LORD HALIFAX nicknamed a certain class of politicians Trimmers. He himself was a most prominent example of the class, their creed being to make friends with either party as it suited their convenience. Though it remained for an English statesman to apply the term Trimmers to this class, they have existed from very ancient times.
When Christ was here on earth they were known as Herodians. Jews though they were by nationality, they curried favor with their oppressors the Romans. Favor with Caesar was more to them than the downfall of a just man.
They thought to put the Lord into a corner, and gain a passing popularity through their craftiness. They asked Him, Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or no?” (Luke 20:2222Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? (Luke 20:22).)
He replied, “Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?”
They reply, “Caesar’s.”
Then came the convicting, crushing reply, which put them into a corner, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.”
“They could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.” No wonder! His reply could not be construed by even unscrupulous partisans into disloyalty or treason to Caesar; nor to the God from whom He came, and whom He represented. Nay more, the very fact of God’s ancient heritage being ridden over rough-shod by the iron heel of Rome, was the proof that His people had failed to render to God the things that were His. Hence their punishment.
These too are days when politics are to the front. Men are very busy taking their part in the national life; especially are these the days when the working man takes a deep interest in the social problems of the day, and when he is gaining a far-reaching influence and power.
Better hours of labor, better homes to dwell in, free schools, direct representation in the House of Commons and the municipal institutions of the country, nationalization of the land, the railways, &c.―these and more are the aims he sets before himself. He is intensely in earnest about the matter, and thinks a life time is not too long to spend in forwarding such schemes.
But I have a word to say to him. It is not in my province to either approve or disapprove of the various schemes before him, which he fondly hopes will introduce the working-man’s millennium. But I have this to say to him. Suppose you cram Parliament with labor members, suppose you abolish the House of Lords, and pass every desire of your hearts by a vast majority, and inscribe all the reforms you are striving for upon the statute-book, what about your soul? You are quickly traveling to eternity. Your Acts of Parliament may do much for you in time, but they cannot affect eternity. You cannot abolish death; and “after death the judgment,” Scripture says.
Oh, man! earnest enough about social reforms for time, think of your precious soul, of your sins―so great, so many, ―of the great white throne, and the awful eternity before each godless, Christless sinner.
Nay, let not Satan hoodwink you. Your House of Commons cannot shut the gates of hell, nor open the door of heaven for you. Your precious, priceless soul is hurrying on the wings of time to eternity. “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Answer that question thoughtfully and earnestly.
And in passing, let me tell you the blessed God has His eye on the tyranny and the injustice of the powerful. Hear what He says to the class which you would call nowadays sweaters: ― “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth” (James 5:1-41Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. (James 5:1‑4)). Yes; you had better by far be the “sweated” than the “sweater.”
God will put everything right. There’s a good time coming―a millennium, ―not the working-man’s, but Christ’s. He is coming to put down tyranny and injustice, and rule the nations in righteousness; but, my friend, if you want to be associated with Him then, if you want a part in that millennium, you must make friends with Him now; for we read:— “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha,”―that is, “accursed at his coming.” “If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him.”
I know we are told Christ was a great moral reformer, a great socialist; and Socialism today patronizes Christ for its own ends. There is, however, no love in its creed for Christ; wad its followers, I am sadly afraid, will fall at His coming under the withering curse of those who love Him not.
His mission to this earth was not that of reform, but something deeper by far than that.
“His errand to the earth was love,
To wretches such as we!
To pluck us from the jaws of death,
Nailed to the accursed tree.”
Oh, man! in love He stripped Himself of His heavenly glory, and stooped to earth, becoming not some mighty prince―stoop as that would have been―but the reputed son of a working man, till thirty years of age! He came into our estate and condition to win our love and confidence, and He died upon Calvary’s cross; so that, putting away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, God could come out in the boundless love of His heart, and bring believing sinners into His holy presence, and give them not merely the joys of an earthly millennium, but heavenly glory, and the joys of His presence and love forever.
As to the believer, he can say, “Our conversation (commonwealth, or politics) is IN HEAVEN; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ;” and if Caesar has his laws obeyed, and his rates and taxes paid, he gets his due; and the believer is left free in a world that cast out Christ, to seek to “render unto God the things which be God’s.”
One word in conclusion, unknown reader. Do not for worlds put aside the warning thus thrust into your hands. Your eternity is at stake. God speaks in love to your precious soul. This moment “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
Here we separate. Farewell! Shall we meet in glory, praising the same Saviour? or will you pursue the path you are treading, till it lands you in a lost, despairing eternity?
“Return, O wanderer, to thy home,
‘Tis madness to delay;
There are no pardons in the tomb,
And brief is mercy’s day.
Return! Return!”
A. J. P.