Middletown transcript., 1899-07-01
EPWORTH LEAGUE
Topic For the Week Beginning July
2, "Our Country For Christi
Text, Ps. xxxiii, 1922.

''Blessed ia the nation whose God is
the Lord !"
That God has regard for nations as
really as He has for individuals is the
teaching Of the Bible from beginning
TO end. He finds the Hebrews in Egypt
and leads them by Moses from bondage,
through the wilderness to Canaan, and
under Joshua gives them the land long
promised their fathers. Egypt, Assyria,
Babylon, Tyre, Edom and all the great
powers of the ancient world are sub
jects of prophecy, and their fate de-
pended upon the attitude they held to-
ward God and Righteousness. This is
| the unique distinction of Hebrew proph-
ecy over all other ancient literature.
1t declared for the rights of men, re-
gardless of race peculiarities or national
boundaries. All men are created of
God, and their rights are grounded in
their relation to Him, is the declaration
repeated through ages. By the test Of
right dealing shall all kings and nations
stand or fall
| The nation that will not worship Je-
hovah is doomed. It cannot stand. This
is more than any external form of serv-
ice. It is broader than any state reli-
gion, deeper than the recognition Of
God by clause in the national consti-
tuition. It is the embodiment Of divine
law il the constitution and nature Of
the people, the establishment of worship
in all the dealings of the state by doing
justice and protecting the defenseless.
Idolatry caused the overthrow of all
the great nations Of antiquity. It was
denounced as the most heinous sin. The
Babylonish captivity was caused by
Sabbath desecration, SO jeremiah de-
clares, and Baal worship is destructive
Of all national life.
There are two ways at least of view
ing these declarations. A narrow tradi-
tional Interpretation leads either to
Phariseeism or infidelity. A deep study
Of the prophetic literature of the He
brew Scriptures under the light of mod
ern historic science, with devout rec
ognition Of spiritual truth as influential
among men, leads 10 patriot
ism and Christian citizenship.
eff they will not obey, I will utterly
pluck up and destroy that nation, saith
the Lord, +" Is the truth as jeremiah
voices it. It is true today. It has ever
been true. 1t must ever remain truth
so long as God is God and man is man.
The Fourth of July means more than
independence from British rule for the
American colonies. 1t began to acquire
meaning in that, but it signifies free
dom from oppression of every kind as
the foundation principle of the national
life. 1t is new departure in human
government. It is clear eyed recogni-
tion Of the foundation of human rights,
not on the will of king or an aristoc-
racy, not even on the consent of the
government, but on divine creation.
Men are born with rights rights Of
which they cannot be robbed nor divest
themselves, rights to life, liberty and
pursuit Of happiness.
These can be actualized and fulfilled
only by right doing. Right doing is
worship, the highest devotion; wrong
doing is idolatry and is destructive Of
the individual and the state. Patriotism
is enthusiasm for right in national
affairs. Christian citizenship is personal
right doing of duty in all that belongs
to public interests.