Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
unflinchingly stand up for God and right and truth. Such a
man loses nothing from man or God, in the long run.
589. Tell me not of neutrality; it is out of the question. Ah!
here is a case of neutrality upon record in this book: "Curse ye
Meroz!" Why? What had the people done to expose themselves
to this bitter malediction? Had they taken up arms
against Jehovah ? No ! Had they gone over to the enemy, and
fought against the chosen people? No! What, then, had they
done? Nothing! Their neutrality was their crime. "Because
they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord
against the mighty." Dr. Newton.
590. "We are either for or against the Christ. Some seem
unable to see this. Perhaps an illustration will help them.
Should you stop on a street of one of our large cities and stand
long, gazing into the shop-windows, a policeman would tap you
on the shoulder, and say, 'Move on.' If you asked him why,
he would tell you that you were obstructing traffic. You tell
him you are not interfering with any one, but he answers that,
while you do not mean to do it, you are interfering with every
one on the crowded thoroughfare. And so there are many men
who, if they would move on to the Christ, would be followed
by others ; but, so long as they stand in the way, these, also,
refuse to go forward."
591. Canon Newbolt, of St. Paul's, London, says : "Of
all
hopeless things, the attempt to be neutral is the most hopeless.
The great Italian poet, that disdainful soul, brings to bear all
his power of contempt on those whom he describes as despised
both of heaven and hell—men who strove to be neutral, who
lived without infamy and without praise, mingled with those
neutral angels who were neither for God nor for his enemies,
but were, as he said, for themselves." The world is always
demanding of the Christian either alliance or open war. Men
may attempt to mark off neutral territory between Christ and
the world, but there is in fact none. F. C. Ottman.
592. Pythagoras, being asked what he was, answered that if
Hiero were ever at the Olympian games, he knew the manner
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