All attempts at reform which are merely attempts to reform machinery are futile, they can produce only passing and superficial results.  There is only one medicine for the disease of the world, and that medicine is the Blood of Christ.  Ultimately, one believes, that will be applied; but evidently it will not be applied in any broad way as a social treatment till all the quack remedies have demonstrated their uselessness.  The last two centuries have been the flowering time of quacks.  The mere history of their theories fills volumes.  Our own time shows no decline in productiveness, nor decline in hopefulness in the efficacy of the last remedy to bid for support.  But the time of disillusionment must some time come.

When that time comes all men will lift their eyes, as individual men have always lifted them, up to the hills whence cometh their help.  Except they had kept their eyes so resolutely fastened on the earth at their feet they would have seen, what has always been visible to those who lift up their eyes, a crucified Figure on the one supreme hill of earth,—­the hill called Calvary.  There “one Figure stands, with outstretched hands” saying, with inextinguishable optimism, the indestructible optimism of God, “and I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.”

What in the end will prevail with them, what will make them turn to the Tree which is for the healing of the nations, is the perception that in it is the remedy for the weakness that they have either sought to heal by other means, or have resolutely denied to exist at all.  There are men whose wills are so strong that even in the grip of some serious disease they will long go on about their business asserting that there is nothing the matter with them and overcoming bodily pain and weakness by sheer will power; but the end comes finally with a collapse that is perhaps beyond remedy.  We live in a society which has the same characteristics, but it may be that it will see its state and turn to healing.  For God cannot heal except with our co-operation.  Christ pleads from the Cross, but he can do no more.  He will not submit to our tests; He will not come down that we may believe in Him.  We must come to Him, laying aside all our pride and self-will, and kneel by the Cross to ask His help.

We know, do we not? that that is the law for the individual; that we found the meaning of Christ, and what He can do in life, when we laid aside pride and self-will and humbly asked help and pardon.  It may be that we resisted a long while, struggling against the pull of the divine magnet; but if we have attained to spiritual peace it is because the Cross won, because we found ourselves kneeling at the feet of Jesus.  Perhaps we have not got there yet, but are only on the way.  Perhaps our religion as yet is a formality and not a devotion.  Perhaps our pride still struggles against the Catholic practice of religion.  Then why not give way now, to-night?  Let Mary take you and lead you to Jesus.  She will bring you to him with her half-suggestion, half-prayer:  “He has no wine.”  He has got to the end of his strength, and he has found the weariness of self, he is ready for healing.  O my divine Son, is not this your opportunity, your “hour”?