April, 1941
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
1ST
the independent man. Paul was like that. He wrought, believing that, what he undertook time would carry on to its completion. When mem misunderstood him, mis represented him, and persecuted him, he did not turn aside to the business of correcting public opinion. In stead, he kept on with his work, knowing full well that the time to come would both justify his conduct and approve his gospel. When threatened with death, he answered, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He knew that, though his Master might permit him to change places, He would never permit the work which he had done in His name to fail or stand incomplete because the apostle’s life was cut short. Many of the fears that cripple us here and render us cowards would take their flight on Easter morning if only we laid hold on Christ’s doctrine of immortality. Why should the man who is going to live forever be-, mean himself for no other reward than a passing popu larity! when the everlasting ages stretch out before him? Why should he be anxious to publish his virtues and secure the praise of men, when those ages will un cover everything and bring to light every truth and make him to stand or fall according as he is really worthy or unworthy? Phillips BrookS once said: “What is there in scorn or criticism that dies the day it is bom, that can terrify, however it may pain, the man who is to live for evermore? He is free. He has entered into the glorious liberty of the Children of God.” Again, duty is never a question of a day. If we are going to live forever, it is always a question of eternity. I am not to ask, “What is the thing to be done under present circumstances?” I am to ask, “What is the thing to be done in the light of an un ending life?” Do you remember the story of Philip de Neri, a saint of the sixteenth century? A young Italian stu dent told him what progress he was making in the law school and how he expected to complete his course with honors. “And when you have finished the course, what shall you do?” questioned Philip. “Take my doctor’s degree,” answered the young man. “And then?” asked Philip. "And then I shall have a number of difficult cases; and by learning ,'1 eloquence, and acuteness, get a great reputation.” “And then ?” “Why, I shall be promoted to some high office and shall make money and grow rich.” “And then?” reiterated Philip. “Then I shall retire to comfortable wealth and dignity.” “And then?” persisted Philip. “And then? Then? Then, I shall die.” Here Philip raised his voice, “And what then?” The young man’s face flushed, his eyes dropped, and he went away. He had been planning only upon time. Gustavus Adolphus had a very different view of duty when he faced the foe on the sixth day of Novem ber, 1632. He was fighting not for personal glory nor yet for the privilege of sitting on a throne; he was
fighting for what he believed to be right, fighting for principles he reckoned worthy to live, and fighting with the.conviction that, whether he stood or fell, he.would see, either from the standpoint of the earth or else from his position at the right hand of God, that right had triumphed. When at last he did fall, and the murder ous soldiers swarming around him demanded his name and quality, he answered, “I am the King of Sweden, and I seal this day with my blood the liber ties and religion of the German nation.” . Did Gustavus. die? No! No! Did he fail in the discharge of duty? No! He is alive for evermore, and that great Protestant power, located to the north of Germany, holding in check the Catholicism that rolls up from the south, and also resisting the encroachments of Russia, is as much thp work of Gustavus today as it was his work to unsheathe the sword in the Thirty Years’ War. Our Victory Is by this Victorious One Christ has conquered death: “Behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of [ Continued on Page 132] Easter Hymn In the bonds of death He lay, Who for our offense, was slain; But the Lord is risen today, Christ has brought us life again. Wherefore let us all rejoice, Singing loud with cheerful voice: Hallelujah! Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, Came at last our foe to smite; All our sins away hath done, Done away Death’s power and right; Only the form of Death is left, Of his sting he is bereft: Hallelujah!
That was a wondrous war, I trow, When Life and Death together fought; But Life hath triumphed o’er his foe, Death is mocked and set at nought; ’Tis even as the Scripture saith, Christ through death hath conquered Death: Hallelujah! The rightful Paschal Lamb is He, On whom alone we all must live, Who to death upon the tree Himself in wondrohs love did give; Faith strikes His blood upon the door: Death sees, and dares not harm us more: Hallelujah!
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