A Sermon Preached on July 20, 1924, by the Rev. A. N.
Rowland in Union Church, Shanghai "The man (Nubal) was Sam, 25.3).
That is to say he had a certain form of bad temper. Now bad temper is asin that denies the dis-Cipline of Christ and makes room for- the devil. Temper is God's good gift to us, but like many others itis ensily spoiled. It may be short for sour, fiery or, gloomy, caustic oF obstinate, It may break out vage or keep smouldering on. But always it-makes for mischief and demoralization, and not least the Churl" is' historic word. Bes ing the old Saxon word for "man," it was applied by the Norman com querors to people who did not answer to the call of chivalry. Tt ime to signify a luck of manners refinement, coupled with indifference to high standard and the common ood. Rut "Time. brings its revenges," and when chivalry faded away it was found that the people in charge of affairs were chiefly those who were immersed in Dusiness, captured by the "cares of the world and the deceitCulness of riches." The poor have many faults, but they are not character Istically churlish. You are. like-Hiest to find Nabal to-day among those who have possessions and pro tensions, sometimes called the "nouveau riches."
The Ways of the East. beyond all rates and taxes, he is morally me debt to the public. He und perhaps flourishes by goodwill and credit, But sees no reason why he should contribute any of his own. He hates the pulpit to speak of these things, being anxious not to know the social bearings of the Gospel.
man buys a plot of land, let us sny, and a 100,000. neighbours come to live about it. Its value ces up. a hundred-fold in. consequence. Is he not indebted to the community? Not that the unearned movement should be taken from him, but if he does not use it in the public interest he deserves to los, It, Or take a case that is not touched by. treatises on political economy. A lady, let us suppose, marries 4 man who has the art of getting' on, and by reason of his standing in public or commercial life she has pretty well all she wants and a Inrge measure of recognition und esteem an well, Is this-a ground for arrogance, and does it not occur to her that by the superiority of her fortune she the more a debtor? What she can give Is not a question of charity Dut of justice, and should be offer-fed with w humble heart.
Now these principles are fundamental to the Christian faith, yet there are nouveau riches and their The story of Nabal is vivid enowseh, Dut it might be mi sun if youd from a Western st David the uncrowned chief makes a requisition upon him with all polite-, ness, But why should he ive ent to this prince of bandits how ever debonair? should a peaceful farmer be held up to rane for his riches? that Nabal was a man, But the truth is diffe In East and West there ix a common sense of obligation to the sen food in proportion to the bene-received. Society issu kind of igurance against the evils of unregulared selfishness, It secures that man keeps What he hus, and if he has much more shall be given, for which security he must make some return.
This is where Bust und Wi Aiverge. It is the mark of the that rates and taxes are puld for safety and for maintenance. But the East the method is different though the principle is the same. There is no stable government to Pay officials and to seuarantee secur: ity and justice. But the farmer makes his terms with wherever he can find turn for protection pays in hospitality and. tribute.
Here isan SMlustration from Fire and Sword in the Soudan."
Hospitality in Dari those troubled days that culminated in the heroic venture of Chinese Gordon, Slatin Pasha set out on a march against Sultan Harun with 200 blacks und some Turkish horsemen, when he discovered they had brought no rations His Soudanese staff reassured him Aunkers who look upon them with credulity and prefer to keep eompany in spirit Nabal the churl. Iv only remains then to consider the consequences of this disposition us given in this old ror of social life.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.