< January, 1946
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equally sensual, equally faithless and equally hopeless men and women, with no thought beyond this world and not a care except to see that no one got a larger share of the loaves and fishes than they secured for them selves?” Yes; one may go further and say that even the pro fession of the Christian faith, apart from its power, can' neither save the social ideal nor enable its noblest proph et to put the same into practice. Where in all history can you find a more potent illustration of that truth than the life of Profes'sor George D. Herron? We maintain, without hesitation, that no modern man has advocated socialism with such eloquence as he. No pen, ancient or modern, has clothed this ideology in such attractive garb, or wreathed its Brow with such garlands from the Gospel itself, as did Herron’s. But, while he was about this decorative business, his friends had to engage in clean ing the mud from his boots. Yea, more, they had finally to stay his hand and stop his pen and still his tongue, for sin conquered Herron, disgraced his name, destroyed his family, and rendered impotent his influence. His ex ample furnished the world a pitiful proof of the fact that, as Paul stated: ‘‘Though we, or an angel from-heaven, preach any other gospel unto you” than that of the com ing Lord, who alone will right the world’s wrongs, estab lish justice, dispense mercy, and provide an ideal state, “let him be accursed” ! You cannot let him be anything else! His false attitude will compel his final curse. Apart from a conquering Christ, both the individual and society will fail! Christ the Power of God But the Gospel is adequate, its Christ is sufficient, all nations are promised for His inheritance, and the meek are to own the earth. Personal salvation and social salva tion do not depend upon the changing of the world in all its methods and thought! Both depend upon changing men in their moral attitude and moral ideals; yea, in their very moral being. But Christ alone has the power to change the heart and the life. Faith alone can ap propriate it, so that “he that believeth shall be saved.” So it is true that to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to be saved; and in turn to become a savior. Pe/mit me to finish this with an appeal from Harold Begbie’s “Clinic in Regeneration.” It is the story of “Old Bom Drunk,” a man who came into the world a drunken baby, who developed into a besotted creature, feared even in the vicious section of London, not so much for his ferocity as for the vileness of his clothing, the un healthy appearance of his flesh and the brutality of his eye. The Salvation Army lass; known as the “Angel Adjutant,” stood dumfounded when she learned that there was a woman in the world low enough to love this “Old Born Drunk.” She was more amazed when she discovered that to this couple had been born a child who was passable in appearance, and seemed to have some promise of something better than his parents. With this incentive, she wrought until at last she succeeded in getting “Old Born Drunk” and his wife to attend a Salva tion meeting. There they sat in their filth, apparently stupefied. But at her invitation, they rose from their seats, and made their way to the front. The man spoke first: “Oh, I want to be like Joe!” Now, Joe was a notable convert from London’s slums; and (miracle of miracles!) God heard the cry of “Old Born Drunk” and made him like Joe. This transformed man and his wife went back into the streets to give proof of the power of the Gospel for the lowest life, and to provide- abundant evidence that Christ could help a man as certainly as air can carry up a bal loon. “Old Born Drunk” changed his vile clothing for clean dress; he not only quit liquor, but, as he himself said, “greater miracle yet,” he quit the pipe! The passions that
THE NEW YEAR
I do not know, ! cannot see What God’s kind hand prepares for me, Nor can my glance pierce through the haze, Which covers ail my future ways; But yet I know that o’er it all Rules He who notes the sparrow’s fall; Farewell, Old Year, with goodness crowned, A hand divine hath set my bound; Welcome the New Year, which shall bring Fresh blessings from my God and King, The Old we leave without a tear, The New we hail without a fear.
—Author Unknown.
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had ruled him no longer had power over him; and, to his dying day, as he walked the streets selling his papers, he was an advertisement of the personal salvation that is in Jesus, and the social reconstruction to which one convert of His can so profoundly contribute. Begbie wrote: “In that particular quarter of London where he lived he was more famous, more watched, and more discussed than the heroes of the nations. His death was an event. His salvation was an ever-increasing influence. The quarter of the town in which he lived feels to this day, and will feel for many generations, the effect of the same.” Truly, both personal salvation and social recon struction rest with Christ. John Campbell Shairp spoke truly: “Subtlest thought shall fail and learning falter, Churches change, forms perish, systems go, But our human needs, they will not alter, Christ no after age shall e’er outgrow. “Yea, Amen! O changeless One, Thou only Art life’s guide and spiritual goal, Thou the Light across the dark vale lonely, Thou the eternal haven of the soul.”
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