The Newtown bee., 1908-02-14

But peace, real peace, IS not con
 ventional state of Society. It is mol
 merely matter of external relations It is not simply the absence of differ. ences, conflict, and strife. Peace,
 which is the perfect fruit of the etern. al Spirit of life implies reconciliation, purity, righteousness, and the fellow
 ship of love. But how can we be al peace with men who are false, vicious, and consistently wicked? The spirit of the world is enmity against God. Un, belief, sin, and evil in every form is opposed to the perfect law of life which is eternal; and the Holy One cannot compromise with unrighteous- ness, and iniquity. Good and evil cannot harmonize, light and darkness are opposed to each other; the carnal and the spiritual are destructive of one another; there is an inevitable and ir- repressible conflict in this life until the peace of God prevails and all His en- emies are put under His feet. The real 1 effectual progress of the Kingdom of heaven is by means of conflict and strife, the truth against falsehood; i; freedom as opposed to oppression !; knowledge against ignorance; wisdom taking the place of folly; love battling bravely against hate; good overcoming evil by every means possible in the name of God-even by the cruel relent- less hand of war. If we read the Bible aright we must conclude, 1 think, that peace in this world comes only at the costly price of victory. Evil is inferior to good, it is rebellion against the Holy and Eternal, and it must be overcome even though it involves the destruction of the evil-doer with his sins.
 There is a morbid, foolish sentiment which cries "peace, peace, when there is no peace" Anything, and every, thing for peace," is the motto of this emotional, unreasoning, and morally feeble cult which would have us sub- init to the powers of darkness; bow down to the heathen; and make no re- sistance to the devil. It has been sug- gested that the nations of Christendom should abandon their missions, mission aries, and all their native converts to the fanaticism and cruelty of their tormentors, rather than to use the sword for the defense of the innocent, and the vindication of the rights and privileges assured to them by the laws of all countries, confirmed by solemn treaties. And what is true of nations must apply to our individual conduct. If it is wrong to resist evil why should we preach Christ, or contend against error, or even stand up for our own convictions of duty. Why then should we do anything but suffer and die and give up our rights "to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?'
 Where does such doctrine as this come from? Certainly not from the Word of God. Surely not from the and examples of patriarchs and prophets; nor from the records of holy wars of ancient Israel. Neither, to my mind, from the perfect life of the Son of God. For if the manifest ation of divine love to men could win peace, then by every consideration Christ should not have been opposed, hindered, hated, and crucifed for tel ing the truth and rebuking wickadness. But if Jesus could not live in peace with all men, how could His Apostles nope to do so?
 St Paul begins with an eff. "If it be possible. It may be, it may not. As much as in you lieth." We are to ,e like Christ, and follow His example. Ne must first of ali be true to God. Then we must in all things be true to ourselves. We must have theScourage if our convictions,s and be bold to peak the truth in love.
 Then if we are not at peace with Ill men it shall not be our fault. We re not to give unnecessary cause of ffence. We may even submit our opinions and our judgement, in so far s we do not violate our conscience, r compromise the truth. But we nust stand up for that which is right nd good. We must be loyal to Christ ,hatever the world may say or do. 7e can never find peace in any other Tay. We should follow "the things