: The Potter and the Clay by Winnington Ingram Arthur F Arthur Foley - Church of England Sermons; World War 1914-1918 Sermons; Sermons English 20th century

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WHAT A GIRL CAN DO IN A DAY OF GOD 179

THE EFFECT OF THE HOLY GHOST ON HUMAN CHARACTER 199

THE WAR AND RELIGION 213

Now it is clear that this power is not yet destroyed, and to make peace while it lasts is to betray our dead, and to leave it to the children still in the cradle to do the work over again, if, indeed, it will be possible for them to do it if we in our generation fail.

This book, then, is an answer to the question asked me very often during the past two years, and very pointedly from the trenches this very Christmas Day: "How can you reconcile your belief in a good GOD, who is also powerful, with the continuance of this desolating War? How can we still believe the Christian message of Peace on earth with War all around?"

It is with the hope that this book may comfort some mourning hearts, and bring some light to doubting minds, that I send forth "The Potter and the Clay."

A. F. LONDON.

I

THE POTTER'S VESSEL

Preached at St. Giles's, Cripplegate. The argument in this sermon, stated shortly during dinner-hour in a City church, is developed at length in the lecture which comes last in this book.

"Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear My words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."--JER. xviii. 2-4.

I suppose there is no metaphor in Holy Scripture that has been so much misunderstood and led to more mischief than this metaphor of the potter and the clay. Do not you know how, if any of us dared to vindicate the ways of GOD to men, again and again we were referred to the words of St. Paul: "Who art thou that repliest against GOD? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it: Why hast Thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" And so the offended human conscience was silenced but not satisfied. There is no doubt that the monstrous misrepresentation of Christianity which we call Calvinism arose chiefly from this metaphor; and few things have done more harm to the religion of the world than Calvinism. Those who believe that GOD is an arbitrary tyrant who simply works as a potter is supposed to work on clay, irrespective of character or any plea for mercy--how can such a person love GOD, or care for GOD, or wish to go to church or even pray? You cannot do it!

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