AN EMPIRE DAY SERMON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1721, 5 June 1917, Page 3

AN EMPIRE DAY SERMON.

At the Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening, the Rev. J. H. Bredin delivered a stirring address on Empire Day. He said there are few things so well fitted to send a keen and stirring thrill through the heart as the familiar name of liberty, civil, religious, intellectual liberty, in whatever form the name comes to us, it kindles a glow of hope and enthusiasm in every generous spirit. Yet it is to be regretted that so many men seem to think so little of that citizenship which is its national counterpart, for what is our liberty worth if we treat it as anything else but the condition of true citizenship. There is a call in the case of every man to social duty, and yet how few respond to it. Our common Christian! iy is doscredilcd by the fact that so many people in the world am inllucnced only, the speaker said, by personal motives, and give very little consideration to the duty they owe to the general life. When we compare ■ this with the great'foundation principles of the Gospel, il would seem as if by some strange perversion of the Saviour’s touching ('lirisi ianily had developed a, new kind of selfishness. And yet there is something of contradietlbn in the thought that such a result) can even he spoken of its following upon the teaching of Jesus, for tho spirit is self-abandonment, its roof principles are Jove and self-saeri-fiee, and its natural fruit in every Christian character should he social enthusiasm. As wc linger over all this, lho question naturally comes up in our thoughts, “what do wc make of our citizenship?'' the speaker asked. Is this citizen spirit strong amongst us, or is it weak? Does il save us from pride and prejudice? Does il destroy the root of selfishness in us, or does it somehow 7 \ leave these tilings to grow up in Sr (heir strength? If so, our citizenship is not such as hecomcih tho gospel of Christ, and. Christianily has not rooted in our hearts. For what is the outcome of Christianity in a man’s heart. It is this: it influence- for good his entire manhood, il cultivates, informs and moulds till that is lofty and noble, and eradicates all that i- base and worthless. The true Christian is the highest type of man. Yea, ho alone is the (rue conception of manhood, for “he lives who lives to God above and all man kind is dead lieside.” “We live unto the Lord,’’ William Prince of jOrange, when asked by one of his generals during a bailie it lie had made a treaty for and with any foreign power, replied, “You ask me if I have made a (maty for and with any gmml foreign power, and 1 answer that before I undertake the cause of the oppressed Christians in these provinces I made a close alliance with Ihe King of Kings.” .Made a close alliance with (he King of Kings; that is what we want at the present lime, the preacher said, and that can only he done by consecration, devoted service, living unto the Lord. A help ami an encouragement toward- this will he to remember the great mercies of God in the past. This is not inappropriate on Empire Day. God dots not easily forget His people, and although many who have the name hut not the re,a lily of (rue religion are to ho found. Nevertheless God, for (he sake of His true servants, has not withdrawn 11 is strong helping arm. Gnr past history is hrillianlly lit up with llm mercies of God. The God of refuge has been on onr side. God's mercies towards as have been many and great, and call u- loudly to thanksgiving. Is il not a mercy that we Itching to I lie mightiest Empire the world has ever seen, an empire distined by God to spread Christianily ami civilisation throughout the world. God has blessed onr Kingdom for His own generous purposes. What are His purposes? Wiiy ha- He given us such a vast extent of India, Africa and North America ? Why Ims He given Hie enormous land of Australasia? , Why Ims lie given us a foothold in South America? It is that the Motherland may have children in the Lord. It is Unit the Lord may be exalted among the heathen, the preacher continued. In return for all (lie blessings we enjoy as citizens of the vast Empire of Great Bril ain we must render unto Hie Lord, To-day we celebrate Hie birth of our gracious King, and we do I hi- gladly, and we think of the brave men who have gone forth from every part of the British Empire lo offer their lives for the King (hey honour and for the land they 'ove. We have right on onr side. Lei us he firm and trustful, let 1 here he no deserters, lot every man do his duty in maintaining intact that which we have inherited through the industry and. faith and bl ind of our forefathers. The present moment calls on us -for the most fervent patriotism. The question is not whether we shall carry invasion, slaughter and desolation into an unoffending province, but whether we will stand by an invaded people and defend our firesides ami altars against a most unprincipled foe. - The Rev. Bredin concluded: “Our duty as Christians and patriots, and as a nation, is clear. Never while God gives us breath will we submit as a conquered people. We have might on our side, hut let our confidence be placed'in the King of Kings. Let us follow more closely than ever in the footsteps of tho Master. Let the spirit of humility and obedience and service that was in Him be also found in us and in l he end the victory will he ours.”