THE subject, which occupies universal attention at the present moment, is the serious war that has broken out in Europe. The conflict is on no ordinary scale, for seven European nations are already involved in it, and more may follow. The apparent origin of this great disturbance was a dispute between Austria and Servia. There seems to have been friction for a long time between the immense country of Austria-Hungary and her small neighbour Servia. The Austrians appear to have been anxious to annex Servia to their dominions, but Servia has been determined to maintain her independence. Two months ago or so the Archduke of Austria (heir to the throne) and his wife were shot, with fatal results, when paying a visit to a place called Sarajevo. The murderer was believed to be a Servian. Austria demanded satisfaction from the Servian Government, and Servia, it is believed, gave all the satisfaction it could in the circumstances, but the Austrians were unmollified, and declared war against Servia. This event brought Russia into the field, as the friend of the smaller power, with the further consequence that Germany stood forth as the ally of Austria. Owing to international agreements, this step on Germany’s part called France into action as the ally of Russia, and the result was that Germany declared war upon France, and immediately sent an army to invade France through Belgium. The Belgians, however, up to the moment of writing (19th August) have been enabled, with astonishing prowess, to check effectually the German advance. France is our neighbour and ally. Great Britain has thus become involved in the conflict. She was under obligation to help France in such an emergency. It has also been deeply felt in our country for a considerable time that Germany has been anxious to engage in war with us with a view to advantage, and this has made it all the more urgent that the British should step in to help the French and the Belgians at the present crisis. Since the night of the 4th August Great Britain has been at war with Germany, though no special conflict has yet taken place between us and the Germans. At this date, however, it is officially reported that an expeditionary British force has safely landed in France. Such, then, is the remarkably grave state of affairs which obtains in Europe to-day. A conflict is impending on a scale unparalleled in the history of the world. May the Lord, who sits on high and is “more of might by far than the noise of many waters and great sea billows,” speedily say to the storm, “Be still,” and there shall be a great calm!
It is our present purpose not to enlarge at any great length on the subject of the war, but to touch briefly upon a few things in connection with it, with a view to bring home some general lessons.
The first thing we notice is that it seems to be the well-grounded belief in this country and elsewhere that it is Germany that is the principal cause of this war. Not, however, Germany as a whole, but Germany as represented by the military party with the Emperor at its head. There has been growing within this great nation, once in the forefront of the Christian conflict for truth and righteousness, an intense desire for worldly dominion. The present Emperor seems to have done his best to foster this spirit, and by frequent utterances of a semi-religious kind on “the Fatherland,” its aspirations and prospects, he has endeavoured to throw a halo of sanctity around the lust of widespread imperial power. Though frequently invoking the name and help of the Most High, with a familiarity that appears to many as approaching blasphemy, he has been manifestly putting his dependence in “the arm of flesh” by diligently increasing his armaments without any pressing necessity for the same. With peculiar inconsistency, he has also at times stood forth as the advocate of universal peace, and has held international conferences on the subject. It is perfectly plain, however, that his practical influence has been all the other way. Militarism has taken a powerful hold of Germany, and militarism is likely to be its downfall. The word of the Lord declares that “pride goeth before destruction,” and that “cursed is the man that maketh flesh his arm,” and we fear that Germany is to know the truth of these inspired utterances in painful experience. We cannot forget, also, that Germany during the last fifty or sixty years has been in the van of the infidel army which marches under a Christian banner. Rationalism has been largely dominant in her universities and theological schools, and much harm has been done by her unsanctified learning to the Church of God, not only within her own borders, but in Scotland, England, Ireland, and America. The inspiration of the Holy Scriptures and the Godhead of Christ have been assailed by many of her great scholars with fearful detriment to the cause of Christianity. God has undoubtedly a long-standing controversy with Germany; His hand is presently stretched out; and as far as present signs go, it is likely to fall with crushing force upon that Empire.
The second point to be observed is that Great Britain did all in her power at the present crisis to maintain peace. This is the opinion of both political parties among us. Germany, on the other hand, refused to confer as to peace, and is likely to reap the consequences. The Lord, in His sovereign mercy, has highly favoured this nation of ours in making it on the whole the most powerful influence for good among the nations of the world, and it is a signal blessing that we have not been left in any way to provoke the present conflict by a policy of war, but are engaged in it as the friends of justice and peace.
The third thing, however, we must remark is that Great Britain, along with the other nations, will no doubt receive chastisement in this strife. War, indeed, at all times carries serious consequences. Many precious lives will inevitably be lost even by the victorious armies. Now, it cannot be overlooked that we, as a nation, have not been living up in many respects to our high traditions during recent years. The Bible, as the Word of God, has not been respected as it used to be. We have given much place to the spirit and fruits of infidelity. The fear of God has been largely thrown off by people in every rank of society. A gay and godless life is too much the order of the day. The divine perfections and kingly authority of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, have not been honoured in Church and State; the wisdom of mere men has been paramount. Again, the purity of God’s worship has been invaded, and the sounding brass and tinkling cymbals of Rome’s ceremonies have been brought into the house of God. The rights and powers of the Lord Jesus as the Great High Priest of His people’s profession have been trampled under the feet of ritualistic pretensions. And not to mention more meantime, the Sabbath—the Lord’s Day—the sacred day of rest, has been abused to an uncommon degree, and turned into a day of common recreation, frivolous amusement, and rampant ungodliness. The true Gospel of salvation from sin and the wrath to come, through a crucified and risen Saviour, is treated by multitudes as a piece of antiquated nonsense—an old wives’ fable. Shall not the Lord take just vengeance for these things?
The fourth and last point we notice very briefly is that the present struggle is regarded by sound interpreters as the beginning of the great Battle of Armageddon, spoken of in the Book of Revelation. If this be so, it is matter of thankfulness that the end of that Battle is the beginning of millennial peace and prosperity. May the Lord in His infinite mercy shorten the days of blasphemy and rebuke, bring the nations of the earth to repentance, and hasten the glory of the latter day when the kingdoms of this world shall become “the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ!”