ON MODERN UNREST AND THE BIBLE. 



351 



German influences and the proposed Baghdad Railway is carried 

 to the Persian Gulf, our relations with Persia are threatened 

 and a new danger will confront the Government of India. 



The natural saviour of the Christian populations, groaning 

 under Moslem intolerance, is Protestant Germany acting with 

 Austria-Hungary. For a free hand in South-Eastern Europe, 

 Germany might be willing to leave the Baghdad Railway 

 and the Euphrates-Tigris Irrigation Projects to be constructed 

 by Jew^ish capitalists, and to resign Mesopotamia to British 

 influences as France resigned Egypt. The Mahomedan grip on 

 the lands of the Bible must soon relax, and thus the w^ay for 

 the return of the Jews is made open. What can remedy the 

 situation at home ? What can save the young native churches ? 

 What can bring peace to the distracted nations ? One simple 

 act of justice. In all these con dieting policies focussing on 

 Mesopotamia may be seen the Hand of God, lifted up to the 

 nations, to gather the Jews out of all countries and bring them 

 into their own land. (Isa. xlix, 22 ; Ezek. xxxvi, 24.) The 

 brothers fell not out by the way, because Benjamin was with 

 them, and Benjamin reminded them of Joseph. The restoration 

 of this people, without ambassador to plead their cause, without 

 an army to enforce their claim, will remind the world of Christ, 

 how He leads captivity captive, and, as the world looks on, faith 

 will return to mankind, that nation shall not Lift up sword 

 ag;ainst nation, neither shall thev learn war anv more." As 

 soon as the nations do the will of God, faith compels the fulfil- 

 ment of the Promise : " My Presence shall go with thee, and I 

 will give thee Rest." (Exod. xxxiii, 14.) 



Recent wars have brought about the cultivation of the 

 physical energies of our youth. In face of present day teaching 

 that war is necessary to keep an imperial people fit, and of the 

 dramatic use of the mailed fist by various governments, this is 

 wise. But let it be remembered that the Philistines excelled 

 in drill and equipment and numbers the little army of Israel, 

 as did the Midianites, the 300 men with Gideon. The victory 

 was gained by reason of that strange fear which grips men 

 when they recognize that they are fighting against an unseen 

 power. The Old Testament is a continuous story of the 

 impotence of physical force against spiritual protection. 

 Heathen grasped this truth, when, for example, they attributed 

 the storm which wrecked Aeneas on the coast of Carthage to 

 Juno ; just as the King of Spain did, when he said he had sent 

 his Armada to fight men not Aeolus. 



It may be replied, that too much importance is attached to 



