no sin: for in fact not a man or a woman in this congregation--so far
as I know--harbours, or has harboured a single thought of evil
disposition against the people who, from to-morrow, are to be our
enemies, in whose distress we shall have to exult. In a few days
this will seem very strange to you; but it is a fact.

"So it might plausibly be said that not we, but our Government, make
this war upon a people with whom you and I have no quarrel.

"But that will not do; for in a nation ruled as ours is, no Ministry
can make war unless having the people behind it. That is certain.
The whole people--not only of Great Britain, but of Ireland too--
seems to be silently aware that a War has been fastened upon it, not
to be shirked or avoided, and is arming; but still without hate.
So far as, in this little corner of the world, I can read your
hearts, they answer to my own in this--that they have harboured no
hate against Germany, and indeed, even now, can hardly teach
themselves to hate.

"None the less, the German Emperor protests, calling on God for
witness, that the sword has been thrust into his hand: and, if he
honestly believes this, there must be some great confusion of mind in
this business. One party or the other must be walking under some
terrible hallucination.

"The aged Austrian Emperor calls on _his_ God to justify him.
So does the German; while we in turn call on _our_ God to justify
_us_.

"Now, there cannot be two Gods--two real Gods--president over the