AT the meeting of Synod held at Inverness last May it was resolved that Thursday, the 8th June, be held throughout the Church as a Day of Humiliation and Prayer. The reasons for appointing such a day were (1) The low state of true piety throughout our land, even after the terrible experiences of over four years of war; and (2) The apparent imminence of the opening of the Second Front. As events turned out the appointment proved to be most appropriate and timely. The Second Front did actually begin on the morning of Tuesday, the 6th June, and by Thursday the opening phases of the landing had reached their most critical stage. As far as circumstances would permit, that day was observed throughout our Church as a Day of Humiliation before God, Confession of sin and of Prayer. In 1st Peter, 5 and 6, there is a passage of Scripture which clearly indicates what is required of us in such circumstances. In it we are solemnly exhorted to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God that we may be exalted in due time. Humility is not cowardice. It is often mistaken for it, and many look upon humility as something contemptible and therefore to be avoided. But true humility is not only consistent with the highest nobility, it is an essential element in it. We are not asked to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of Germany, nay, it is just to prevent such a calamity happening that we are called to humble ourselves, at the present time, under the mighty hand of God. There is nothing contemptible nor dishonourable in the practice of such humility; rather is the want of it greatly to be deplored, especially at such a solemn hour in the nation’s history as this is.
I. Under the Mighty Hand of God
(a) The Bible reveals to us that the hand of God is mighty in the Sovereign Purpose of Redemption, and in the irresistible manner in which that purpose has been, is being, and will be realised in the complicated history of the nations. Even now in all the terrible confusion of war “He (the Almighty) is in one mind, and who can turn Him? and what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.” As we think of the inscrutable mystery of these solemn words, “Therefore hath He mercy upon whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth.” As we think of Abel on the one hand, and Cain on the other, of Isaac and Ishmael, of Jacob and Esau, of Moses and Pharaoh, etc., let us reverently and humbly bow our heads under the hand of God, mighty in His Eternal and Sovereign Purpose of Electing Love.
(b) As far as we are capable of doing so we conceive of the Living God as possessing and exercising infinite power. In the works of Creation and Providence, and in all the mighty laws by which the world of Nature is governed and controlled we see some evidence of His eternal power and Godhead. Yet in comparison with the infinite power of God what we see is but as a drop to the mighty ocean. “Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” “It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers.” Surely it becomes us, creatures of yesterday who know nothing, to walk humbly under the hand of God, infinitely mighty in Creation, Providence and Preservation.
(c) We come now to consider more particularly the situation which calls for the observance of a Day of Humiliation and Prayer. In the Providence of the almighty we are confronted with a state of almost world-wide war. In it we recognise and acknowledge God’s hand. There are many lesser causes, but supremely and ultimately there is but one First Cause, and that is the Will of God. He uses many instruments to execute His Will; war is one of those instruments, and in it His hand is mighty. The course of war, and especially the war which Britain has been engaged in for over four years, brings out two aspects of that Mighty hand—one seen in judgment—the other seen in mercy. Under the Mighty hand of God our nation has had a share of both judgment and mercy.
(1) Judgment. Let us not forget that we have been called to pass through times of great adversity to suffer many serious set-backs, and to acknowledge temporary defeat. Let us not forget the disastrous defeat of the Allied armies in France, and the loss of all equipment; the defeat of our forces in Norway, China, Burma and Libya. Let us remember the fearful losses incurred by our Merchant Fleet—both in men and ships. Let us think of these things soberly and solemnly—God’s hand is to be seen in them mighty in judgment, “If thou, Lord, should’st mark iniquities, O, Lord, who shall stand?”
(2) Mercy. But God’s hand has also, more than once, been mighty in our favour. Let us recall Dunkirk, when over 300,000 men were safely evacuated when, by all human calculation the vast majority of them should have been a prey in our enemies’ hands. Let us think again of the defeat of the mighty German Airforce when it was at the height of its arrogance, a defeat which those in authority, who are best able to judge, speak of as a miracle of Divine intervention. Following upon this is perhaps the greatest mercy of all. When the shores of France were crowded with enemy hordes threatening the very existence of our land, a land at that time, according to official reports, practically defenceless and at their mercy, God turned the mighty host eastwards, to waste its strength and spill its blood on the vast plains of Russia, and, except as prisoners of war, not one German soldier set foot on British soil. Surely there were some in Britain, who, during those days of terrible suspense, gave themselves to prayer! And God heard their prayers, and His hand was mighty in our deliverance. And shall we forget His mighty works? Surely, surely, we have good and sufficient cause to walk humbly before our God.
And now we are faced with the opening of the Second Front, with all its dread possibilities, its inevitable carnage, with issues of profound significance for present and future generations hanging in the balance. Remembering what is past, laying the lessons of these four years and more seriously and solemnly to heart, and recognising the absolute supremacy of the mighty hand of God, let us bow our heads and our hearts in deep and sincere humility in His presence, let us earnestly seek His blessing.
II. We are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.
(a) Such an attitude at least requires that we be not ashamed to recognise and publicly to acknowledge the hand of God in all these complex movements through which we as a world, and especially we as a nation, have been and are at present passing. There are many who ascribe these marvellous doings of God’s hand to nothing higher than the working of a blind “fate” or “luck,” as they call it, or to mere “chance.” Such superstition and idolatry we can only deplore, while we pity those who in such testing times have no more substantial security for hope and confidence than these “refuges of lies.” We as a Church, by appointing such a day as this do seek publicly to acknowledge our firm belief in the almighty and righteous government of God in all we are passing through during these momentous days. In view of all the circumstances such a service appears to be at the very least only right and fitting. “Gather My saints together unto Me . . . and call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify Me.” (Pa. 50.)
The practice of humility and the giving of ourselves to prayer are, however, by no means to be confined to one day. These are permanent features of the Christian character, to be counted among its most beautiful and attractive evidences, and therefore, in absolute dependence upon the Spirit and Grace of God, to be diligently cultivated and developed more and more, especially in times such as these.
(b) But there is much more in humility than the mere acknowledgment of God. War is a scourge to all concerned in it, it matters not which side comes out victorious. In total war of the modern kind victory itself is bought only at extreme cost. We are convinced that the mighty hand of God has not been raised in this terrible scourge without good and sufficient cause in righteousness. We have sinned, the nations of the earth have sinned, and God in righteousness has watched upon our sin and has brought upon us this terrible evil. “Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it?” The seeds of godlessness sown so plentifully and so light-heartedly in years past we now reap in a harvest of blood and tears. We but reap what we have sown. Keeping our sin in view, considering how infinitely evil a thing it is, and remembering the awful fact that every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse both in this life and that which is to come, remembering also our many aggravations as a nation highly privileged, is it not a wonder of grace that we have escaped so lightly. Are we not called, humbly and thankfully to confess: “With us He dealt not as we sinned, nor did requite our ill.” From this point of view, to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God requires a real sense of guilt, shame and contrition before God, a sincere confessing of our sin and turning from it with holy abhorrence and grief of heart, and perseverance in seeking His forgiving mercy through Jesus Christ, accompanied with a holy fear of His mighty hand lest a worse thing come upon us. How many there are who in times of crises turn to prayer in superstitious panic, and as soon as the crises passes call themselves all sorts of fools for their weakness. Scripture likens such to the dog which returns to his vomit, and to the sow that was washed, which returns to her wallowing in the mire. May the Lord in mercy deliver us from such hypocrisy. True humility is marked, among other things, by a very real consistency of conscience and conduct with God’s Holy Word. When this mark begins to be seen to any great extent upon the British nation then we may look for times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. May He hasten the coming of such a day.
In order to encourage His people in the persevering practice of humility, the promise of future exaltation is given them. In waiting upon God in times of anxiety and strain it is good to let patience have her perfect work; and here is a sweet and strengthening word for patience to feed upon—that He may exalt you in due time. If the exaltation came either before or after the due time it would be disastrous. But it will come in due time. The fixing of that time is in the wisdom and mercy of God, and the exaltation which is co-ordinated with that time may well be left to the working of His Mighty Hand.
Exhortation to Our People.
THE Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland views with alarm and pain the serious departure of Presbyterian Scotland from the time-honoured position taken up at the Revolution Settlement of 1690. The Church of Scotland is becoming more and more ritualistic. “Scoto-Catholics” in that Church are active and aggressive in their approach towards Episcopal or Anglican orders, as demonstrated, for example, in the modern Iona Movement, in the receiving of candidates for her Communion, in such matters as those of vestments, burning of candles, praying for the dead, etc., etc.
In recent times this Church has harboured an agitation for women to assume the office of the eldership. This move is in the teeth of God’s Word, and the teaching of Reformed divines both in Europe and in America.
We of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland repudiate the claim of the modernistic Church of Scotland to represent the Reformed Church of Scotland as the Protestant Church of this nation. It is therefore our duty to warn our people once again not to have fellowship nor religious affinity with this very corrupt branch of the Protestant Reformed Church. We have noticed in recent times that this so-called Church of Scotland has admitted into its ministry several Baptist and Free Church Ministers, and we deplore the fact of such backsliding from their profession.
We would, moreover, advise our young people when entering into marriage relations—which in themselves are lawful and scriptural—not to enter into any union which involves or may demand becoming members of the Church of Scotland. Let such beware of everything which would not have its basis on the unerring Word of God. They will, on the other hand, perform the greatest act of kindness to their partners in life by seeking to lead them into the Church of God as that Church is represented by the branch to which we belong. This branch, Reformed, Free, and Presbyterian can bear the closest scrutiny in the light of the Bible, Confession of Faith, Government, worship, practice, and discipline.
Ritualism is attractive to the carnal mind, to unregenerate sinners. It is commonly said in the press, and by the enemies of God’s Word that the Bible cannot be accepted in almost any part thereof as a statement of facts. Parents are advised to keep a watchful eye as to what they are taught in our public schools, to find out for themselves what religious instruction their children receive, especially wherever our people may happen to be situated in the cities of the southern centres.
We once again humbly declare that this Church is not opposed to union with other Protestant Churches which may come to hold and maintain in sincerity and truth the inspired Word of God in profession and practice. No union can be formed with any Church which harbours those who destroy the integrity of the Bible, and yet remain unrepentant of their great sin against God, His Word and His Church in the world.