p. 377 | BABYLON IS FALLEN

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 10, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 24

BABYLON IS FALLEN.

THERE could be no more complete vindication of the position we have held for years respecting the condition of the mass of the Protestant churches as a fulfilment of prophecy than is given below, in the words of Mr. Boole. The moral condition of the great majority of professed Christians is becoming so marked that it is a subject of comment everywhere, not merely by those who maintain an attitude of hostility toward Christianity, but by those who are its friends, and who deplore the facts as they appear. In setting forth the fulfilment of the prophecy on this important subject, we have no need, either to make any assertions or to use any language of our own. All has been said that need be said, and that, too, by those who cannot be accused of any sympathy with views held by Adventists. But what they have said, we have certainly a right to use, not with any design to wound or injure, but to show the fulfilment of an important prophecy, and the manifestation of a startling sign of the times. F. A. B., of Massachusetts, copies the article for us, which, under the heading of “Something Wanting,” reads as follows:—

“The Zion’s Herald recently contained the following editorial, referring to Moody and Sankey’s meetings:—

“‘“SOMETHING WANTING. There is no lack of crowds at the meetings of the evangelists, in Brooklyn. Indeed, the multitudes, especially of professed Christians, somewhat impede the progress of the work in the direction of the unconverted; . . . yet, while much good, direct and indirect, has been accomplished, there has been no general revival influence sweeping through all ranks of society, and making itself felt upon the worldliness of the times. What is more ungrateful in its insignificance is the fact, which Mr. Moody states with great impressiveness and much sorrow (and one of which Mr. Varley had spoken as a matter of his own experience in America), that he fails to find a readiness on the part of Christian people to enter upon the work of personal effort for the salvation of others. . . . There seems to be a lack of adequate spiritual preparation, of deep conviction of duty, of a positive and lively faith. . . . Much the same want is felt in our city. . . . There is not religion enough to overcome the attraction of lectures and concerts which crowd every evening in the week. . . . It is personal consecration that is now needed.”’”

Commenting on this in the Advocate of Holiness, Mr. Boole says:—

“This is a plain statement of facts, as to the general condition of the church, and it will not do to thrust aside such a statement, with the ungenerous fling that ‘there is more of their carping and fault-finding.’ The difficulties spoken of stare every earnest minister of Christ full in the face the moment he enters upon any determined effort for the salvation of souls.

“‘There is not religion enough to overcome the attraction of lectures and concerts.’ Who doubts it? Let the empty seats in the lecture-room answer. Let the dull, cold walls respond!

“Revival work is up-hill business with us; the grade is too steep, and the power of the locomotives pulling the train altogether inadequate to the task. Hence the puffing and blowing over every little ‘effort,’ or ‘labor’ for Jesus. . . .

“Until the people of God awake from the awful stupor in which a spirit of worldliness has sunk them, . . . there will be no readiness on the part of Christians to enter upon personal efforts, and the prayer-meeting will be cold, formal, and dead, . . . and in the present spiritual prostration of so large a mass of Christians, if they should consecrate themselves, how long would it be before they would become weary in well-doing? Have we not seen it tried? Is not three months a long time for such ‘spurts’ of zeal? . . . The sad, mournful fact remains that thousands of the church of God give evident tokens of no sympathy, no love for the cause of Christ, no interest in the eternal welfare of their neighbors. Money, business, pleasure, sensation;—these are the things in which soul and body are consumed.”