Page 4 Advertisements Column 3

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 264, 3 August 1929, Page 4

RELIGIOUS SERVICES. METHODIST CHURCH OF N.Z. yyESLEY CHURCH, TARANAKI ST. Minister: REV, T. R. RICHARDS. Morning, at 11 —“The Sin of Angei (No. 2). Evening, at 7— “Efficiency," Special Service for Young People. (Communion.) Anthem —“In Humble Faith” and “Holy Love” (by Garnett). Preacher at Both Services: REV. T. R. RICHARDS. "yiVIAN ST. BAPTIST CHURCHREV. F. E. HARRY Preaches. Morning at 11: “Men Ought Always to Pray, and Not to Faint.” Evening at 7: “A Memorable Feast. Is That All?” 8.0: Communion Service. Responsive Readings at each Service. All Believers Welcomed at Communion. (JAILORS’ FRIEND SOCIETY b CHURCH AND INSTITUTE, Whitmore Street. Services at 11 and 7.. Preacher: Mr. James Moore (Missioner). Subject 1: “Mindful." Subject 2: “Words, Words, THE WORDS.” Soloist: Miss Kathleen Ferris. Song Service, 8.30. The Orchestra will lead. THE CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN A- (Liberal Catholic), . 19 Marion Street. TENTH SUNDAyTaFTER TRINITY. HOLY EUCHARIST, SUNDAY, 11 a.m. MARANATHA (i.e., OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS COMING). CHRIST OR CHAOS? WE shall never forget the occasion ’’ when the fateful announcement was made at the steps of the Parliamentary Buildings on August 4, 1914: A state of war exists between Britain and Germany.” The late Mr. Massey, quoting from Psalm 121, reminded the people of New Zealand, “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” It was almost common knowledge that Mr. Massey was a strong believer in British Israelism. He believed that our nation could claim racial relationships with the ten tribes of Israel, therefore we could expect to receive the national blessings promised to Abraham and his seed. Whilst we reject much that is advanced in support of this “ism,” we are not unmindful of what is written in the Epistle to the Galatians, “that they which are of Faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Also, it is writen, if ye be Christ’s, then are, ye Abraham s seed.” On these grounds we can claim the blessings promised to Israel. The late Lord Rosebery declared “that the Puritans were the greatest breed our little (British) isles produced.” A remarkable tribute, this, paid to these mighty Englanders by so illustrious a Scotsman. It was the Puritans who laid the foundations of our Empire, lhe foundation stone upon which they built was the Rock Christ Jesus, ana the Word. These men knew God, and were given a remarkable understanding of the Scriptures. They set their hearts upon God, and received His Son, and with Him the relationship of the New Covenant. They were characterised by a faith which was of a national character, and were favoured with national blessings for national purposes. They had clear understanding when God gave them footing in India (for it was the Puritans who founded the great East India Company), that His purpose was that they should witness for Him. As a token of the Covenant relationship, the Puritans dedicated the first day of the week for the worship and service of God. A Statute was drafted by the learned Puritan jurists of the seventeenth century, and a special Act of Parliament passed that the Day was. to be observed as holy unto God, ■ and sanctified as being that upon which the Lord Jesus rose again from the dead. There was no confusion in their minds about the Sabbath Day which was Jewish and belonged to the Old Covenant, nor was it observed after the custom of the Roman Catholic Church. The British Lord’s Day observance has been a unique thing. By this Act our nation has professed herself a Christian nation. She has inherited the blessings that would have been Israel’s according to the flesh had the latter received Christ as their Messiah. We hope that Sir Robert Stout will read these lines. He has, we fear, never apprehended the Divine Personality. He has probably never experienced the wonderful inspiration and confidence that animated those great hearts of the Puritan period. They deserved something far better than the disparaging reference Sir Robert made of them a few weeks back. The Scriptures he quoted had no bearing whatsoever upon the Lord’s Day. l.hey could be used, we have no doubt, against the observance of saints’ days. Apart from the special mention in the Scriptures of the first day of the week, wc know from the celebrated letter of Pliny that the Christians from Apostolic times met for worship on the first day of the week. Surely we are living in an evil day when the splendid heritage won for us at the immense cost of the Precious Blood of God’s, Dear Son, and that of His martyrs, is despised. Men refuse to-day to devote the first day of the week to worship God, to spend it in holy tations, and in service for Him. This generation has no time for God. Organ’ ised Christianity is undoubtedly also drifting. The greatest need of the hour is for a revived national faith in God. There must be an awakening of the redemptive value of the Cross of Christ. A part of the rich inheritance won for us by Christ is that without any human intervention a man may talk to God; through Christ he has the glorious right and privilege of free access to God. We now mention for the first time a fact concerning Mr. Massey. A friend had this from the lips of a gentleman who had asked Mr. Massey if he thought the League of Nations would be successful in establishing world-peace. His reply was, “No.” Mr. Massey based his opinion upon the prophecy contained in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 38. We strongly support this view ourselves. Russia, Germany, and Turkey are, we think, indicated and described as coming down with immense armies upon Palestine restored to Israel. The forces that come to the help of Israel mentioned in verse 13 have been identified as a. combination with Britain and the Dominions. It may be some years yet before this colossal struggle takes place. The present trouble in Egypt, we suspect, has been brought about by Mussolini. We received it from almost a first-hand source that Mussolini has a bitter hatred of our nation. He is doing his best to wrest Malta from us, and to weaken Britain as much as he can in the Mediterranean. The prospects of world-wide peace for a month, or a year, are poor, indeed. If there is not a mighty turning to God, a remembrance and acknowledgment of the wonderful deliverance granted to us nationally in the Great War, then we shall have national chastisement. Our national prosperity and our security are bound up with a national faith in God. The fact of the Atonement must be the basis of our faith. May God give to us such a faith that keeps us even in time of alarm from being panic-stricken, that keeps us in the day of storm and cloud steadfast and’ persistent, full of determination that righteousness alone shall exalt the nation. We trust that He will not need to send us another shaking to remind us of His power and of His anger. Wc wish to express on this, the fifteenth anniversary of the outbreak of the war, our profound gratitude and thanks to Almighty God for the wonderful deliverance vouchsafed to our nation. To God be all the glory. We are looking confidently to the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. An esteemed Baptist Minister has just reminded us that there are few things In life of -which we say “surely,” but said he, Our Lord has .said “Surely, I come quickly.” Marana tha.