The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-11-17

the nations have need to repent.
We well know that force, be it
physical or moral, cannot by itself |
uproot evil nevertheless we have |
no right to place in the same class
all the belligerents, aggressive and
defensive, in this or any war.
There are even occasions when
the cleansing of the temple Of hu-
man life must be begun with
scourge and driving power. But
it is the duty Of the Church to
place supreme reliance upon spir
itual forces, and in particular up
on the power and method Of the
Cross
St. James, were he speaking to-
ayday, could not use more pointed
and telling words than those he
wrote long centuries ago: "From
whence come wars and fightings
among you? Come they not hence
even Of your lusts which war in
your members? Know ye not that
the friendship Of the world is en-
nifty with God? Whosoever there
fore will be a friend Of the world
is the enemy of Cod Greed of
possessions, greed Of honor, greed
of pleasure, have literally de-
throned God from His supreme
place among men. The sole cure
is to exalt God. The church Of
earliest days met her unprecedent-
ed responsibility Of converting
and elightening a bewildered and
depraved world first by proclaim
ing God as revealed in Jesus
Christ, and then by moral precept
as exemplified by His character
and word. The order is, from
God to righteousness, rather than
from righteousness to God. The
world Of men is athrist for the
knowledge Of the living God. II
we need fresh evidence Of this, we
have itin the recent experience OF
the Nationwide Preaching Mis-
sion. We therefore solemnly en-
join upon pastors and preachers
that their first duty is to retire
periodically within the vail anC
talk with God, in order to come
forth and proclaim His clear reve
lation Of Himself made through
the ages, and to reaffirm in thi'
our day Of distress that He under
stands and rules the race which
He saped with His own hand, ant
: with which he irrevocably ldentl
: fed Himself when He became tn
Son Of Man. Experienced il
dealing with the age-long way
!, wardness of men, He is not baffie'
: or embarrassed by the widespread
disorder Of our times. Experier
: ced equally and victoriously i
suffering, His hand Of compassio
is skilled and ready to "comfo1
and succor all those who in thi
y transitory life are in trouble, sol
) row, need, sickness, or any othe
II adversity.'' The awful writhin
% mass of suffering which men al
Il now facing does not tax, much les
II exhaust, His pitiful mercy.
le the calm certainty Of his savin
Is power He moves among the pai]
e. stricken everywhere without res
81 With the Incarnation as the co
p nerstone of the Faith. our commC
III humanity contains in itself God
~ assurance that we have capacl'
l; for universal brotherhood. God
u executive agency for bringing
ID His Kingdom and His righteor
d ness is the Church Of Jesus Chris
eel Out of the antural human FAM
'e our Lords mystical body is sha
~ ed into a fellowship which tra1
od cends all the divisions Of nations
lot ity or race. Thus far the Chur
no has been only strong enough
ur see and covet, not strong enou
lor to consumate, her ideal. Her o'
lch disunion dims her hope, weake
ew her arm and hinders her progre
eW Nevertheless in her missic
'ur throughout the world, often
OF conditions Of extreme Difficult
lat cha has staadi1v horne witness