Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-27
The Reign of Peace
Text: Isaiah NJ. Lie.
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMI<INS.

of peace. does ii not? And yet Gods
words are Yea and Amen" and can
never pass away. Upon His promises
we can rely, and upon them only. All
human promises are subject to human
error or inability to perform. hut about
the promises of God we can be sure, for
He il faithful and able. So we can
take II AS IL certainty that I'm God's
good time this reign of peace Will come.
Even In the midst Of this world con
ilct which now saddcns us we can see
light In the first place, those who are
lighting do not wish TO fight. They all
claim that for them 1t Is Il war of de-
tense. and that is a great advance upon
the old boldncss which did not hesitate
10 proclaim wars of determinations or
Of spoliatiOn. However. we may judge
concerning these declarations of the
nations, IL is certainly great move
forward when they feel II necessary to
make them. II shows a regard for the
public conscience which is re-eminent-
~ against war. The great forum Of
the pcople-the masses of the people
In every land, if they had the chance
TO declare their opinion-would he in
favor of peace. We can only realize
what a marvellous advance this fact
proves when we stop to consider It
Rulers and war party" may force
war, but the people. pursuing their
peaceful arocations and enjoying their
home life, do not want ii. And the
tllnc lb coming "ncN the people VIII
have their way and the rulers and war
parties Will he relegated to their right
fhl position az the servants of the
people.
WISEST AND BEST MEN
HAVE BEEN SEEKING PEACE
Consider. too. how the wlsest and
best men of all the nations have been.
for years. seeking peace II Is easy
TO laugh at the silent building in Hol-
land erected as II palace OF peace some
conventions which have been held in
so many places for the past ten years
But the ridicule cannot change the fact
that the big men OF the world are all
ON the side OF peace and the settling
Of disputes by means of arbitration. We
have passed from the Of personal
conflict for the decision OF questions as
arising between men. and have long
fcld that our courts are the right
places where justice can he deter
mined. And II will not be long before
like determination Will prevail be-
tween nations. Economy. regard foy
the value OF human life. the dcciara
ton OF real justice rather than the tri-
rmph OF might over right; these con
siderations are holding men In path
which cannot finally be blocked. "a path
which Will simply sweep war after its
companion evil slavery, and make
men of future generations wonder that
common sense ana nations We're so long
must lie.
Moreover. the nations are coming
closer together. year ago some men
declared that war between civilized
people was impossible now because
we were so bound together by the ties
which are not easily broken can
not see that such declarations are
proved futile by what has happened
since y sudden fall as one climbs "a
mountain cannot prove the ascent
Il IN. 4 4
more than n aloud on the horizon can
hold back the rising sun. Lapses into
the earlier conditions OF barbarism
only prove the sure progress which in
all human affairs, as III the indiriduai
life liz slow and must suffer revcrses
The world is like sick man getting
we'll He will have his days OF weak
ness, but the gradual progress VIII be
sure.
PROPHECY Is IL
PROCESS OF FuLFIiLMENT
In our lesson we find the assurance
that the Christ shall be the Prince OF
reacc, and since He came, the prophecy
has been in process of fniihiment'
christianity is the leavcn workinS IN
The world to create Il new life. we can
only note its power as we take long
stretches Of history or as We ho'e
individual cases; hut, thank Coo! iac'S
do not depend upon mems acceptance
Of them. Gravitation was a tact lohe
before newton TtNchitt ~ ~ % -
Love was power long before men
tried TO study It's psychology. Chris
tianity is Il divine might ana Is SLOW
Iv. but surely, turning the world upside
down, even though our eyes are GUN VI
seeing and our ears OF hear'hs.
Here, then, have our great, en-
ternal world wide fact that thrist
cam. into the human life TO establish
a reign of peace. lie was an"'h'e"
that is, dvincly set apart-tor 'n,s
purpose Scrcnfold we're his si'S.
resistiblc was His might. Even inc
hcasts of the carti, were TO be sub
L,.d undcr His influence ana ha'rcu
and bitterness changed TO love an"
friendship. No man or groups Oh nSn
or nations Of men can deiea' ms tn!
King though they may rebci hh"'"H
His reign. Satan himself. the prince vi
cvil can only go so far and for so ions
n, his opposition. Like the rising ''"e
comes in the power of the fcdee'iei'
There Is no striving nor cTSihH' u"
ho.sting nor shouts of victory. save as
,La redeemed soul sings its joy IN a
song echoed by the angels IN heaven
81 Lake. XIV -. But sure. sure 10
our thinking slow but on! no" r"s !
iblc, the blessed power rs olN' Is
ana some day the great cry iroi,i
crnss-"It is finishct'-will be under
stood.
ONLY RECENTLY hAS MAN
SHOWN KINDNESS TO ANIMALS
or course. the stilling ot we pas
.;ons of the wild beasts is oniy'a para
HE concerning the power of the reign
of pcace in the stilling of human hi'
terness and wrath. Yet. when taken
literally, it is very suggestive DAT
win saws the savaeencss of beasts is
the result of human cruelty re-
member so we'll as IA boy seeing har-
NUNS "Happy Family" in great cage
and wondering the wild creatures nv
ing I'm peace together. some claimed
,hat they were drugged but wiser
ncople said il resulted from Kindness
shown to them that they did not fight
and kill each other. How splendidly
our anticruelty societies are verifying
this prophecy!
II has only been Il short time since
Henry Borgh made mans duty to AMI
mails clear. The Audubon Society, to
prevent the killing and mutilntion OF
birds hos n comparatiVely recent birth.