IN WHOM SHALL WE TRUST?
By W. N. G.
POPE LEO XIII. sustains an army of 600 men to guard himself and the Vatican, and to keep up the dignity of a temporal kingdom. He poses as the vicar of Christ on earth, and the successor of Peter. But Jesus went everywhere among the people, and spoke openly, knowing that the rulers of the Jews were plotting against his life all the time. Where was his army of protection? We find an answer in Gethsemane. Jesus was there arrested by a mob—"a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people." He knew that the next day his life would be sacrificed on the cross. If ever he needed protection it was then. "Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I can not now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" Matt. 26: 50-53. Here was an army of angels at his command, but he did not even ask for them. Think of a professed vicegerent or representative of Christ depending upon an army of men! or upon human law or power for the furtherance of the interests of his cause. When he was about to ascend into heaven, he commissioned his disciples to carry on the work in the earth which he had begun, saying to them, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore." Did they need any more power, or any further guarantee?—Surely no more could be asked. Would their successors need any further assurance?—If they would, here it is: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the earth." But where was Peter's temporal kingdom, his Vatican, and his human guard of armed men? His writings are silent in regard to them. He too was in Gethsemane, and he had a sword, and used it on one man. But we hear no more of it after the Lord told him to put it up. No more human army, no more carnal weapons for Peter. He had other business on hand, as we learn from his words "to them that have obtained like precious faith:"— "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless." 2 Peter 3: 11-14. Nowhere does Peter suggest the idea of self-defense on the part of any Christian. On the contrary, he says, "If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." How different from his assumed successor, who deems it the duty not only of the church, but of earthly kingdoms to fight all his alleged injuries, and sustain his claims to both spiritual and temporal sovereignty! Peter's understanding of the Christian's position was that it was one of humble submission to actual wrong. "For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: . . . who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself [not to the forces of temporal power, but] to him that judgeth righteously." See 1 Peter 2: 20-23. Peter had no time to build up something to be dissolved with fervent heat. He was hasting the coming of something permanent; a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth not carnal controversy, but peace; not a strife for temporal power, but righteousness. It would be well for Leo XIII. and all others to remember those words of Jesus: "All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Let us also remember the words of David: "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from mine enemies." Ps. 18: 1, 2.