Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-06
PRAYER Is SERMON
TOPIC FOR SUNDAY
Continued from page 81

or the brutalities and outrages of tn,
devastated territory. Some OF tn,
liberaliSts who have felt compelled q
persistent pacifst attitude seem Il
have forgotten this. While Jesus un
doubleday taught and expected a day
of peace and brotherhood il is a fail
question to ask whether he would
have insisted in the face of today thai
now was the time 10 attempt its estab
lisment. These facts have created a
real question for many people. With
all the teachings OF love as the founda,
ton of the real brotherhood what
shall We say when we find ourselves
plunged into such war using gasses
( like our enemies. advocating retalia.
I ton for the bombing OF London and
Paris, rejoicing in the numbers OF
the enemy slain IN his vain attempts
o nthe western front Must We say
/ tnat the Christian idea is forever i'm.
possible? Must We admit that when
Jesus said Resist not evil" He laid
such a ban upon us that we can new
er participate in any kind of a war
an dbe true followers of His. Toll
stoi accepted this word as final. We
need however To get fuller meaning
which is in the thought resist not
evil with evil or hatred with hatred.
but meet evil with good. hatred with
Kindness. In other words the great
consideration is the motive that lies
behind our activity II we were en-
tering the conflict with the purpose
Of equalling all OF Germany's wrongs
in wrongs against her the motive
could only be considered but when
the motive is that of real betterment
for all it is quite different PROPOSE
ton. Wars of history have often
brought good in their train but to
argue therefore that wars are to be
encouraged as Germany has done
Is philosophically bad for ii neglects
the motive of the war entirely. More.
over We need to recognize that force
and love are not always in antithesis.
The ideal training for the child is in
love, but the parent who neglects en-
tirely the employment of force in re.
straining the ehild's evil tendencies
win make bad job of the training.
And Jesus love for the world was
not a soft pussilanimous thing. He
drove the hucksters out of the temple
in righteous wrath. He called the Cd.
pressors OF the poor serpents, vipers, /
generation of hell which is not
exactly the language of love. Those
who would do away with force entire I
ly in dealing with men or nations for.
get what sin does othe human heart
and how it hardens the nerves that
ought to respond to gentleness and .
love until they can understand only I
force. Hence life SO caloused must I
be met In only the way ii can appre.
ciate
Presbyterian Church. /
The beautiful weather of yesterday
brought out a large attendance at
the Presbyterian church In the I
morning the pastor, Rev J. r Vonckx.
preached the sixth sermon in the ser.
les on the Lords Prayer. The mes
sage had to do with the petition,
Lead US not into temptation, but de.
liver US from evil"
Our Lord knowing mans weakness,
his evil surroundings and Gods prox-
unity and desire to be of assistance
to man, therefore He put this petit.
ton into the model prayer
Human wisdom is weak in it's in.
ability not only to penetrate the fu-
ture, but to so lead in the activities
OF the present as to always ensure
the very best results. Likewise hu.
man strength is unable to cope with
the conflicting currents, so that weak
ness Is manifested in fear. discour.
agement, etc But though man Is
weak and he is threatened by the on
posing forces that would thwart his
purpose still God is near at hand and
heslrous Of helping him in every
way; therefore our Lord bids man to
cry unto God, Lead (Thou) us not
into temptation but deliver us from
evil
Lead u.s." speaks first of submis.
sion and desire and them of love.
as 1t does not say me but us Thy chill.
iren everywhere
Lead (Thou) u.s." do not permit
us to be drawn away by our owl
selfish wills, our appetites, the world.
but lead Thou US.
Not into temptation" not into
testings because they are hard but
II necessary then deliver us from
eVll, enable us to stand the test.
Thus is seen humanity's need OF
divinity, and divinity's readiness to
help humanity.