GREAT WORKS VS. REAL CHARACTER.
By W. N. Glenn
When we read or hear of King James, of England, we are apt to think of the Bible. This is because it was by his order that fifty learned men of his kingdom revised the English translation of the Bible, and produced the version now most commonly used. But he was not the great or good man that might be supposed by those who think of him only as having caused the Bible to be translated for the people. That was indeed a very great work, but here is an incident which shows how much more of the real character of the king than does his famous order for Bible revision:— King James was very fond of hunting, too fond for his own good and the comfort of his retainers. He would choose some part of his country for a grand “hunting bout,” and there lead the chase day after day, through muddy fields and dripping woods, across wide stretches of heather land and tangled swamps, over ditches and fences, from the death of one poor hare to that of another, until his troop of followers were exhausted, as well as the patience and supplies of his subjects who entertained him. His favorite hound was named Jowler. In one of these “hunting bouts” Jowler was missed. The king was greatly vexed at his loss, but the next day Jowler came back to his master with a piece of paper tied to his collar, on which was written:— Good Mr. Jowler, we pray you speak to the king—for he hears you every day, and so doth he not us—that it will please his majesty to go back to London, or else the country will be undone; all our provision is spent, and we are not able to entertain him any longer. The fact that God uses men in furthering his purposes in the earth is not evidence that the general characters of such instruments are pleasing to him, or that they will be saved in his kingdom. We have notable examples in Balaam, the recreant prophet, and Saul, the first king of Israel. “The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men;” but, unless they individually recognize their need of a Saviour, and develop individual characters in the likeness of the character of the humble Nazarene, they can have no place in the everlasting kingdom. “Except a man be born again [margin, ‘from above’], he can not see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3.