THE KING’S BUSINESS
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greater success, is almost without illustra tion from history» The man or the insti tution that cannot succeed in a populous center is seldom seen to flourish in a more sparsely settled one ; and the man or the institution that cannot grapple with the sins of the poor and illiterate, is no sort of a match for the iniquities of the educated and the purse-proud. On the other hand, to conquer the enemy on his own ground, and drive him from his own ramparts, gives good promise of victory over him at every place of battle. The little Japanese peo ple illustrated this perfectly. It was no small task to take Meter Hill. It seemed an impossible thing to enter the harbor at Port Arthur, but they knew full well that that greater victory once won, all lesser points would fall quickly and easily into their power; and they spared neither time, pains, money nor men in the great enter prise, and all the world applauded their wisdom. Shall not the Church of God learn the lesson, and make war where Satan’s seat is? If she once wins this bat tle at the city’s center, the suburbs will come quickly under her beneficent sway. CONFLICT OF FAITH “And thou boldest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas, my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.” Christ’s faith determines the field of con flict. “And didst not deny my faith.” The faith of Christ” is another thing from “Faith in Christ.” Faith in Christ is essen tial to our salvation; the faith of Christ is the basis, of our teaching. These are days of demands for abbreviated creeds. As bril liant a writer as John Watson has been caught by this far-cry, and in “The, Mind of the Master” he suggests* the_ following foundation for a spiritual life : “I believe in the Fatherhood of God; I believe in the words of Jesus; I believe in the clean heart; I believe in the service of, love; I believe in the unworldly life ; I believe in the be
atitudes; I promise to trust God and follow Christ, to forgive my enemies and to seek after the righteousness of God.” But a mo ment’s reflection shows that one must go farther than this. It won’t do to say, “I believe in the Fatherhood of God”—you have to define what the “Fatherhood of God” is; nor yet to say, “I believe in the words of Jesus!” That commits one to the whole creed of Jesus’ teaching, and if he be intelligent, he must know that creed and instruct in that creed, and he will short ly be back to the old position of orthodoxy, namely, “The Word of God the only rule of faith and practice.” No man can read the words of Jesus without finding that (His faith accepted) he is committed to the inspiration of the Pentateuch and the authorship of Moses. His faith appropriat ed, the Psalms are from above; His faith rejoiced in the prophets as divine spokes men! His faith anticipated the apostles and their Spirit-inspired messages. How ever great, therefore, our desire to avoid contention and to exhibit to the world good nature, we dare not tolerate those deadly heresies which deny the authority and in tegrity of God’s Word, write an interroga tion point after the history of Jesus, and even dispute the wisdom of His speech. As the great Dr. Lorimer once said, “Our Lord Himself was not slow to answer His adver saries.” The apostles were polemics; the “early Christians had their elaborate de-v fenses; and I question whether any assault has been checked by allowing it to continue unopposed. Truth is mighty, but it is not mighty when it skulks—seeking a hiding place. Never has it prevailed, and never can it prevail until it bravely meets the enemy face to face.” THE MIDDLE MEN Better a martyr’s crown than any com promise ! “And thou didst not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas, my wit ness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.” The world is full of middle-men! They pride themselves upon their “splendid balance,” their
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