FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   >>  
d be our attitude as we look into the future. First and foremost one of confidence and hopefulness. Without arrogance we can say that we believe firmly and strongly in the absolute righteousness of our cause. In violating the neutrality of Belgium, Germany itself confesses that a wrong was done. A wrong which necessity compelled, as they say. What necessity? That of getting to Paris at the earliest possible moment. And so when Germany prays for victory, as of course it does, and ought, at the same time it has to confess to an initial wrong, which was certainly not made right by the fact that it was the quickest way of accomplishing an end. We have purposely abstained in these Addresses from fanning flames, or appealing to passions. But here is a broad ground upon which, by the very confession of our enemies, we stand on a higher platform. We went to war because we would not break a treaty, nor forsake a friend too weak for self-defence; Germany commenced the war by a treacherous act. Therefore, strong in the belief that the God of righteousness will cause the right to triumph, we can calmly look forward to ultimate victory, To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin. Much more might be said in the same direction, but let the broad thought suffice. The war has produced a type of pessimism which, in some instances, runs almost to disturbance of mental balance. Every reverse is exaggerated, and accepted with a kind of confident despondency; every success discounted and treated with half-hearted incredulity: "The Germans have destroyed another ship; what is our Navy doing?" "Oh, but that's only one little hill; the Germans will have it back soon enough." Surely this kind of pessimism, except where the victim of it is not really responsible, must be as offensive to God as it is exasperating to man. But now to turn to our chief thought for the day, that is, the permanence of the victory of Easter Day, "Christ dieth no more." That is why He is called "The first fruits of them that are asleep." Several resurrections are recorded both in the Old and New Testaments, but these are cases of those who were raised by others, and then died again. Christ raised Himself and death hath no more dominion over Him. The resurrection is permanent and keeps on perpetuating and extending itself in the life of the whole universal Church. It was not an isolated act, but part of a wondrous plan. Not only does it possess
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   >>  



Top keywords:

Germany

 

victory

 
Germans
 

Christ

 

raised

 

pessimism

 

thought

 
necessity
 

righteousness

 

Surely


future

 

victim

 

exasperating

 
responsible
 
offensive
 

despondency

 

success

 
discounted
 

confident

 

foremost


reverse
 

exaggerated

 
accepted
 

possess

 

treated

 

hearted

 

incredulity

 

destroyed

 

permanence

 
Easter

Himself

 

isolated

 

dominion

 
extending
 

Church

 
perpetuating
 
resurrection
 

permanent

 

called

 
fruits

wondrous

 
Testaments
 
recorded
 

attitude

 

asleep

 

Several

 

resurrections

 
universal
 
Addresses
 

fanning