Broken Bread Part 15

x.x.xIX. NO BALLOT-BOX.

We see that certain politicians are busy trying to convince those who have any fear upon the matter, that it is easy for them to vote in such a way that no one can possibly find out for which side they have given in their vote. It is positively secret voting. Very likely this is as it should be, still it is a sad disgrace that such a thing should be at all necessary, and does not speak well for human nature. Why should it not be possible for men to vote openly? Because some who have done so have had to suffer loss. Is not this a blot upon our civilization, to say nothing of our Christianity?

But while it may be right that men should have the chance of voting secretly in Parliamentary matters, whether they be Conservatives or Liberals, we contend there should be no ballot-box for the election in which men settle whether Jesus or Satan should govern the world. There are sadly too many, who are like Joseph of Arimathaea, disciples, but secretly for fear.

WE WANT NO SECRET VOTES.

Say right out which side you are for. If this were the case, there would be a large number of absentees from public wors.h.i.+p next Sabbath; whole pews would be empty because there is not one of the usual tenants who loves G.o.d, and yet they dare not say openly, I am for the Devil. On the other hand, if some were to say what is in their hearts, they would have to leave the dinner-tables where filthy jokes are bandied about, there being no women present. And in some workshops and mills, men and women would have to speak out at the cost of ridicule and scorn. Yes, speak out, when they hear that which is opposed to truth and purity made the subject of daily conversation.

"STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS!"

we often sing in our meetings, and yet some who sing these words are craven in the presence of the foe. We should do well to take the advice of the same song when it says,

"LET COURAGE RISE WITH DANGER,"

We should think that man unfit for a soldier's life who was not ready to unfurl his country's flag, and let it be known for whom he is fighting.

What is the position of those who read this paper? Do you, in your heart, believe that Jesus has the right to reign? Then shew it! Lose no time to put on Christ! Let all men see that you believe in the righteousness of our cause. Do not hide the love you have for Jesus. Let not your chance of being honourably wounded pa.s.s by. In heaven, should you reach it, there will be no opportunity of suffering for Him who loved you to the death.

GIVE YOUR VOTE IN PUBLIC,

then, when we have won the election, you will not have to regret that you came out too late to be of use.

XL. "WHAT CHRISTIANS MAY LEARN FROM POLITICIANS."

Many a time, during an election, we have wished that we could see the church of G.o.d as much in earnest to send men to heaven as they are to send those they vote for to Parliament. It must strike some of the unG.o.dly, when they have Christian men at them day and night

CANVa.s.sING,

not taking No as an answer, but doing their utmost to win them--How is it that this Christian, who knows that I never attend a place of wors.h.i.+p, has not shown one-hundredth part of this zeal to get me to go to chapel or to begin to pray? Is he not likely to think;--after all, he does not believe his Bible, or he could not be as careless about my soul as he is?

Men of business have no time to seek the souls of the lost; that is parson's work; that must be left to Sunday;--and yet, we have seen, during the election, keen, clever business men, up and down stairs, calling on their neighbours, and making sure that they have given their vote on the right side, and this in addition to many a visit paid since the candidates were selected, and the time drew nigh for getting them returned.

How freely they bear ridicule! Men who would blush to talk of religion do not hesitate to be sneered at for the sake of their party, wearing their colour and priding themselves on their opinions. We have nothing to say against this. Men ought to have the courage of their opinions, but why not own up and play the man for Jesus Christ?

We should like to know what the election has cost for

PRINTING.

Many thousands of pounds have been spent, and spent freely, without a grudge, for placards and cartoons. Any man who had a new idea in the shape of a striking advertis.e.m.e.nt could have it adopted by his party, regardless of cost. All this, too, we don't object to, but we say that if any of us Evangelists wanted to spend a small proportion of this amount in trying to get men and women to come to G.o.d's house during a Mission, there would be a tremendous outcry against his

EXTRAVAGANCE!

One interesting feature in this matter is the large number of

PRIVATE CARRIAGES

used to convey voters to the poll. It was very amusing to see some of the men riding in state, in the custody of the owner of the carriage! It was good to tell they had not been used to it, and felt that they were on their good behaviour. What struck some of us was the readiness of ladies and gentlemen to lend their vehicles for this purpose. We can have no possible objection to this, but we wonder what would be said to us if we counselled them to send their carriages to bring the aged and feeble to the house of G.o.d? We should be told that we had no idea of the fitness of things. This would be true if heaven were less than earth, and politics of more importance than religion.

It is a queer world, and we wonder sometimes if the time will ever come when men shall believe their Bibles as much as their newspapers? As we have seen during the last few days, professing Christians of the most apathetic order, going half wild about Whigs and Tories, we have said to ourselves,

WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?

DON'T FLATTER THE DEVIL!

ACTS, xvii.

We read that the Apostle "was grieved" to hear this possessed woman speaking favourably of him and his companion. He could not bear for it to be even suspected that his mission was tolerated by the devil. Her masters made money by her wrongdoing, and he would not have their patronage. He and Silas were happier in the cell, sore and hungry as they were, than in listening to the praise given by the evil one!

It is better to have frowns than favour from those who are opposed to truth and righteousness. Let Evangelists and such like,

BEWARE OF THE FAVOUR OF THE WICKED.

Do not seek the smiles of those who live by wrong doing. We shall never cast out the devil while conniving at his crimes. It is not by popularity that we win our greatest victories. Paul had no converts he prized more than those who formed the Church in the town where he had been in jail. Let those of us who love an easy and painless life think of his words--

"IF WE SUFFER WE SHALL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM."

XLI. A SERMON ON A TEXT NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE.

MR. JUSTICE GROVES.--"_Men go into the Public-house respectable_, _and come out felons_."

My text, as you see, my dear readers, is not taken from the Bible. It does not, however, contradict the Scriptures, but is in harmony with some, such as "WOE UNTO HIM THAT GIVETH HIS NEIGHBOUR DRINK." Habakkuk ii. 15; "WOE UNTO THEM THAT RISE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, THAT THEY MAY FOLLOW STRONG DRINK."--Isaiah v. 11. "TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES LEST AT ANY TIME YOUR HEARTS BE OVERCHARGED WITH SURFEITING AND DRUNKENNESS."--Luke xxi. 34. "BE NOT AMONG WINEBIBBERS."--Proverbs xxiii. 20.

THE STATEMENT OF THE TEXT IS LIKELY TO BE TRUE,

as it was spoken by an English Judge, and given as the result of long observation, and of hearing evidence given upon oath. What is more likely to be true than a declaration from the Bench? and as such it deserves the attention of every one of us. Let us then consider

(I.)--IF THIS STATEMENT BE TRUE, THE PUBLIC-HOUSE SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

We are quite willing to allow that a certain amount of enjoyment can be obtained in these places. Once acquire the taste, and drink gives pleasure to the palate, and produces, in a very short time, a kind of joy. Men who are in business difficulties can forget their creditors.

Those who have lost friends by death can forget the ties of affection.

Scolding wives are left at home, and a smiling face receives the money spent, for the landlady is real good to those who have the coin. But on the other hand, are not these drinkers paying too dear for their gladness? Is it not a kind of delirium that shuts out the facts of the case? Will not the creditor call for his money? Will you not wake up to greater loneliness than ever? Will you have taken the edge off the woman's tongue by spending the money she needs for the family? Are you not buying temporary insanity at so much a gla.s.s?

Are you not running a fearful risk of becoming a criminal? I know of a little beershop where murders have been hatched, and that in a quiet rural village! Do not men go primed with drink to rob and slay? Do not wife-beaters get their inspiration at the public-house? Is not gambling fostered in the bar parlour? Do you tell me that you are not likely to become a thief, or a murderer? So others have said whom we have known, once as decent and quiet as you. Besides, if you keep out of the hands of the police, you will have to take your trial some day for robbing G.o.d, and for soul murder! In the public-house you learn to do all this.