The Washington herald., 1922-06-03
Bryan Says War Critics
Must Take Penalty as Duty
Points to Jeremiah's imprisonment As Spirit
OF True Self-Sacrifce- Warns
Against False Prating.
By WILLIAM ]. BRYAN.

he weakness OF a king, the cour- |
age of a slave. the steadfastness
of purpose of life based on faith |
n God-all these are revealed in
the chapter from the career of Jere-
miah the prophet. which gives US
the text for today's Bible talk.
We are considering what in many
respects was the most dramatic pc
riod in the great prophets long and
stirring ministry of over forty years
"a lifetime full of persecution be-
cause. among a nation given over
to false gods and false teachers,
he never deviated from his God
given task OF warning his people
of the consequences of their sins
and calling upon them to repent
and turn back to the living God
of their fathers
jeremiah Tells of Ruin.
Giving ear to false advisors. Zede-
kiah had rebelled against his over
lord. Nebuchadnezzar, to whom he
had given a covenant of vassalage
after that mighty Babylonian ruler
had placed him on the throne OF
Judah. Now Nebuchadnezzar after
lifting the siege OF Jerusalem at the
approach of Zedekiah's allies, the
Egyptians, had once again placed his
army over aginst the city's walls
and at this critical juncture Jere-
miah. instructed of the Lord, spoke
out, saying that the city would sure
ly be taken by the enemy and impor-
tuning the people to go out and sur
re nder themselves to the Chaldeans.
He that remaineth in this city shall
die by the sword. by the famine.
and by the pesrIlence." warned the
prophet. but he that goeth forth
shall live"
Even as he uttered the words
commanded of him by the Lord
jeremiah must have known that he
was giving his enemies, the princes
of Judah. their great opportunity
for revenge against him who had
been relentless in condemning their
idolatrous ways. And. indeed. the
princes lost no time in seeking the
downfall of the man they hated
even more than they feared the
Chaldean army encompassing Jeru-
salem.
demand His Death.
Straightway they sought out the
king and demanded that jeremiah
be put to death, "for thus he weak
eneth the hands of the men of war
that remain in this city, and the
hands of all the people. in speak
ing such words unto them: for this
man seeketh not the welfare of this
people, but the hurt"
strong case against jeremiah, but
IT would have been stronger IL they
had left off the last. count in the
indictment. They would have haG
difficulty in proving that the
prophet sought the hurt Of the peo-
pie instead of their welfare. but his
prophecies doubtless did weaken the
hands of the men of war because
he repeatedly advised surrender and
declared that the city would be
burned If II was not surrendered.
I'm Interesting Question.
Jeremiah's outspoken criticism at
such a time raises an Interesting
question that every country has had
to deal with in time of war.
During our war for Independence
some of the British statesmen be-
home because they took the Ameri-
can side. One of them insisted that
Great Britain could not enforce her
demands against the colonies with.
out destroying the rights of British
subjects as we'll as the rights CT
Americans.
In the Boer War. Sir Henry Camp
bell-Bannerman, John Burns and
other British political leaders aroused
great deal of criticism by oppos-
ing the governments course. A mob
broke out the windows in Burns
house. but after the war Burns was
reelected to the House of Commons
and Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman
became premier. In this country dur
ing the late world war the right to
criticize became quite an issue at
times.
1t must be remembered, first. that
Jeremiah was not expressing MS own
opinion-he was speaking words that
God had commanded him to speak.
One cannot invoke Jeremiah as an
authority on this point unless he is.
as jeremiah was, the spokesman of
the Almighty AID acting under direct
commission.
A Cowardly King.
Then, too. it must be rem. rve~ed
Tkat jeremiah was willing to suffer
any punishment that 'ght be i'm
Icsed upon him. Although as q
prophet he was a privileged charac-
ter. he was willing to speak and suffer
punishment If punishment followed.
One who feels it his duty to oppose
his governments course in time of
war should also feel it his duty to ac-
cept and endure ary penalty imposed,
leaving time to vindicate him. If he
Is right. his sacrifices will aid his
cause.
Behold the striking contrast be-
tween the courage of the man of God
and the cowardly king!
Instead of taking the punishment
in his own hands or refusing to al
low jeremiah 10 be punished, the king
excused himself. He made a poorer
excuse than PLATE did when he tried
to shirk responsibility in the trial of
Jesus. Zedekiah not only turned
jeremiah over to those who clamored
for his death. but he professed help
the king is not he that
do anvthiro