Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-29

were able to forgive as we'll as forget
the personal injustices which had been
practiced against them. When the
north German states were being weld
ed into the great confederacy Of the
German empire by the master states.
man Of the last century, Prince Bis.
marck said to a friend during the dark.
est days Of the struggle: IL must not
think Of what mine enemies might say
or do. To attain this end I would
brave oil dangers-exile. indeed; the
scaffold itself What matter IL they
hang me provided the rope with which
l am hanged binds this new Germany
firm to the Prussian throner
During the last days Of the Southern
Confederacy the southern army was
fleeing toward Appomattox Court.
house. On account of the awful bonn.
bardment 1t had dwindled into a mere
handful. General Robert q. Lee, one
Of the grandest characters in history,
summoned prominent general to his
side and asked him what he should do.
Anything, General Lee" answered
the subordinate, Except surrender.
We do not want your enemies to shy
that you had to give up your sword.
Bid the soldiers scatter, and we will
Join the armies in the south. Do not
spoil your grand record. Do not sur
render. NO" answered General Lee;
~ cannot think Of myself. The war is
hopeless. II the men dispense, they
must live of the country and cause
useless suffering. I must be true to
what is right. I must not think OF
what people might say. shall surren.
DER If such men could drop the per-
sonalites out of their lives, all true
Christian soldiers should be ready to
travel the twain mile for Christ's cause.
We should forget as we'll as forgive.
We should no longer have the enmities
which some Of us bear our fellow men.
Jesus has been given as an example
for all his disciples to copy. What did
Christ do when he was scoffed at and
spit upon? Why, the enemies made
so many charges against Christ that
PLATE, in amazement, asked him to say
something and refute the charges
"Hearcst thou not how many things
they witness against thee? And he
answered him never word, insomuch
that the governor marveled greatly"
Christ came to save the world Jesus
did not have time or inclination to
spend the last moments of his earthly
life fighting his detractors; neither
should we.
Hates Worst Enemy.
The twain mile is the place where
the enemies Of the true Christian are
either mellowed or completely con-
quered by love. AS the willingness to
love ones enemies makes a man strong
to 60 forth to the battle of life, so that
willingness to love an enemy dulls the
battleax of almost every foe. Love is
the most dangerous enemy hate has to
combat. Love is the duelist which will
disarm many a fatal adversary. Love
is the shield which can blunt or snap
every plunging spear. Love is the daz-
zling light which can WOO smile from
many a scornful lip and the tear Of re-
! morse from many a flashing eye.
My brother, the difficulty with you
and myself Is we have been fighting
our enemies with the wrong kind of
weapon. We have been fighting fire
with fire, hate with hate, bitterness
J with bitterness, SANDER with SANDER
death with death. But now Jesus has
! given to us Il new way to conquer our
, enemies. We must disarm hate with
, love; we must submerge SANDER with
/ forgiveness; we must answer a curse
, with prayer; we must offer to the
clinched fist an open palm; we must
/ extend to every enemy helping hand
Surely this idea is the Interpretation OF
= the words, ''Whosoever shall smte thee
upon thy right cheek, turn to him the
other also" "Whosoever shall compel
thee to go with him one mile, go with
him twain"
In ancient times, so goes the story. q
legion went forth to capture a great
: city. With rattle Of chariot wheel and
flashing of spear and defiant standards
, and signaling bugle blast the invading
army approached the city wall. Much
; to their surprise, they found every gate
wide open. The merchants were work
| ing in their stores the women were
; working in their kitchens, the farmers
, were in their fields. The Roman com
, mander asked in surprise of the inhab
= itants who came forth to greet him
, where are your soldiers? We have
come to fight" I'VE have no soldiers,
2 was the answer OF the inha bitants
] 1--WE are people of peace. We wei
come you to our homes. We will carr
, for you as long as you wish to stay.
' "Well," answered the Roman com
, mander, IF there are no soldiers t.
fight we shall march on" The Roman
e army came to battle with sword ant
e with spear. They were conquered b,
] love- So our enemies have been fo
= years attacking the walled and forti
fed citadels of our hearts. II we woul,
open the barred gates Of love to thos
enemies and lower the drawbridge o
affection, we would capture nearly al
Of our foes by the power Of love. TIL
twain mile may have its thistles an,
thorns and stony highways, but mos
e of those thorns can be blanketed wit
y the roses of s Sharon. Most of thos
s pebbled pathways can be covered owe
e with a soft qunt of grass which ono
r grew at the foot OF the tree out O
~