"THE SCOURGE OF GOD"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2224, 10 August 1914, Page 7

"THE SCOURGE OF GOD"

SERMON BY BISHOP SPBOTT

IBS CONFLICT Of NATIONS

Beferences to the present European war Were made in most of the churches in Wellington yesterday. There was a crowded congregation at St. Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral at the morning service when the Bishop of Wellington (Br, Sprott) gavp a most impressive address on "God's sore judgment - -. War." His Excellenoy tho Governor and the Countess of Liverpool, find several members of Parliament were present. Special hymns were sung, including O God, Our Help in Ages Past," and Mr, A. 0. Benson's fine hjnnn commencing 0 Lord of Hosts, who didst upraise strong captain? to defend the right-/' B u t & still deeper chprd was struck in the singing of thp 46th Psaim, "God is o\ir hope and strength; a very present help in time of trouble." It is on occasions like the present that one. realises the Bolcmn gran-: dour and universal appeal of these ancient Hebrew poems, and tlie greatness of tlio words themselves is increased by, thoir historic associations. No ono could help feoliug the power of such versos as "The heathen make much ado, and the Kingdoms are moved: but God hath showed his voice, and the' earth shall melt away; "O come hither and behold the works of the Lord: what destruction he'hath wrought upon the earth. "He maketli wars to cease in all the world : he brea]?eth the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder, and burnetii the chariots in the fire. ''Be still then, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among thq . heathen, and I will bp exalted in the earth. "The Lord of Hosts ia with us: the - God of Jacob is our refuge," A Special Prayer, . The following special prayer was used:-r "O. Almighty Bather, Lord of heaven end earth, look' doivTi with pity upon the peoples on whom have lellen tho miseries of war. 'Assuage, we beseech" Thee',' the madness of the nations: "teach us all whoreln we ha.ve' transgressed Thy holy laws, pour ovlt iipon tho world the spirit, pf penitence: havo compassion on the wounded and dyjiig; comfort tho brokenhearted: restore to tib' the blessing of peace; and of Thy great goodness, bring out" of the' presMit darkness and confnsi-on a world of stable order, in which Thy holy will shall bo done, Pad truth and equity, justicd'ond mercy,shall govorn the mutual dealings of men awl of nations: for the sake of Him, who is tho Princo of Peace, Thy Son'Jespß .Ohrist our 'Lord,—Amen," A Titanic Conflict. The Bishop in the course cl his serjnon gaid that the. world facing'a situation for which'it had bsen preparing great European war, which might be a universal war. Five' of the greatest Powers and throa small States were already eijgagpd, and oth'ens inight easily be sucked into tho fatal maelstrom. He yias old-fashioned enough to accept tlie Old Testament' view of God's "dealings with nations and to belipyb'that this ifar was. a piyihe", judgment on the evjl' condition of Ohxisteiidohi. Whoever might have beeoi the' immediate agent in bringing it about at tho present juncture, at the back of it oil was God Hiuiself, Who had said, "Sword go through those lands." This ira 3 a strange thought" to our times, when it wap usual to Bppak of war' a. sort of natural. necessity, or as an illusr tration of tha sti-ugglp 'for existence and the survival of tho', fittest by which human progress was secured. But both these views' were highly disputable, and coiild only ba 'accepted with" large reservations. His'torianß told us tf tho responsibility of human agents, and the-theory pf the struggle foy existence in- Nature and survival of the'fittest did not hold the all-dominating place in' scientific thought which it; held during thp latter half of the nineteenth centprVi * Mature was not so' "red in' tooth (ind c|aw'' as Tennyson' thought. It was to sppip a straiigo thought that 'God should take-an interest "in national life, or that' wii could bB regarded'as the scourge of God. Was" it not truo' that one-of' the 'characteristics of our age was an increasing forcatfuluess of God? Did Christ's law really run through Christendom ? Many individuals no doubt ruled their lives in accordance with the spirit of Christ, 'byt I-that spirit was less influential in comLmjeroiarand sooial {ife/'and still'less in national politics)' while in*international relationships' it had no iniliiancp at till. Was not that'the'fact? The age was characterised by a wild race for wealth and pleasure, and a boasting of our achievomonts ajad_ con'questg qver Nature! aid yre were being 'punished through the6o very things. Christendom was turning on itself and rending itself, and only God knew where it would stop. "My friends, it is terrible I" exclaimed the. Bishop. He went on to refer to, the siifi fprjngs aipong tho people- l especially thp ioorrp-which war Would cause, as was indicated in a strikin'g nvticlo which »p? peared in The Douiwon dealing with the financial''' aspect" pf the' position. ' ?'\yhat shall wo say about it all?" "asked the Bisliop in God did not want lis'to bepomo' abject fnd grovelling. God took" lio pleasure in that'sort of thjiig, ( Hb was our Pather and we were the subof Sis chastispment. Men sonietime3 leariit for the first timp tho true dignity qf life in 'th© schopl' of suffpring. It showed iheni' that God cared onough for them to take trouble'with" them. It was not grovejling that was wanted, hut that as a nation * we" should cultivate a now reverence, a new sense of tlie dignity of life, and a new sense of our relationships with God. They, should pray that they might so realise' that they were under Cipd's government tliat through the cleapsing fire they might learn to livo jn a manner'more befitting to people living under' the jurisdiction of .Christ, Tho Bishop' asked' for tho ' prayers of the congregation for the young men who wore about, to leayp our shoros for some unknown destination, and for the ltey. Charles Tobjp, who will acci>nipaf)j r thorn as chaplain. ■ " • i ' After thp blessing the National All-: them: was sung. ....... | ''Thrice Armed is He." Preaching' at St.. James's Presbyterian Church evening service on the words, "When ye hear pf wars, bo not trpuWod, be ready," the itev/ W. SWrer psked his hearers to realise what w'pr' qieant, directly/ and indirectly. Britain, he said, had honestly tried to presorvß peace, and only when the weaker 'nation asked help, when alliance (ibligfr tjohs had to hp fulfilled, when national pecurity was iirtpefijled, when'the balance of ppwer wag seriously endangered, then phd not till then" did Britain turn tp war- Wp were thankful for tho unity of the Empire'in thp'Homeland,"dominions, arid cojonies. Some' critic* niight say that need to guard personal pjifoty awakened interest; but hp bolipvpd lugllfP motives influeuco men. It was simply a niavver how, in the presence of comnjpn danger and calamity, even tho keenest difference of opinion liad/b?e'n suborj djiiatod to tho "o*ll • pf Empire. Special sprvipe' wpijld be given, saorifices made, but all' by a quiet attention to ordinary duties <$iil(} repder noble service, Natural distractipn was unavoidable, but let it' lie as littlo as possible. Undue excitement pud produljty in spreading the latest canard was unworthy of true subjects of the Empire. The Bible told us in times of trouble that "in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."- Let us not neglect such power,' Men had marvelled at the calmness of the British Empire. "Ba yo r.eAdy, prdy tliat war may cease arid peace with lionour conio. Gqd rules, God overrules." The service of praise and the prayers were in harmony with tho spirit of intercession. The National Anthem was 'ajiif/ At the Roman Catholic Churches. Eofcrence to the war was mado in the Roman Catholic Churches yesterday, Tho congregations were, exhorted to TO .' or the rpstoration of peace; and Oathpllcs who can aitord to contribute towards the equipment of the force now being mobilised were told that they should do eo. They wove advised to avoid excessive jubilation over the Empire's successes, and urged not to show any sign of panic if bad news had to be recorded, i unneiv more, it was pointed out that while the war lasts especial care should be taKon not "to harbour any racial bitterness. Special Jewish Prayer. At the Jowish Synogogue yesterday,, the Ilev. it. Van Staveren oQered up the following special prayer i— "Lord God of Hosts give us help from , tronbUj for. rain i? the helg of man,

through Thee wo shall do valiently for Ihou alone shall tread down our enemies. Thou art our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Wo draw lugh unto Thee this day to supplicate Xhee on behalf of our brave men who pass over land and seas armod for war In obedience to the command of our .illustrious King and' the bidding of his connsellprs, unto Thee 0 God wo give thanks, for already Thy right hand has aided us to cause uiiity in our country; even as Thou hast been with us hitherto so be with us still. l)o not leave our armies nor forsake them, shield them in the day oi battle, may their lives be precious in Thy sight. Let there bo no breach, no surrender, no lamentation in our streets. Gird them with victory, so that the war may be speedily ended, and may the effect of peace be quietness and confidence 'for ever, Mercifnl Father, bless those who are good and upright iu their hearts, \vho deal kindly and tenderly with the wound' ed, the faint, and the perishing on the battle-field. Cheer with gladsome tiding 3 the hearts of those who 'tremble for the welfare of their absent kinsfolk. Hay Thy comforts soothe the souls of those who wocp for the loss of a life dear unto them. Pour forth a spirit of warm com. passion upon all the indwellcrs of thiß Empire, eo that they may hasten to the -help of the homeless and of all who Buffer from the miseries of war. Speed the days, we beseech Thee, when nation will no raorp lift up a sword against nation, when tliey will not hurt or dastroy when they will all act together for righte. ousness and justice for mercy and peace upon earth—Amen."