Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-01-16
"PEACE OR THE SWORD"

The pastors Eof the Baptist, Presby-
terrain and Methodist churches preached
to their people Sunday upon the above
theme, using the 34th verse of the 10th
chapter of St Matt. as the text, ''Think
not that came to send peace on earth.
came not to send peace, but svord.n
The mission of Christ to the world
was one of peace. He was called the
Prince of Peace by the prophet, and his
birth was heralded by the angels with
Peace on Earth" He sought peace not,
as means for the establishment of his
kingdom simply, but as the ultimate
end.
There was war between his Kingdom
and the kingdom of the world, and
there always will be, for the powers Of
light and of darkness can never har-
monte. Peace is desirable because of
what it is, and because of what it does,
There are times when peace is costly at
any price. The pages of history are
red with the blood of men, the evidence
of the struggles that have been urged
for the establishment of peace. Peace
comes through strife. When the sword
came into the life of Jesus he finched
not. Compromise is always failure.
1t is more, for it means surrender He.
who compromises with sin surrender<
to sin. That's the reason there are 20.
many poor, little, weakly people in Ahe,
church. They have tried to compSom-
Use, and the devil has closed in upon
them.
The coming of the sword is always
attended with pain and suffering.
Must be so; for God has said that his
word is quick and powerful, and sharp
er than sword Who is responsible,
if the preaching of the gospel in plain
ness and sincerity, cuts to the heart 9
1t is no pleasure to afflict with pain,
but it is sometimes necessary. For
little time our people have been discuss
ing some questions of vital Importance.
Has the standard of Christian life been
lowered in our midst Your pastors
believe it has We do not think that II
has been done with intent, but thro ngh
carelessness and indifference. The.
things of the world have crowded out
the greater things of the kingdom.
We have been chasing after the things
OF the world that do not make for right
eousness, and have lost our taste for
the things of the kingdom of God Is
there need Of an awakening in our cityY
Look at the desecration of the Sabbath
day.
The law of the state is made null and
void here, for the saloons are open con-
stantly, and stores are ready for btlsi-
ness. Theaters are going at full hast.
and no enc raises a protest. Where
are the officers of the city who swore to
enforce the law Where is tke Chief
of Polices Where is the Mayor Are
these men not amenable 10 the law for
this negligence? Is it necessary that
the common council shall pass an or
dinance in order that the officers of the
law shall do their duty
Where is the power Of the Christian
church felt, if it be not In correcting.
the morals Of the people Is 1t better.
to be quiet and let these things 20. on ?.
Shall we cry peace" when tAere is no.
peace These sins Of a public charae-
ter need to beleproved, and if it anst
need be that the ministers shall lsad i'm
the strife, then we are willing 10 bear.
our responsibility. We caAsot longer.
keep our peace while death and Dis
honor stare us in the face. Our social.
our domestic and oar religious inssxssts.
are at stake. For these we plead. aadI
II need be, for these we viii fight