Satisfactorily Settled.
By Editor
The Christian at Work quotes approvingly the Presbyterian Weekly, speaking of the late Prophetic Conference, as follows:— "If John Calvin, or Breckinridge, or Thornwell, or Alexander, or Hodge had been alive, they would not have been there." We fear the Weekly is right, because important truths of all ages have been hidden from "the wise and prudent." Were "the rulers and the Pharisees" of olden time alive now, we doubt if they would have been there unless to deride, judging from their treatment of "present truth" at the first advent of the Lord. The Saviour came as the prophets had foretold, and their words were literally fulfilled at that time. But he did not come in a manner to suit the notions of the dignitaries of the church, and the scribes and the elders—the eminent among the professed people of God—rejected him. An eminent correspondent of the Christian Statesman proves satisfactorily to himself that there is no use of the Saviour coming to this earth again in person; that all the objects of the gospel can be better accomplished in his absence. So the Jews could find no use for him at his first advent, and their descendents occupy the same position to this day. But Jesus called them "fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." How readest thou? Is it not written that "this same Jesus" will come again? that "the Lord himself shall descend?" Did not Jesus say, "If I go away I will come again"? Is this to be thrown aside with the flourish of a pen, or discredited by an array of eminent names? Though the scribes and Pharisees rejected him, "the common people heard him gladly." And though the influence of the great religious bodies, and the great religious, or rather semi-religious newspapers are opposed to the object and the doctrine of the late Prophetic Conference, it is cheering to read that a large congregation of "the common people" eagerly listened from day to day to hear words concerning "that blessed hope." The doctrine of the near coming of the Lord in glory is abundantly taught in the Scriptures. It commands the respect of the reverent and the faithful, and it must be heard. It has a thousand times been disposed of to the entire satisfaction of those who oppose it, but with the motto, "It is written," it comes again to the front, every time brighter and more strongly fortified from the opposition it has received.