"QUO VADIS."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 4

"QUO VADIS."

A CLERGYMAN'S SERMON. ■ Tim Rev. William S'liircr, of St. James's Presbyterian Church, nmile s;pccial reference in it sermon to the subject o£ Quo Vadis, Domine? The text was John 21, verse 19. L The preacher referred to the book by btenkicu-icz, and to the graphic way in which the facts were recorded, 'l'hero was imagination, legend, and romance, but there was also a statement of historical facts not always remembered, but which should never be forgotten. Tho pictures of Quo Vadis would instruct as well as interest.' The portrayal of Nero warned while it repelled. His reign commenced well. Then came disaster to lii.-s character by the evil of his mother's life, by his -abuse of power, his vanity, and intense love of pleasure. Men looked on pictures of Romo in llames, on (he sufferings of men, women, and children in tho amphitheatre ami palace gardens. They said these were the works of a man enslaved by sin, yet such a conduct was well attested by the facts of history. The preacher said that the samo evils which ruined the individual destroyed the State and society. Romans despised their slaves, but were themselves slaves to their vices. They had sunk so low that they found- intense pleasure in the sufferings of others.

The pictures also reminded men of the heroism of the Christians. The words applied to earlier- martyrs could be applied to them "of whom' the world was not worthy." It was sometimes said that the present was not a heroic age. Many have read the book, but the pictures would impress, instruct, and, let us hope, awaken a desire for a nobler many inore.' What inspired such a.faith? It was not founded on a "beneficent illusion," nor even on an ideal. It rested on love to a person. The words are spoken: "The Christians die as if they were criminals who put them to death. They met death with prayer 'and tho hymn 'Christus K-egnat.'". To see a picture representing the historical fact should give.new,meaning" to the familiar words, "the noble army of martyrs, praise Thee."; ' The voice of personal love spoke in answer.to "Quo Vadis, Domino?" The Ap&stlo was ready "by death to glorify God."