PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
NEW YEAR SERMON. Last Sunday evening, in the Presbyterian Clmrch, the He.v. Thomas Halliday preached a special Xew Year discourse from the words in Rev, xxi., 5; “Behold, 1 make all things new.’’ The preacher said that tierce fallacies of yesterday have been exploded, namely (1) That the peace of the world consisted in being prepared with mighty armies and navies. We thank God • hat in the ease of the British Empire it was said that we were found unprepared for the titanic struggle, hi conceding this, we proved to the world our desire for peace. The universal de.-dre to-day is for a League of Nations. We are coming round to the view-point, of the Old Book; “Come, now, and lot us reason together, sailh the .Lord,” Force will never accomplish what love can do. Well has Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Alexander, Caesar. Charlenmnge, and myselJ founded Empires, hut on whaf did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon sheer force. -Jesus Christ alone founded His Empire upon love, and at this hour millions of men will die for Him." Again, (2) Salvation will come by intellectual knowledge. We are glad that we live in this ad - vanced and learned age. Secrets have been unfolded and laid bare that our fathers never dreamt of. If our fat Iters came back to this planet they could hardly believe it was the same old mother earth from which they said farewell a few years before. A student s education was considered incomplete, without spending some, time in Germany. Yet in the name of Kulhir and Education Germany committed the most atrocious deeds ever perpetrated by a civilised, or even an uncivilised, nation. The truth is sadly uttered by the despairing Faust "1 have heaped upea my bra.:a The gathered Irens'ms of mar's (bought in vain; The Tree of Knowledge is not that nf Life.”
Finally. (3) The Utopian will lie here if Social Conditions are improved. The social structure is altering. Working men are rising to the dignity of their calling, and they are claiming a larger share in the good things of I his world. Study !h.e history of the last 50 years, and if will he admitted tlqit progress has been made. We live like lords in comparison with the early settlers. There is nlenly of money evidently in circulation, if the totalisator is any indicafhm of our wealth. Gold can never he a substitute for God. The speaker questioned if wc can improve upon the old words of the Holy Word: “Seek first 1 lie Kingdom of God and His Lightcousness, and all other tilings shall'he added unto you.” What’s wrong with, the world to-day? God knows it is in a chaotic stale. Gigantic strikes m the Mother Country, seething discontent in Ireland, Russia drenehed in blood. A spark would ignite the powder that would cause a great explosion. What’s the remedy for all this discontent and unrest? The words of Hie lex! are applicable: “Behold, T make all things new." The preacher said lie catches glimpses of this new world as he .-Indies the great work of Foreign Missions. The missionaries, singlehanded. have accomplished what an army of lighting men could never do. JCans Christ dealt with individuals. and not with nations. If any man be in Christ lie. m a new creation. Again. Me gave is the broader outlook; life here was only preparatory to life eternal. Lady Gleiieoiiuer mentions that the la.-t letter she removed from her boy before the Battle of the Somme linUhed off in these words; “1 pray that fumy be all right; but. in any ease, ‘where is Death's sling'?'* ,J A ell has Browning said: “Life is to wake, not sleep 5 Rise and not, rest, but press From earth’s level, where blindly creep 'filings perfected more or less To Heaven’s height, far and steep.”
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2074, 6 January 1920, Page 3
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646PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2074, 6 January 1920, Page 3
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