EPIDEMICS, at times, occasion very great mortality (Ps. 107, 18). In some regions more than double the ordinary. Even such that grave-diggers have had to ask help and undertakers were not equal to their somber task.
And far greater yet, comparatively, is then the number of the sick. In one village, as reported, there were two thousand confined to their beds, while there were but a little over one thousand left, who were not stricken.
This might make a deep impression, you would say. Fear will come upon an entire population. The joy-fires of sensual pleasure will be extinguished. A call will go out on every hand for a day of fasting and prayer!
And yet, the state of the public mind does not respond to this expectation. Newspapers indeed are full of the plague when it goes around. It is the subject of common conversation. It is not laughed at nor ridiculed as has been done before. But as by a higher power the population is by no means impressed.
At least he who has witnessed in the place of his habitation a serious cholera—or smallpox—epidemic, and still vividly remembers what terror and fear had taken hold of every heart, will readily have to confess, that while now an occasional note of deeper seriousness is struck, heartfelt emotion on the part of the masses is not in evidence.
And do you ask, how to explain this just think of the incredibly great number of cases, in proportion to which the number of deaths seems so small.
When cholera was about, sometimes more than half the number of cases was fatal; with La Grippe at most one in fifty.
Thus danger is less pronounced. By far the most that are taken, recover.
Another cause of the lesser emotion is, that this plague does not have that frightfulness, that violence, that hideousness in its method of attack. As long as it does not infect the lungs, it is mostly even very light.
Psychologically therefore it is altogether explainable, that with the masses there is no deep stirring of emotion.
Something about which he alone makes complaint, who with great epidemics over-estimated the merit of such emotion.
For then, when suddenly every voice of gladness was silenced, and sensual pleasure was done for, and churches could not hold the multitudes, the man of superficial judgment, took this for conversion, and deemed himself able to prophesy better times for the Kingdom of God.
But scarcely did the plague abate, but this prophecy proved false; and no sooner was the danger past, but it seemed, that the astonished multitudes were bent upon making good past losses, so wildly did wantonness break out again.
And yet, what was this reaction from the unnatural austerity other than natural?
No; “sorrow toward God” is yet something altogether different from fear of the smiting hand of God.
Terror of possible death before the day is over works no true conversion.
All that threatens from without, remains outside of the kernel of the life of our soul. And as in the midst of shipwreck the sailor calls upon God, and presently, when saved, drinks himself drunk again with a curse upon his lips, so is also the multitude that knows not God, and yet momentarily has trembled before His Majesty.
BUT it is different with persons, young and old, who indeed have long been regenerated, and have never been able to convert themselves to the living God, once and for all, with all their heart and with all their soul.
Upon such in times past God has inworked very strongly by such a plague, and the number is by no means small of these spiritually born, but yet ever spiritually sleeping ones, who in such days of seriousness felt at once the fire burning in their bones, and could no longer resist, when the call went forth: “Awake, thou that sleepest, and let Christ be your light” (Eph. 5, 14).
IT was then not the sickness that did this, for neither cholera, nor typhoid, nor influenza can ever bring one to conversion. Conversion always takes place through the Word, that as an hammer finally breaks the stony heart into pieces.
But what such a plague can do, is to make the blow of that hammer stronger, and bring to pass, that the Word takes hold of us more forcibly, that it enters more deeply into us, and leaves behind a more real impression with us.
And so also in any raging plague the call goes out to all in our midst who are regenerated, but not as yet converted, that finally for once they will open the eye of their soul to the highness of their Covenant-God; that they will make an end to that will-less halting between two thoughts; that now they will make choice between the service of the world and the service of Jesus; and that, to-day while you hear His voice, you will arise and go to your Father, and say: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against Thee!”
In this coming to conversion at length of those who have so long postponed their conversion, the plague of God’s hand must bear fruit to the honor of His Name.
And woe, woe Church of God, if that ripe fruit is not forthcoming.
BUT there is more.
To them also, who have their first conversion already behind them, there comes in an epidemic a serious admonition.
For it is untrue, that a first conversion is always followed by a steady increase in humble piety. One may so reason it and so represent it, but it is not so. Rather such continuous fruit of the first conversion is extremely rare.
It is almost the common rule, that, as soon as the first conversion has become somewhat a matter of the past, a wretched coolness ensues; and that, in the confidence that the matter of one’s salvation is now settled, one dozes off again and begins to accustom himself to a half-hearted life, half pious but also half sinful. As though things could go on between God and our soul upon an unholy understanding.
And upon such sinful conditions among God’s people, such a voice of God as goes forth in an epidemic, can exert so wholesome an influence.
Then God’s child comes to repentence. He will have nothing more to do with his unholy dream, his sinful self-deception.
No, no, that is not serving the Lord his God with all his heart and all his soul.
That antagonizes what he chose in his conversion.
That is playing with the holy, which bears no further toleration.
And then you see the repentent sinner rise and shake off his bonds, and break with his lukewarmness and his hidden sin, and there is joy among the angels of God over so glorious an awakening of soul.
And then this precious gain breeds of itself yet another fruit.
Something begins to stir through the forest. A breath of life is wafted upon God’s garden. Among all the company of God’s faithful ones it comes to a renewing, a refreshing, an heightening of spiritual life.
It is as though preaching becomes more animated and plays in a key of higher seriousness. The service of prayer becomes more heartfelt. The gifts of compassion flow more freely.
There is more loosening of bands and a stronger drawing of cords that bind us to heaven.
The people have more love, and that warmer love of the Eternal fosters of itself warmer mutual love.
In the families levity is tempered. Quiet piety again spreads its gleams. It is as though the thunderstorm, that broke loose, has purified all of our spiritual atmosphere.
AND finally the thought, that you must prepare your soul, is more clear to you.
For though it is true that fear of death works no conversion, and that a piety, born merely from terror of the grave, misses the stamp of godliness; this does not take away, that he who is converted and fears his God, when he comes so near to the gate of death, is of himself pressed and compelled to a preparation of his soul.
It is indeed better that you are always prepared, and though your Lord comes as a thief in the night, you are not overtaken. But with most people this is not so.
For most people from life to death is always yet a dreadful transition.
And though you were then spared, so that from the very gate of death you were permitted to go back into life, the fruit of that preparing of your soul can be so precious.
Then you have once more meditated upon your life. You have asked yourself again, whether you have put the talent entrusted to you to usury. You have thought again of your obligation to your church, your country and your family.
And if then once again a new way of life opens before you, you walk differently; with firmer tread; more to the honor of your God!
Note: Written at the time of Influenza Epidemic.—Tr.
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