Good Results in America from the War.—The War is producing some salutary impressions on men’s minds in the United States. It was recently stated that a minister who had one time been an evangelist, but who had fallen away to Socinianism and to an entirely “Do and live” gospel, has been very deeply impressed with the lessons of the War: So much so has this been the case, that he has come to a very different view of humanity from that favourable one he had been foolishly entertaining. He now believes the truth, that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” and that the whole human race is utterly hopeless and helpless apart from the redemption purchased in due time by Jesus Christ. The report further goes that he is now determined to spend all his time and energy in preaching “the eternal Christ” and the value and efficacy of His atonement for the sinful children of men. May this be so in truth! A religious periodical, entitled “The King’s Business,” published in Los Angeles, California, gives a long quotation from an article in a secular paper, which is written in a very serious vein, and declares that the great War is beginning to have a most beneficial effect upon the morals of business life in America. Men’s consciences have been deeply struck, and the writer looks for quite a reformation in business circles.
We hail with pleasure the smallest signs of the fulfilment of God’s Word, that when His judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. We are not without hope also regarding our own nation in this respect. There is not much to be seen publicly yet to encourage us, but we trust that a wholesome leaven is working in the minds of not a few that will gradually show itself.
“Here is Blasphemy.”—The American Protestant Paper, called “The Menace,” still pursues its vigorous career. In a recent issue, it gives the following example of Romish blasphemy by a priest, Phelan. “The only person in heaven I can ask to come down here is Jesus Christ, and Him I command to come down. He has to come when I bid Him . . . He must come down every time I say Mass at my bidding, because he made me a priest, and said, ‘Do you this in memory of me.’ I do it in obedience, I do it in reverence, I do it in homage, I do it in adoration; but I do it, and when I do it, Christ must obey.’ This needs no comment.
The Vatican and the War.—The “Fortnightly Review,” which is not a distinctively religious paper, has recently had an article exposing the Papal diplomacy in connection with the War. The writer says, with reference to German brutality, greed, and bad faith, that “it is not a little shocking to find that in only two spots in Europe are these outrages upon our Christian civilisation applauded and approved, namely, in Constantinople and in the Vatican.”
A Great Discovery which is no Discovery.—The “Expository Times” for May has interesting notes on a recently-published book—”The Teaching of Christ,” by Rev. E. G. Selwyn. It may be as well to explain to our readers that the “Expository Times” is a very advanced theological periodical, and generally rejoices in the light of the newer theology. But for some reason or other the editor has the honesty to confess that “the discovery of the Fatherhood of God,” which he describes as “the great theological achievement of the nineteenth century,” has received a very severe blow at the hands of the above author. Mr. Selwyn makes it clear that Jesus never took for granted that God is the Father of all men, but He does take it for granted that He is the Father of those who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus. “If God were your Father,” He says to the Jews, “ye would love me, for I came forth and am come from God.” In these words the Lord Jesus shows the Jews the uselessness of resting upon the universal Fatherhood, and denies them the right. Dr. Hastings’ comment on this is significant. “Now,” he says, “this is rather disconcerting to the soft theology and the sentimental preaching which have been so popular in our day. Jesus shows that the universal Fatherhood of God is of no value to the man who does not make God his Father. And the only way to make God his Father is to take Jesus as his Saviour. It is of less than no value; for it gives the impression that there is something comfortable and safe in the universal Fatherhood when there is not.” Dr. Hastings’ style of writing, such as a man making God his Father, etc., is in our estimation highly objectionable, but his conclusion is of more than ordinary interest. It reveals that the theological mind which has wandered after fleeting shadows, and heralded them to the ends of the earth as one of the greatest discoveries of modern theology, has discovered that the whole thing has only been a delusion. It is wonderful how long it will take learned men to know even the doctrines of the Bible. These things are hid from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes.
Inverness School Board and Popery.—At a recent meeting of the Inverness School Board, the chairman, the Rev. Mr. M’Gulp, a minister of the United Free Church, offered the Board’s congratulations to Father Macqueen, a Roman Catholic priest, who is a School Board member, in regard to an honour he has received from the Pope. No member of the Board objected. Truly Protestantism has fallen very low among the guardians of youthful education in the capital of the Highlands. Is it any wonder that there are so many signs of divine displeasure?