From a sermon by R. Meiklejohn,
Canon of Norwich Cathedral
Norwich, England

There was much about the nineteenth century which made for complacent optimism. The long peace after the Napoleonic wars; the vast increase of trade and wealth and population as the result of the Industrial Revolution; the many and profitable discoveries of science which were harnessed to new undertakings—these things all made for a sense of security and for the conviction that, with the years, man's onward march in peace, prosperity, and well-being would continue unchecked. In the popular mind, at least, the theory of evolution seemed to mean that progress was inherent in the very nature of things; and that mankind must roll gloriously and serenely along to the Utopia of its dreams.

As the result of bitter and humiliating experience, the twentieth century has been compelled to reverse this verdict. It has been discovered that progress is not a quality of matter, but of mind: that it has little or nothing to do with the cosmic process (whatever that may be) but everything to do with character, and with the spiritual substance of men and women: that it is something which arises out of the soul rather than out of the soul's environment. The center of gravity in these matters has now been shifted from what is without to what is within. No longer do we look hopefully forward to some inevitable unfolding of ultimate perfection. The "Lo here" and "Lo there" of our expectant forebears has been replaced by the recognition of the truth that the kingdom of God is within. Without God, without the Christian way of life, without character, all is vanity and vexation of spirit and the distant prospect is bleak and grim.

The progress of mankind therefore and the course of the yet unknown future depends, more perhaps than we have been willing to admit, upon us, upon every Christian man and woman, upon all who ...have been pledged to be Christ's faithful soldiers and servants to their life's end.

And as and when we put our hand to this task and realize our oneness with the creative work of God, all our doubts, uncertainties, and fears are banished for ever. All internal discords are resolved for those who are in harmony with the divine purpose. We shall never again feel that sense of frustration which so often comes from infirmity of purpose. We shall never again shrink from such sacrifices of time and energy as the task may demand. The way that lies before us may be straight and narrow, but at least we know, beyond am per-adventure, that it is the only way for us. For in God's will—not only in the accepting of it, but in the doing of it—is our peace.

From an editorial in
the Gospel Witness and
Protestant Advocate
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

It is the Christian's ... fear of God which makes him fearless of every foe. That fear of God, which, translated into New Testament speech, is faith in Christ, is the only foundation upon which the holy temple of a godly character may he reared; that is the only anchor which will hold in the storm; that is the only power which can take a man through this world of sin with clean garments and enable him to say at last, "So did not I, because of the fear of God, because of the faith of Christ."

Nothing else will hold us to our course in our search for truth. Columbus had never discovered the New World if he had been without compass or star to guide him. And he who is driven about with every wind of doctrine will never touch the golden shores of the continent of truth. To cut loose from all the old moorings, and sail without compass, chart, or captain, is not independence: it is sheer madness.... While others look elsewhere for light and truth, be it ours to say, "So do not I, because of the fear of God."

Earl L. Douglass in The Times Toledo, Ohio

A vine in Hampton Court for many years disappointed the gardener's expectation. It was a puny vine, producing very few grapes. Suddenly in one year it had an astonishing growth, and after that produced an abundant crop. The gardener, wishing to find out the reason for this remarkable change, began to lay bare its roots, and to his amazement found that they extended a long distance until they tapped a nearby spring.

[Christ] Jesus spoke of himself as a well of water springing up unto eternal life. When men find that well, their lives begin to grow in an astonishing fashion.

They have been satisfied with their growth up to that time, and the world indeed may have been satisfied with it, but when the roots of a man's life reach out and tap the spiritual resources of the eternal, something new begins to happen not only with reference to his peace of mind, but especially with reference to his fruitfulness. His harvest is no longer puny, but plentiful. He has found that abundant source of life which enables him to bring forth a harvest of sixty or a hundredfold.

Our lives are spiritually weak not because God is indifferent to our needs, but because we have not spread out the roots of our lives until we have tapped the sources of His power.