The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-13

whatsoever Will save his life shall lose ii:
and Whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it.'-Matt. xiv. %.
seIf-preservation is the law of being. and
nearly ali forms of life are provided with
some means Of self-defense which occasion
brings into instant play
There are denizens of the deep like the
cutuedsh, which on the approach of danger
envelope themselves in cloud, under the
cover Of which they make their escape. The
chameleon seeks concealment from its enc
mics by changing color to correspond with
its environment. The opossum attempts to
e.ude its destroyer by feigning to be already
dead. The eagle is equipped with flight, the
OK with horns, the horse with f1eetness and
the lion with strength. Both the instinct
and the means of self-preservation, with
few exceptions, run through the animal
kingdom.
The same love Of life is given to man, and
provision made for his self-preservation. He
in many respects the most helpless of all,
is given power over all, until he has prac-
tcaly no foes to fear but those of his own
race.
Here his self-love forms the tragedy of
history, and various have been the devices
of man to protect himself against his kind
Fearful Of his neighbors, he has builded
castles high up among the inaccessible
rocks, or, if on the open plain. he has sur
rounded them with moat and drawbridge.
Fearful of his own strength, he has organ
tied armies, built navies, multiplied and
perfected implements OF destruction, until
the race stands paralyzed at the thought
of the horrors of war.
In ruder ages it was the survival of the
fittest, the strongest. But in those fierce
times he who would save his life by force
was sure to lose ii in the end, for lie would
in time encounter some power greater than
himself before which his strongest defenses
must give way.
This memorable law of fate has been IL
Illustrated by the play of empires upon the
chess board of history. Thus Assyria once
swayed a scepter of terror over the ancient
world. Under the splendid triumphs of
Shalmaneser and Sennacherib, Nineveh
hourished as the capital of a mighty en-
pire. But one day another power arose,
young and fresh and strong, and in the con-
flict Assyria went down. Nineveh became a
heap of ruins, and the name of Babylon
took its place eclipsed its glory and sur
passed it in all the elements of strength.
EMPIRE SUPPLANTS EMPIRE.
Again was demonstrated the principle that
for out of the fragments of the old Assyrian
monarchy like the gathering of a storm
cloud grew the Medo-Persian empire. Gain
ing strength under Cyrus, it hurled itself
against the beautiful city of the plains. and
babylon with her splendid temples and ia
nous gardens. was laid low. Nor was the
power of Persia to endure. Prophecy had
foretold. fate had decreed, that he who by
force would save his life should lose it.
Suddenly from the bosom of Macedonia
sprang a military giant and before the
ever-conquering standard of Alexander even
Persia bowed in submission and surren-
dered her scepter of dominion.
All this time unnoticed on the banks of
the Tiber, a city was growing in magnifi-
cence and power. and one day the legions
Of Rome brought into subsection the last
fragment of Alexander's empire. But even
Rome with her imperial splendor, though
a tower of strength, was no match for the
hardy races of the north. and gradually
sunk before the repeated blows of her bar
barous invaders to rise no more.
Geology hints at two such periods of con-
quest before the dawn of history, the age
of stone. when man, with the flinty rock as
his weapon, drove out the weaker and un-
armed followed by the age of iron. when
men had learned to extract metals from the
ore and fashion them into crude swords and
spears as instruments of destruction. But.
whatever the age or the instruments of
human power, the law holds good that "all
they that take the sword shall perish with
the sword" This must ever be the tragedy
of life held up by the power of might.
Christ recognized the value of life, but
taught the world a new law of self-preser-
walton. Man is to regard his fellows as
friends. not foes: he is to try to win them
ny love not to destroy or subdue them by
force. And our text the exponent of this
new law declares that the selfish spirit
which would shut us up to looking out
for number one" must soon dwarf the life
ivreparably; while he who is so imbued with
love for mankind to be willing if neces-
sary to spend his life for others will, by
such spirit and devotion. himself find more
abundant life.
Nor was this limited to the individual; it
has a broader application. If society, if
civilization, is to he preserved, it must be
upon this principle. No earthly power is
strong enough to long uphold the selfish and
self-seeking; for all self-seeking is self-los-
ing. Self-forgetfuIness is the condition of
self-preservation. This law applied puts man
on friendly relations with those about him
and leaves him no foes to fear. 1t disarms
lis enemies by service, and makes of them
"a stronger wall Of defense than was ever
medieval castle or modern armament.
LOVE VS.. FORCE.
In the early settlement of South Africa
none was so dreaded as Africaner, the Hot
tentot chief. He was known as the Bona
parte" of that region. He carried on a con-
slant cruel and relentless war with the ma
tives. was a continual menace to the Dutch
settlers and a terror to the whole country.
price was placed upon his head, but nc
man was daring enough to attempt his cap
ture.
When. therefore, Robert Moffat declared
his purpose of Drawing Africaner's kraal as
the messenger Of a gospel of love, his friends
warned him that this savage monster
would make a drumskin Of his hide and
drinking cup of his skull" But, not to be
dissuaded from his purpose. the noble hero.
IN ISIS, took up his abode with Africaner,
won this hard-hearted savage by the gospel
of love (Which has ever been demonstrated
the power of Cod, transformed him into a
man of peace. a friend and helper of mis-
sionaries and a strong wall of defense to
the helpless colonists. The unselfish love of
one man accomplished what the arms OF
thousands had failed to achieve.