Dare To Stand Alone

It is human to stand with the crowd; it is divine to stand alone.

It is manlike to follow the people, to drift with the tide; it is godlike to follow a principle, to stem the tide.

It is natural to compromise conscience and follow the social and religious fashion for the sake of gain or pleasure; it is divine to sacrifice both on the altar of truth and duty.

“No man stood with me, but all men forsook me,” wrote the battle-scarred apostle in describing his first appearance before Nero to answer for his life for believing and teaching contrary to the Roman world.

Noah built and voyaged alone. His neighbors laughed at his strangeness, and perished.

Abraham wandered and worshiped alone. The Sodomites smiled at the simple shepherd, followed the fashion, and fed the flames.

Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Jesus loved and died alone.

And of the lonely way his disciples should walk he said, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Of their treatment by the many who walk in the broad way he said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world,…therefore the world hateth you.”

The church in the wilderness praised Abraham and persecuted Moses. The church of the Kings praised Moses and persecuted the prophets. The church of Caiaphas praised the prophets and persecuted Jesus. The church of the popes praised the Saviour, and persecuted the saints. And multitudes now, in both the church and the world, applaud the courage and fortitude of the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and martyrs, but condemn as stubbornness or foolishness like faithfulness to truth to-day.

Wanted, to-day, men and women, young and old, who will obey their convictions of truth and duty at the cost of fortune and friends and life itself!

THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

The Church and the World walked far apart

On the changing shore of Time;

The world was singing a giddy song,

And the Church a hymn sublime.

"Come, give me your hand," cried the merry World,

"And walk with me this way;"

But the good Church hid her snowy hands,

And solemnly answered, "Nay;

I will not give you my hand at all,

And I will not walk with you;

Your way is the way to endless death;

Your words are all untrue."



"Nay, walk with me but a little space,"

Said the World with a kindly air;

"The road I walk is a pleasant road,

And the sun shines always there.

Your path is thorny, and rough, and rude,

And mine is broad and plain;

My road is paved with flowers and dews

And yours with tears and pain.

The sky above me is always blue;

No want, no toil, I know:

The sky above you is always dark,

Your lot is a lot of woe.

My path, you see, is a broad, fair one

And my gate is high and wide;

There is room enough for you and for me

To travel side by side."



Half shyly the Church approached the World,

And gave him her hand of snow;

The old World quick grasped it and walked along,

Saying in accents low;

"Your dress is too simple to please my taste;

I will give you pearls to wear,

Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,

And diamonds to deck your hair."

The Church looked down at her plain white robes

And then at the dazzling World,

And blushed as she saw his handsome lip

With a smile contemptuous curled..

"I will change my dress for a costlier one,"

Said the Church with a smile of grace:

Then the pure white garments drifted away,

And the World gave in their place

Beautiful silks and shining satins,

And roses and gems and pearls,

And over her forehead her bright hair fell,

Crisped in a thousand curls.

"Your house is too plain," said the proud old World;

"I’ll build you one like mine,

Carpets of Brussels, and curtains of lace

And furniture ever so fine."

So he built her a costly and beautiful house,

Splendid it was to behold;

Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there,

Gleaming in purple and gold;

And fairs and shows in the halls were held,

And the World and his children were there;

And laughter and music and feasts were heard

In the place that was meant for prayer.

She had cushioned pews for the rich and great

To sit in their pomp and pride;

While the poor folk, clad in their shabby suits,

Sat meekly down outside.



The Angel of Mercy flew over the Church,

And whispered, "I know thy sin:"

Then the Church looked back with a sigh and longed

To gather her children in;

But some were off at the midnight ball,

And some were off at the play,

And some were drinking in gay saloons,

So she quietly went her way.



Then the sly World gallantly said to her:

"Your children mean no harm,

Merely indulging in innocent sports;"

So she leaned on his proffered arm

And smiled and chatted and gathered flowers

As she walked along with the World;

While millions and millions of sorrowing souls

To eternal death were hurled.



"Your preachers are all too old and plain,"

Said the World to the Church with a sneer

"They frighten my children with dreadful tales,

Which I like not for them to hear.

They talk of brimstone and fire and pain

And the night of an endless death;

They talk of a place which may only be

Mentioned with bated breath.

I will send you some of the better stamp,

Brilliant and gay and fast,

Who will tell them that people may live as they choose

And go to heaven at last.

The Father is merciful, great and good,

Tender and true and kind;

Do you think he would take one child to heaven,

And leave the other behind?"



So he filled her house with gay divines,

Gifted and great and learned,

And the plain old men that preached the cross

Were out of her pulpits turned.

"You give too much to the poor," said the world,

"Far more than you ought to do;

If the poor need shelter and food and clothes,

Why need it trouble you?

Go, take your money and buy rich robes,

And horses and carriages fine,

And pearls and jewels and dainty foods,

And the rarest and costliest wine!

My children, they dote on all such things;

And if you their love would win,

You must do as they do and walk in the ways

That they are walking in."



Then the Church held tightly the strings of her purse

And gracefully lowered her head,

And whispered, "I've given too much away;

I'll do, sir, as you have said."

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,

And she drew her robes aside

As the widows went weeping on their way;

With all their needs denied,

And the sons of the world and the sons of the church

Walked closely hand and heart,

And only the Master who knoweth all

Could tell the two apart.

Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,

"I am rich, and with goods increased;

I have need of nothing, and naught to do

But to laugh and dance and feast."



And the sly World heard her and laughed up his sleeve,

And mockingly said aside;

"The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church

And her shame is her boast and pride."

The angel drew near to the mercy-seat,

And whispered in sighs her name,

And the saints their anthems of rapture hushed,

And covered their heads with shame.



Then a voice came down through the hush of heaven

From Him who sat on the throne:

"I know thy works, and how thou has said,

'I am rich,' and hast not known

That thou art naked, and poor, and blind,

And wretched before my face.

Unless thou repent I will cast thee out

And blot thy name from its place.

I counsel thee to buy of Me

The gold that will make you rich;

And anoint your eyes with the heavenly salve

To discern your Maker's wish."



Then the awakened Church with deep regret

From her worldly course returned;

She opened her heart to the knock of Christ

As His love in her bosom burned.

And gave her robes and forgave her sins,

And together they sat and supped;

His proffered throne He shared with her

For whom He had suffered much.

O Church of Christ, hear the Spirit's voice

As He calls through the world today.

Would that every church throughout the realm

Would turn from the world away.

The world will be lost in eternal night,

But the penitent saved for aye.

The Good Shepherd's Appeal

I WILL seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away." Eze.xxxiv,16

"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt.xi,28.

Why, O man, hast thou left me?

Why hast thou turned from Him that loved thee?

Why hast thou again joined thyself to thy enemy?

Remember that for thy sake I became flesh.

Remember that for thy sake I became poor.

Remember that for thy sake I was persecuted.

Remember that for thy sake I bore evil-speaking, reproaches, angry words, dishonor, wounds, spitting, blows, mockings, and bitter sufferings.

Remember that for thy sake I suffered a cruel death.

I was made low to exalt thee.

I was made poor to enrich thee.

I was dishonored to bring glory upon thee.

I was wounded to heal thee. I died that thou mightest have life.

Thou didst sin, and I took thy sin upon Myself.

Thou wast condemned to death, and I died for thee.

Dost thou despise my love. Instead of love, thou givest me hatred. Thou lovest sin, and not Me.

Thou laborest for thy passions, and not for Me.

Now what dost thou find in Me deserving of thy dislike?

Dost desire good for thyself? Every good is with Me.

Dost thou desire happiness? Every blessing is with Me.

Dost thou desire dignity? Who is more noble than the Son of God?

Dost thou seek exaltation? Who is higher than the King of heaven?

Dost thou desire wealth? I have all riches.

Dost thou desire wisdom? I am wisdom.

Dost thou desire friendship? Who is more worthy of love, and more loving than I? for I laid down My life for all.

Dost thou seek help? Who can help except Me?

Dost thou seek consolation in grief? Who can console except Me?

Dost thou seek rest? Come unto Me and I will give thee rest.

Dost thou seek peace? I am the peace of the soul.

Dost thou seek light? I am the light of the world.

Dost thou seek truth? I am the truth.

Dost thou seek the way? I am the way.

Dost thou seek a guide to heaven? I am the guide.

Why dost thou not wish to come unto Me?

Dost thou not dare to come? To whom is there an easier access?

Art thou fearful of asking? Whom coming unto Me with faith have I refused? Do thy sins hinder thee? I died for sinners. Does the multitude of thy sins distress thee? In Me is abundant mercy.

-Bishop Tehon.