T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
August, 1942
291
' '-~: ‘V . ..v • Y:'.';' v*• .k it sessed to recall; but the Injury, has been, done, and anger has provoked anger. Alexander’s Sorrow One of the saddest stories of the in jury wrought by anger, and the re morse of an angry man, is the story of how Alexander the Great slew his friend and general, Clitus. Alexander’s biographer describes him as by naturé fervently passionate and impulsive. He was strong in his loves and in his loyalties; and although hatred was foreign to his magnanimous nature, he was often swept by storms of anger. Yet by a magnificent display of w ill power, he held thé reins upon his passions. But there is one sad and tragic ex ception. At a banquet given for Dio nysius, a song was sung comparing Alexander with Castor and Pollux, and to his advantage. Then some one disparaged the old Macedonian offi: çers who had fought under Alexan der’s father, Philip. This roused one of Alexander’s generals, Clitus, who commanded the famous hetairoi. Clitus reminded Alexander how he had saved his life in one of the recent brattles, and told him he had bought his fame with the blood of the Mace donian officers. He told Alexander to associate with his lick-spittle Per sians, who bowed the knee to him and told him only what he wanted to hear. Alexander was stung by this re mark- of Clitus. He reached for his sword, which a discreet officer had hidden away. Then in his anger, fa ll ing, as men always do at such a time, into his native idiom, Macedonian, he ordered the trumpeter to sound the call. When the trumpeter delayed, the enraged Emperor smote him with his fist. Before Alexander could inflict hurt upon Clitus, the latter Was taken from the hall by his friends. But he soon entered by another door, where he stood under the curtains, quoting lines from a Greek poet to the dis paragement of Alexander’s conquests. “Quick as a flash,” the biographer continues, “Alexànder snatched a spear from the hands of the guard and hurled it at the figure by a raised curtain. The deed was done. The friend of his childhood, his life com panion and rescuer, lay gasping out his life.” The passion ’ of remorse followed quickly upon the fury of anger. Alex ander himself dréw out the fatal spear, and but for his officers; would have fallen upon it. A ll through the night, and for several days, he lay writhing in his remorse, piteoùsly calling Clitus by name and chiding himself as the murderer of his friend. Alexander the,Great conquered the world, but he could not conquer him
Parable o f the Vine
By ALICE BISHOP KRAMES and ALBERT LUDLOW KRAMER
'Whosoever shall lose his life shall pre• serve it” (Lk. 17:33, R. V.)
I am a wild grape vine. My life is very hard. Some* times I am flooded with water. Sometimes I am burned by heat. My roots dig into the sandy and rocky soil, but I cannot find sufficient nourishment there. Sometimes I bear a little fruit and get puffed up. Sometimes I wish I had never been born. 0 Spirit, will You not help me? Do You know that I never can be that which I want to be? You say I must be cut off and grafted on the True Vine? 1 will not do itl I do not want to be merely a branch. I want to be self-sufficient. I want to govern myself. O Spirit, are You s e n d i n g these winds and floods? Are You permitting them? Do You want to destroy me? 0 Spirit, I repent. I confess my inadequacy. You created me: do with me what You will. Cut me off and graft me where I can have a more abundant life. 1 yield. I am in Your hands. Now, I can relax. O Christ, You are the True Vine. I am grafted into Your self. In his conquests, he stormed and took almost every great city of the ancient world. Yet he" was not able to subdue that city, to cbnquer which is thè greatest of all achievements, the city and citadel of his own spirit. The Way Out When a man becomes angry, a Wise friend can do him a great service. See what benefit the servants of the
body. All that You are Is avail able for me. I am overwhelmed by Your gifts. 1 am grateful that I was humbled. I am grateful that You gave me the faith to be cut off from the old life. ‘ Your sap—the very Spirit of life—is flowing through me. Now, I will what I can do! fruit! show the world I will bear great Why am 1 not bearing fruit? You say that I cannot bear fruit? That You must bear fruit through me? 0 Spirit, forgive me. I thought that I was humble. 1 acknowledge my complete dependence on Yo& I sink my self in You, so that I will com pletely lose the old life. I will not think of the fruit. Perfect the graft so that You can cleanse me and fill me with Yourself. Wonderful Spirit! I know now that 1 have union with You. You are bearing fruit through me. Lord Jesus! Thou art indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life. leprous Naaman conferred upon him when they reasoned with him and persuaded him to put his rage aside. See what benefit the beautiful Abigail conferred upon David when she went to David, riding upon her ass, and in supplication and intercession, dis suaded him from venting his murder ous fury upon the churlish and un- [ Continued on Page 319]
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