Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-03

in demand. Wc need men of power who can batter down the strongho1ds of iniQuity. who can force their way through heaviest forts Of sinful oppo- sition and plant the banner of right eousness on all shores. The takers, the doers the workers. the winners. are indispensable. Not for a moment would we underrate them Tn civil home, the active virtues. such as in- dustry. courage. force. energy. enthu- siasm, heroic endeaYor. are all of great value. And yet what should be said of the passive virtues, meeknees. gem tleness. forbearance, humility, long sufferin patience?
 Are not these after all the ruling clements of life? Notice II, 1t is the passive side of Gods character that most deeply impresses the human spirit In the old diSpensation He ap- piled force, terrific force But when He desired to win the affectionate ohe- dience and loving loyalty of human hearts, then in the person of Jesus Christ He suffered the agonies of cru , eifixion. The most influential of all thoughts upon thinking people Is the thought of Gods personal sorrow and the supreme truth that blazes from CaIvarys cross.
 III. It Is equally true of man that the passive side of mans nature is the most attractive and the most in fiuentiaI. There Is no power over the human spirit more effective or so near 1y irresistible as self sacrificing pas sivity.
 l. There is a peculiar. potency in meekness. It is not weakness, but a superior form of strength.
 ?. Humility is a passive virtue whose real value in the formation of the finest type of character can scarcely be over -estinated.
 8. Genuine sympathy is one of the deepest of the passive virtues. It makes the whole race kin, demonstra- trates it's solidarity, bond that binds all mankind into one brotherhood. 4. Nearly all the passive virtues , may be regarded as some form of pa- tience The kingdom of Jesus Christ is the kingdom of His loving patience. Enough has been said thus far to give some intimation of the supreme excellence of the passive virtues. So exceedingly valuable are they that they should be cultivated at any cost.
 There is today urgent demand for energetic. vigorous. strenuous work CTS. I place special emphasis upon the passive virtues, not to induce in- activity, but to inspire our hearts with holy aspirations after the best pos- sible qualifications for the most efff- cient and effective activity. World Illness is ever crowding in upon the Christian church with stupendous pressure. The only way to prevent it's being crushed Is to build nobler. finer type of character than can be constructed by worldly maxims and the worldly spirit. But in some forms of benevolent enterprise Christians are excelled by those who make no pro- fession of religion. How then can we present a superior type of character? I answer, it is the passive virtues that the world Is weAk on. On the other hand it Is right here wherein the ehurchs chief strength is found. The martyrs made the church possible in it's early history. It has ever been and still Is the martyrs spirit that gives the church It's power. The ae- tive virtues may be manifested with out experiencing religion. Not so with the passive virtues. These are not natural. but supernatural, They are the fruit of the holy spirit. These are the eonquering virtues, they stamp the soul with majesty akin to God. In them we find the souls real sov-