians are like their masters--more or less. He was `holy,
harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners;' and that is not an easy
thing for any man or boy to be, and so all have to fight with
themselves, and the world--"

"And with the devil," said Jem. "The principalities and powers, you
know."

"I suppose so, but we don't know much about that, only the end of it all
is that they may become like Christ--so that they may make Him known to
the world."

"I've heard papa speak about it," said Jem.

"Yes, it is one of papa's favourite themes. I have often heard him,"
said David.

And then they went back to the discussion of old Mr Strong again, and
then of others; and there was scarcely one of their acquaintances but
they discussed in the new character of a soldier. Sometimes they went
quite away from the subject, and sometimes they said very foolish
things. It is not to be supposed that boys like them would judge very
justly, or discuss very charitably the character of people with the
outside of whose lives they were alone acquainted, and besides, as David
at last gravely acknowledged they could not understand all that was
implied in "warring a good warfare," not being soldiers themselves.

There was silence for a good while after this, and then they went on
again, saying a good many things that could hardly be called wise; but
the conclusion to which they came was right and true in the main. It
was against `the world, the flesh, and the devil' that Christians were
to fight, and victory meant to become like Christ, and to win over
others to be like him, too. That was victory here, and afterwards there
would be glory, and the crown of righteousness that Paul spoke about, in
Heaven. They were all very grave by the time they got thus far.