s slain its
thousands, irresolution has slain its ten thousands. The spirit St.
Paul would have us cultivate is not this cowardly mis-called wisdom,
but rather the spirit of the ideal soldier, of the 'happy warrior.'
Nothing, {208} in fact, could be more fascinating than the picture St.
Paul here draws of the Christian community. He has a vision of a pure
brotherly enthusiastic society, fulfilled with a divine life, and
attracting into its warm and comfortable fellowship the isolated,
weary, hopeless, and sin-stained from the cold dark world outside.

Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And be not
drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; giving thanks
always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even
the Father; subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

St. Paul's exhortation to 'buy up the opportunity because the days are
evil' finds fresh application in every generation. For each generation
the 'days are evil,' and good men always feel them to be so. Not
necessarily that they are evil by comparison with other days, for the
'good old times' certainly never existed, and it is not often possible
to balance the evils of one age against those of another. It is enough
{209} for us to understand 'the ills we have.' What they are in our
own generation is conspicuous enough. In part they are the normal
evils of selfishness, and sensuality, and pride, and weakness; of
divisions of races and classes, and personal uncharity. In part they
are special: I will not make any general attempt to characterize them
here. But it is probably true to say that, among other characteristics
which our generation exhibits, is a lack of great enthusiasms and
strong convictions and inspiring leaders. Literature, philosophy, and
politics are alike lacking in a clear moral impulse. 'Causes' are at a
discount. Men are disillusionized. It is a 'fin de siecle' by some
better title than a chronological mistake. It is this characteristic
of the moment that ought to give the Church its opportunity. At
present she largely fails to take it because she lacks concentration
within her own body. The true dis