s of
her professors. No great harm in this!--for all these have
contributed to bring this war about, and are therefore relevant.
But when the preacher turns to the examination--for us so much more
profitable--of _our own sins_, what has the preacher to say? Why,
always in effect that, though it passeth comprehension why Germany
should be chosen to punish us (being so much worse than ourselves),
we deserve punishment somehow for our drinking, swearing, and
gambling habits, for the state of the poor in our cities, for our
worship of wealth, for having a Liberal Government. . . .

"Absurd as it may seem, that last gets nearest to sense; for wars are
made, or at any rate accepted by, governments; and in a democratic
country the government of the day represents the nation, or the
nation is to blame. But believe me, my friends, God does not punish
in this haphazard way. He punishes scientifically; or rather he
allows men to punish themselves, by reaping the evil from the cause
they have planted or neglected to remove: and the harvest comes true
to the seed.

"The War as yet is scarcely a week old. It came upon us like a thief
in the night, and as yet none of us can tell how far we are
blameworthy. We have not the evidence.

"There will be time enough, when we have it, to search out the true
reasons for national penitence. I do not believe in being penitent
at haphazard: I have too much respect for that spiritual exercise.
Still less do I believe in running up to God's mercy-seat with a
lapful of unassorted sins and the plea, 'Dear Lord, we are doubtless
guilty of all these. Being in affliction, we are probably right in
believing that one or more of them has provoked Thy displeasure, and
are ready to do penance for any if it will please Thee to specify.
Meanwhile, may we suggest horse-racing or profane language?'
We may be sure, _then_, that the sin suggested, as a conjurer forces
a card, is not a relevant one. We may be fairly sure also that it is
one with which some neighbour is more chargeable than are we
ourselves. The priests of Baal were foolish to cut themselves with
knives, but it is to be set to their credit that they used real ones.

"You will observe that Isaiah constantly, in his words of highest
promise to her, speaks of Zion as to be redeemed, and her glory as
something to be restored: which implies that her bliss will lie, not
in acquiring some new possession, but in regaining a something she
has