THE SECRETS OF ENGLAND'S GREATNESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1917, Page 6

THE SECRETS OF ENGLAND'S GREATNESS.

To the Editor. Sir,—l fail to see how any one could, read the 'Utterances of Mr. Lloyd George without being impressed 'favorably. When referring to the Allied War Council, Mr. Lloyd George said:—"What struck me more than anything elae during the Rome conference was "the increasing extent to which the Allies are looking to Britain. They trust her rugged strength. Britain stands like a great tower in the deep—the hopo of the oppressed." Yes; the nations have come to recognise England's greatness. The question ariseß, "What are the secrets of that greatness?" The answer is found in the fact that at the head of our national affairs are men with the sterling qualities of Mr. Lloyd George, who trust in God and do right. Some years ago when an eastern potentate, visiting Queen Victoria, asked was the secret of England's greatness, she handed him a copy of the Bible, and said:— "Your Highness, this is the secret of England's greatness." Her Majesty was correct to a certain extent, but there is another reason. The question comes lip, Why have not other nations the same inclination to obtain and live by the great precepts contained therein? Britain is great because its people are God's chosen people Israel, because "He would have witnesses," as He tells us in Israel 43, 10-12; and who is tetter able of all races or tribes to stand witness for God and truth? The British and Americans supply 85 per cent, to 90 per cent, of the missionaries of the world. Britain is great because she had to bo a blessing to all the families of the earth, as promised to Abraham and his descendants. Israel i\vas to bo a mother of nations. What other nation can create nations like England-? Israel was to bo set on high above all the rations of the earth. It was declared to \hraham that his seed ''nuld possess lie gates of his enemies, which meant .hat Israel should 'jo posted round the world. At the present time England has iili the gates excepting Constantinople. Israel was to be unconquerable. Her enemies were to fall by the sword. A .remarkable promise to Israel (Britain) is given in Isaiah 54, 17—"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." Zeppelins, submarines, or any weapon formed against us may meet with success for a little while until our pooplo produce something .to overcome the devices of our enemies." Then again promise was given to Israel in Genesis—"Thou shalt lend to many nations but shalt not borrow.'" Britain has out on loan to many nations '£3,000,000,000. She has financed her Allies to the extent of £000,000,000, up to the end of 1915. The British Empire iB the literal Kingdom of God on. earth, to which will he added all other nations. It is tho Stone Kingdom of Daniel (2, 44, !45) and of St. Matthew (-21, 43, 4Ui), in which our Lord told the Jewish iests and pharisees: "The Kingdom of uod shall be taken away from you (they never had the spiritual kingdom) and shall be given to a nation (not a church) bringing forth fruits of it." The best fruits of the kingdom are sending out missionaries into the dark corners of the earth', printing Bibles, etc. Find the nation doing the hulk of these things and you find the nation to whom was given the Kingdom- of God when it was taken from tho Jews. It was Israel in olden days, and it is so now. Just after the (coronation of otfr 'present IKing George the present Kaiser, on his return to Germany, is reported to have said: "The British people are Israel, but my people are Assyria." Professor Totton, of Yale, United States, has also believed and written years ago to the effect that Germany is Assyria. However it must be remembered it was God who divided the people into two parts—"this thing is of Me." AH Jews are Israelites, -but it cannot be said that all Israelites arc Jews. Again the prophet declared that the people of Israel were to cease to be God's people while Judah remained faithful to the Most High. Tho Israelites were not to obtain mercy, while Judah obtained mercy, but if the Jews are all Israelites and Israelites are the Jews then these things can never be, for a people cannot be one thing and its opposite at the same time. Again, the scriptures tell us that the remnant of Jacob would be among the Gentiles as a lign among the beasts of the forest. "Who, if ho go through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces." But Judah has never been amongst the Gentiles, as such a lion; Judah has never been in the midst of many people as a Jew. The Jews have been despised and cast out, trodden down and oppressed wherever they have gone, and have been described as the tribe of the wandering foot. Poor Judah, how far from fulfilling the destiny of Israel! And yet this is what they are reduced to. The ten tribes became idolaters. For their sin God allowed thein to he taken captives into Assyria." From then they became wanderers, better known as the ten lost tribes. Josephus says they were a great multitude .beyond the Euphrates to his day. Sharon Turner traces the Anglo-Saxons to the shores of the Caspian Sea, but can trace them no further. Where did Israel disappear? Just in these very regions, destined to become wanderers among the nations, yet not being absorbed but gathered in due time to their appointed place in the isles of the northwest sea. Then after the expiration of their prescribed time of punishment they became ns it were, a great oTive tree, hut Judah's two tribes followed after the Law of Righteousness. The Gentile times will shortly he completed. The handwriting is oh the wall. The Turk has been quite incapable of righteous rule, and will ere long receive his ■passport Tims it will be seen that it was ordained that England should receive the cup of blessing first. Also it was to be her privilege to pass it on to all the nations of the earth. The promise of God is that she should be the head of the nations (see Deut. 28, 13). Our defence Minister recently said, in addressing some soldiers, "The gaps would have to be kept filled and the flag kept flying, and the nation kept where it ought to 'be—at the head of all other nations." Our young lions will march beside the old lions to fulfil Ezekicl (3b, 13) at the gathering of the nations into Palestine for the final phase in their judgment: "Behold, I will take the children of Israel (the twelve tribes) ,froin among the heathen, whither they he gone and I will make them one nation and bring them into their own land and 'they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be,divided into two kingdoms any more.—Ezekiel 32, 19-22." Israel was to be God's battle-axe < and weapons of war, for "with thee I will break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms." (Jereniiah 51, 20). How timely and appropri-

ate are the words of President Wilson when addressing a conference of veterans the other day. He said: "This great nation was kept united to lie ail instrument in God's hands to secure liberty for mankind." I have not written these lines without a full knowledge of the contempt which so many critics cherish towards such themes." "There is a principle which is a bar- against all information, which is proof against. all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignonuc|!. This .principle is contempt prior to examination."—Dr. Paley.—l am, etc., J, RAMSBOTTOM. Oniata, June, 8 1017.