October 1926
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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What is needed most of all is to be crucified with Christ, for “ If a man think himsef to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself.” He may also deceive others for a season, until the bubble bursts. •We can be sure that we will make no mistake, how ever, if we seek to magnify our Lord Jesus, the Virgin- born, crucified, resurrected Christ, whose blood cleanses from all sin.
from it in an effort to prove that sin is but a synonym for mistaken ideas. ~ i It is remarkable that some of these men do not last long and the historians forget their names. Nothing is more pitiable in the sight of God or man than their strenuous efforts to magnify their own personality and supposed gifts of eloquence. The sky rocket makes a brief display, goes way up, and comes down—a stick!
Alt ^ JÜ ÿ i Mi “Let Us Have Peace” An Editorial In a Recent
Issue of "The Presbyterian” believe and do as he pleases. He is a law unto himself. This means anarchy and breakdown in all morals and truths. (2) Romanism, which ties all life up to the Pope and the hierarchy, and the dire result of this in the loss of liberty and the prevalence of indulgence is written large in the records of history. (3) Evangelicism,'which recognizes no other authority in faith and practice* but the Word of God. Man’s life in time and his hope for eternity is revealed only by the infallible, inerrant Word of God. These three can never attempt union save at great expense, hurt and breakdown. So long as they remain organically separate and civilly distinct and free, external quietness may be maintained. But the present attempt to mingle rationalism and evangelicism in the same organization means a struggle and separation, or degeneration and death. The report of the Special Commission of Fifteen absolutely ignored the intrusion of rationalism save to favor those who sought to foster it in the Evangelical Church. One of the great and bitter disappointments connected with this report was the signatures of some men who have hitherto been regarded aB faithful to God’s Word, but now must be ranked with those who blind testimony with a false peace which ignores the separation between faith and unbelief. In the natural world, btruggle is seen everywhere. Nothing can be secured without it. In the civic sphere we have not a single blessing today which was not obtained through great struggle. In the realm of faith, struggle and defense against error and sin has ever been enjoined in the Word 1 of God, and peace is possible only by fellowship with God in truth and righteousness. When Jesus confronted the devils, they asked Him why He came to torment them before the time. Nevertheless, he commanded them to come but of the men and enter no more into them. This con flict between God and sin, and Satan, between death and life, between error and truth, and wrong, is a part of the present dispensation, and whatever attempts to substitute this an tagonism by a false peace is de^nerating and deadly. As vigilance is the price of liberty, so, too, honest, earnest struggle is the price of prosperity in right and truth. A false peace is deadly to everything. It is folly to cry peace, peace, when there is no peace.
ff““ |=gHERE has been a very persistent cry among pro' M fessedly Christian men, saying, "Stop this con- H « flict in religion and let us have peace.” This call B U S for peace is not confined to the sphere of religion, it is a spirit which pervades all relations in modern life. There is a tendency to forget that struggle is a pervading element of the earthly creation, and it cannot be avoided, and the attempt to avoid it is perilous. A farmer youth said to his father: "The Japanese and the potato beetles are very active, and I think we should do something to overcome them.” The father replied: “ Oh! never mind them; we will fertilize more and cultivate more, and thus overcome them.” But when the end of the season came and the time for fruit had arrived, the Japa nese beetle had destroyed all foliage, and the fruit had per ished. The potato beetle had destroyed the vines, and the hills contained only small sprouts, and in consequence the family faced the winter with scant supply, if not the peril of starvation. A wife said to her husband: “ Dear, I think there is a small gas leak somewhere; I think I smell it." He replied: “ You are always scenting trouble; never mind. If there was anything of that kind I think I would detect it. Besides, I’m tired and I want to be quiet and rest.” They go to rest and sleep. In the night the force increased the leak. Visit the house in the morning and the father, mother and children are dead. There is a struggle in civil life. Certain parties are attacking the Constitution and the law of enforcement con cerning prohibition. Some loyal citizens propose resistance. The peace-lovers say, “ Never mind, let them alone; they cannot change the Constitution. That must stand.” While the loyal people are thus lulled to sleep and inactivity which is called peace, the enemies of prohibition are active, intensely active. The composition and character of the State legislature and Congress is changed, and with this the Constitution is changed, and the statutes are reversed, and the country is flooded with intemperance, with all the curse that follows. The same spirit of peace at any cost has entered the Church. Rationalism has attacked the divine Revelation and its precious salvation for body and soul for time and eternity, for eternal life and glory. The Bible enjoins us to fight a good fight of faith, and "take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Within the Church today there are these forces which are antagonistic by their very nature, and they cannot inter mingle without conflict, as they are mutually destructive. Absolute separation is the only safeguard. These forces are: (1) Rationalism, which makes the individual reason and experience the rule of life, so that each man is to
Mi m Strengthen my hands, Lord, for I am weak, Thou art the Strong One, Lord, Thy help I seek; If I lean trustfully on Thee, Thy strength Will he made perfect in me, Lord, at length. I will “ Fear not” , yea, I will forward go To do the duty first that Thou wilt show; Thy help, Thy strength, is promised unto me, Praise to Thy Name, O Lord, I rest on Thee.
— Ina Sinclair.
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