Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-25
Sunday Morning Talk
DESTROY YOUR ENEMIES.

" hen samuel heWed Agag Tn pieces
 before the Lord he got rid of an en-
 emy in the only way the world was
 then familiar with. Ones optimism is
 surely sobered when he realizes that
 after all the centuries that have come
 and gone since, most of the world is
 still following the old time plan. The
 proper thing to do with a foe, we
 judge, is to annihilate him as ex-
 peditiously as possible. By reason of
 the hardness of our hearts, the ancient,
 sonal and in national affairs.
 Yet few thinking men, even though
 clad in khaki and carrying guns, will
 argue that this is really the best
 or that it will ultimately prevail. It
 certainly is not the method of the
 Founder of Christianity and can have
 no place in the day when His Kingdom
 shall spread from shore to shore Just
 now, the rule of Jesus as to treatm ment of enemies may seem to avera ge people as hardly more than a strange
 exhibit in a moral museum. It may be
 about as near the usual plane of hu-
 man conduct as some faint star in the
 milky way is to our own cOzy, little
 planet. And yet the suspicion is being
 forced on millions of minds the world
 over that the rule of Jesus is1 after all,
 the only right and workable one. even
 though it may have to wait centuries
 more for honest trial.
 Anyone who wishes may try a few | laboratory experiments along this line
 in his own life. experiments that may hint at larger successes by and by for the race Of which he is a mem Der. Results attained in personal experience
 may justify the hope that sometime, in the course of the rolling ages, the
 same principles may be adopted on a commercial and national scale. The gist of the Christian method IS to destroy that which makes an en- emy rather than to make a personal attack on the foe himself. It is to obliterate the cause of enmity, thus converting the one who hated us and would do us ill into one who loves us and seeks to do us good. The beauty of the scheme in this age of conserva- tion should appeal to every one.
 certain Chinese emperor was ad- Vised that a band of rebels was stir ring up an insurrection against him in a distant province. At the head of a loyal garrison he proceeded to the
 scene of the trouble, promising his at
 tendants that he would quickly des- troy those enemies of the crown. The engagement that followed was short
 and decisive and the rebels submitted, laying down their arms. The imperial troops, expecting now a dire revenge, with red slaughter in it's wake. were
 amazed when the captives were not only pardoned but treated with es- pecia1 kindness and favor. Why have you not fulfilled your promise?" asked the disappointed leader of his chief. T promised" replied the emperor, ito
 destroy my enemies, and I have kept
 my word. These men are my enemies no longer, for I have changed them in to friends"
 Is there not a hint for us in such sane procedure? Vast skill is employed in our day in turning to account all sorts of waste products. Every bit of material rubbish must be made 10 yield it's contribution to human well being. All sorts of moral rubbish likewise, should be made to give a glorious an dtriumphant account of it. self. Least of all are enmities and hatreds exempt from this necessity. l They must be changed from liabilities | into assets.
 Wonderful are the uses of converted enemies. There are few friends so | loyal as those who once hated and op- | posed, simply because they misunder- stood us. The Apostle Paul never could have become so convincing a | Christian. if he had not first been a prosecuting pharisee. Look about you | for some enemy you may destroy not with brickbat or gun. but by the surer method of overcoming his evil with good.
 l THE PARSON.