Chapter 9 No.9

Discipline through Victory

EASTER DAY

Romans vi. 9

"Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more."

To couple the word discipline with victory may seem incongruous almost to the point of impossibility. Yet, if we look below the surface, we shall see that never is the connection more strong and the need for realising it more urgent.

Lent is over, its special discipline has passed, and now the danger begins. The danger is lest any progress made, any victory won, should lead to that self-confidence which can only end in disaster. Success is often a discipline far more fatal in its results than failure.

We celebrate to-day the grandest victory the world has ever known: a victory which sprang out of the depths of an apparently complete defeat. "We trusted that it was He which should have redeemed Israel." Vain confidence, for how could One Who had died as a malefactor, Who could not save Himself, rescue His nation from the tyranny of the Roman power? And then He, this stranger Whom they knew not, opened to them the Scriptures; showed them the necessity of the sufferings, and the great climax, in the Resurrection. The ears were dull, the hearts unconvinced, as they generally are by mere argument, till he revealed Himself in "the breaking of bread." The eyes of love could not be deceived and sorrow gave place to joy.

Some dispute has arisen as to whether we ought to pray for victory in this War. The matter is well put by an anonymous writer: "If we are only to pray in matters wherein there is no difference of opinion our prayers will be few, and if we cannot pray for the triumph of honour over falsehood, of respect for treaties over unscrupulousness, of order over cruelty and outrage, for what are we ever to pray? We must pray according to the light we have. And if we end our prayers with the truly Christian supplement 'Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt,' we cannot be doing anything contrary to the principles of the highest religion. Surely prayer is, or should be, merely the expression of our best hopes and wishes submitted to a Divine tribunal."

Putting aside the question of prayer, let us consider for a moment what should be our attitude as we look into the future. First and foremost one of confidence and hopefulness. Without arrogance we can say that we believe firmly and strongly in the absolute righteousness of our cause. In violating the neutrality of Belgium, Germany itself confesses that a wrong was done. A wrong which necessity compelled, as they say. What necessity? That of getting to Paris at the earliest possible moment. And so when Germany prays for victory, as of course it does, and ought, at the same time it has to confess to an initial wrong, which was certainly not made right by the fact that it was the quickest way of accomplishing an end.

We have purposely abstained in these Addresses from fanning flames, or appealing to passions. But here is a broad ground upon which, by the very confession of our enemies, we stand on a higher platform. We went to war because we would not break a treaty, nor forsake a friend too weak for self-defence; Germany commenced the war by a treacherous act. Therefore, strong in the belief that the God of righteousness will cause the right to triumph, we can calmly look forward to ultimate victory,

To doubt would be disloyalty,

To falter would be sin.

Much more might be said in the same direction, but let the broad thought suffice.

The war has produced a type of pessimism which, in some instances, runs almost to disturbance of mental balance. Every reverse is exaggerated, and accepted with a kind of confident despondency; every success discounted and treated with half-hearted incredulity: "The Germans have destroyed another ship; what is our Navy doing?" "Oh, but that's only one little hill; the Germans will have it back soon enough." Surely this kind of pessimism, except where the victim of it is not really responsible, must be as offensive to God as it is exasperating to man.

But now to turn to our chief thought for the day, that is, the permanence of the victory of Easter Day, "Christ dieth no more." That is why He is called "The first fruits of them that are asleep." Several resurrections are recorded both in the Old and New Testaments, but these are cases of those who were raised by others, and then died again. Christ raised Himself and death hath no more dominion over Him. The resurrection is permanent and keeps on perpetuating and extending itself in the life of the whole universal Church. It was not an isolated act, but part of a wondrous plan. Not only does it possess doctrinal significance in that plan, but vital force for the carrying of it out. "He died for our sins," but "He was raised for our justification."

Yes, death's last hope, his strongest fort and prison,

Is shattered, never to be built again;

And He, the mighty Captive, He is risen,

Leaving behind the gate, the bar, the chain.

We are praying constantly, earnestly, that we "may be brought through strife to a lasting peace"; and that "the nations of the world may be united in a firmer fellowship for the promotion of Thy glory and the good of all mankind." No conditions of peace are worth accepting unless they will, humanly speaking, secure this result. Germany on the one side, and the Allies on the other, both realise that this is a "fight to a finish." Singularly enough the object of both sides is similar-to render another great European war impossible: but the ideals in respect to its attainment are by no means the same; one looks to the setting up of a world dominion; the other, to the establishment of a state of balanced power and mutual interests among European nations. We are fighting essentially for the principle of "live and let live," and therefore have to face unflinchingly all the sacrifice that still lies before us. When peace is concluded it must be upon terms which will make results permanent! Should Germany, in the mysterious providence of God, be allowed to become supreme, there will be peace, but, alas! only the peace of desolation and the numbness of despair. But, as we have already said, it seems disloyal to all our deepest instincts, all our truest feelings, even to contemplate such a possibility.

But when the Allies triumph, what then?-the discipline of victory. Think for one moment of what the victory of Christ meant, as the ratification of the treaty signed upon the Cross, in the very hour of apparent defeat. It meant for you and me all that is included in the words "the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; the means of grace and the hope of glory." The resurrection puts the seal to the great charter, commenced at Bethlehem, indited page by page through the wondrous life of three and thirty years, closed, as to its earthly side, on Calvary, sealed, signed and delivered on Easter morning. In the power of that treaty of peace you and I live, day by day; secure except for our own carelessness; beyond all possibility of hurt from spiritual enemies, unless by our own traitorous dealings with them. The victory was complete! "He hath put all enemies under His feet"; the victory is permanent, for, "death hath no more dominion over Him."

In these Addresses we have said much about those large results which God is allowing us already to see as obviously coming out of the war; on our Day of "Humble Prayer to Almighty God" we solemnly thanked Him:

For the laying aside of controversies at home, and for the unity of the Nation and Empire;

For the loyal and loving response of our fellow-subjects beyond the seas;

For the full harmony between our Allies and ourselves, and for the success which has already been granted to our common efforts;

For the devotion of those who have laid down their lives for their country;

For the revelation in danger, in suffering, and in death, of the power of the Cross and the benefits of the Lord's Passion.

Now remains the question, Are the results to be permanent? That entirely depends upon our attitude towards the discipline of victory; or how we are going to behave ourselves in the hour of success. It is written concerning Israel, "The Lord saved them from the hand of them that hated them: and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. Then believed they His words, they sang His praise. They soon forgat His works: they waited not for His counsel." God willing we shall ere long be singing our Te Deum; oh! yes, we shall do it with all our heart and soul; but how are we to fix the emotions, to render permanent that thankfulness which we shall really feel. The Israelites "waited not for His counsel." They failed, that is, under the discipline of success. Victory is given that it may be used for good, just as much as failure is sent that we may rise on "stepping-stones of our dead-selves" to fresh endeavour.

As a nation we have been single-minded and honourable in our entry upon and our waging of the War; when it is over we are to be just the same in our use of the fruits of the War. Victory will not come to us simply for our own sakes and that it may be selfishly exploited for our own needs. No, assuredly not: it will come for the mutual benefit of all concerned, and unless the very first fruits of it be dedicated to the cause of heroic Belgium, to her re-instatement in something of her former condition, it will have come in vain. The time of distress and disaster has knit together the Empire in a wondrous unity of brotherhood. There will be debts to be repaid to India and our Colonies, debts which can never be discharged in money, but in those higher acts of fellowship, justice, endeavour, which will knit yet closer the bonds that have been formed. There will remain a large heritage of disablement and unemployment to cope with which will require wise counsel, comprehensive measures, real self-sacrifice. It is computed that should the war last another eighteen months there will be nearly a quarter of a million men more or less unfitted to resume their ordinary callings.

All this, you say, is the concern of the State; certainly, but what is the State? Only another term for you and me. Therefore the seriousness of attitude, the sense of proportion, the realisation of brotherhood, that by the mercy of God we have gained, must be retained for the facing of the new problems that will lie before us.

Turning to the more purely personal aspect of it, there will be the temptation to grow slack and cold in intercessions and communions, when the immediate occasion that prompted them has passed. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, let us look out for this, expect it, then we shall not be afraid to meet it. "Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more"; think what the permanency of that victory has meant all down the ages of the past in the triumphs of the saints, in the deaths of the martyrs, in the splendid story of the Church of Christ. Think what it means to-day in the lives of millions of the faithful; in all the deeds of charity which are brightening homes, cheering hearts, giving hope to the hopeless, healing to the sick, and soundness to the maimed: think of all it means in rest and refreshment to the souls in Paradise; think of all it still will mean in the growth of the Church of Christ up to the fulness of its destined and glorious completion; think of all it may mean for you in your individual life, right up to the day when you shall be like Him, for you shall see Him as He is.

In the permanence of the victory of Christ, may we each one of us so use the discipline of victory that it may redound to the glory of Him, in Whom we live, and move, and have our being.

APPENDIX

GIVING A SPECIAL THOUGHT AND PASSAGE FOR MEDITATION FOR EACH DAY IN LENT SUGGESTED BY THE ADDRESSES.

APPENDIX

A SUGGESTED THOUGHT FOR DAILY MEDITATION

N.B.-You will find it useful to look up references in a reference Bible.

Ash Wednesday: God wishes that we should be saved.-1 Tim. ii. 3, 4; 2 Pet. iii. 9.

Thursday: Our natural will is in conflict with God's will.-Rom. vii. 21-25.

Friday: God the Holy Ghost assists us by illuminating the will.-S. John xvi. 13-15.

Saturday: What is the guiding principles of our lives?-Ps. xxxix. 7; S. Matt. vi. 19-24.

1st Sunday in Lent: The Incarnation the mission of Christ to the body.-S. John i. 1-14; Eph. v. 23.

Monday: The body in its physical aspect wonderfully suited to its purposes.-Gen. i. 26-28; ii., 7; Ps. cxxxix. 14.

Tuesday: The body the external means by which we receive the Sacraments.-Heb. x. 22; Acts viii. 14-17; 1 Cor. xi. 26.

Wednesday: The body in its ultimate destiny.-1 Cor. xv. 42-49; 1 John iii. 2, 3.

Thursday: Disciplining the body braces the will.-2 Tim. ii. 3; Heb. xi. 32-40.

Friday: The corporate life of the Church in its bearing on influence and conduct.-1 Cor. xii. 12-27.

Saturday: The duty of example in respect of the temperance question.-1 Cor. viii. 7-13; 2 Cor. viii. 9.

2nd Sunday in Lent: The inner value of our life.-S. Mark viii. 34-38.

Monday: The deadening effect of prosperity.-S. James v. 1-6.

Tuesday: Our Lord's example of single-mindedness.-S. Mark vii. 37; S. Matt. xxvi. 39-44.

Wednesday: The need for seriousness in thought.-S. Matt. xv. 10-20; Phil. iv. 8.

Thursday: The need for seriousness in word.-S. James iii. 1-11.

Friday: The need for seriousness in deed.-S. James iii. 13-18; 1 Pet. v. 8.

Saturday: The need for perseverance, lest we forfeit our blessings.-Rom ii. 4-7; Rev. ii. 18-29.

3rd Sunday in Lent: Man seeking after God.-Ps. xlii.

Monday: The Incarnation the means by which the union between God and man is brought about.-S. John xvii. 17-26.

Tuesday: Prayer the characteristic act of religion.-S. Matt. vii. 7-12; Eph. vi. 18.

Wednesday: The importance of self-examination as leading to self-knowledge.-Gal. vi. 3-5.

Thursday: Confession of sins to God the only condition of forgiveness.-1 John i. 5-10.

Friday: Forgiveness of sins comes from God through the blood of Christ.-Eph. i. 3-12.

Saturday: The ministry of reconciliation committed to the ministers, as Christ's ambassadors.-2 Cor. v. 18; S. John xx. 22, 23.

4th Sunday in Lent: The natural body of Christ the source of healings.-S. Matt. xiv. 34-36.

Monday: The spiritual body of Christ found in His Church.-Eph. i. 18-23.

Tuesday: The sacramental body of Christ, given to us in the Holy Communion.-1 Cor. x., 14-21.

Wednesday: Obedience the test of religion.-Rom. vi. 16-23.

Thursday: Self-indulgence the great obstacle to obedience.-S. Luke xvi. 19-31.

Friday: Self-renunciation the condition of service.-Acts xx. 17-24.

Saturday: Our Lord's example of obedience.-Phil. ii. 1-11; Heb. xii. 1-3.

5th Sunday in Lent: Suffering in the light of eternity.-Rev. vii. 9-17; 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18.

Monday: Suffering in the light of the Incarnation.-S. Matt. viii. 16, 17; Heb. iv. 14-16.

Tuesday: Christ still suffering in His people.-S. Matt. xxv. 34-46; Acts ix. 4.

Wednesday: Devotion to Christ the power of endurance.-Acts v. 40-42; Rom. viii. 35-39.

Thursday: Christ succouring those who suffer for Him.-Acts vii. 54-60; xxvii. 21-26.

Friday: Character disciplined by suffering.-Heb. x. 32-36; xii. 4-11.

Saturday: Suffering giving opportunity for sympathy.-Heb. xii. 12, 13; S. James i. 27; ii. 14-16.

6th Sunday in Lent: The resurrection of Christ, the basis of hope.-1 Thess. iv. 13-18.

Monday: The Holy Spirit the power of the risen life, here and hereafter.-Rom. viii. 5-11.

Tuesday: The communion of Saints in the one body of Christ.-Heb. xii. 1, 2, and 22-24.

Wednesday: The departed remembering us.-S. Luke xvi. 19-31; esp. v. 24; Rev. vi. 9.

Thursday: The glorious reward of faithful service.-S. Matt. xxv. 14-23.

Good Friday: What does the death of Christ mean to me?-S. John xix. 23-30.

Easter Eve: Am I showing the fruits of my Baptism by leading a risen life?-Rom. vi. 1-11.

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Footnotes

1 (return)

O.S. in Punch, November 4th, 1914. By kind permission of the Proprietors.

2 (return)

The Reveille, Bret Harte.

3 (return)

Dale on the Atonement.

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