THE All-wise needed none to teach Him that the highest happiness of His created intelligences depends upon their harmonious action, harmony among themselves, and that harmonious action is in turn but the finished inclination of united purpose. Herein is the intent of all God’s laws, which, whether written or unwritten, are “eternal;” on “the fleshy tablets of the heart,” or upon “tables of stone,” they are “unchangeable;” discerned or misunderstood, they are “holy;” and exalted or reviled, they are “good.” “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” is the first and great commandment; “and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” God knew that these are the foundation principles upon which alone the harmonious association of His intelligent beings could rest. He was pleased to ordain that the very essence of truth, in whatever bearing, may be drawn from them only, and that every element of truth shall exist by virtue of and be witnessed only by them. Jesus therefore says, “On these two commandments hang,” not only “all the law,” but “the prophets” as well. Matt. 22: 37-40.
As to the judgment which determines the reward of the wicked, it is set from the beginning, and its integrity witnessed by the law; “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3: 20. Man determines his own destiny by his choice of obedience or disobedience. Jesus says, “If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12: 47. But God “hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained.” And by raising Christ from the dead “He hath given assurance” of this to all men. Acts 17: 31. “With righteousness shall He judge the world.” Ps. 98: 9. “The works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” Ps. 111: 7, 8. God’s law will in that day witness to His righteous judgment; for by authority of it shall judgment be rendered. David, by divine inspiration, says: “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth.” “Thy commandments are my delights;” for “unless Thy law have been my delights, I should then have perished.” “The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting.” “I have known of old that Thou hast founded them forever.” Ps. 119: 142-144, 92, 152.
God’s law, being the expression of His nature, must partake of the attributes of His character; its authority, scope, and duration are therefore infinite, as He is infinite.
We have seen that because of transgression all merit death; we have also seen that by faith in the atoning blood of Christ, man may become exempt from the penalty of disobedience, and be reconciled to God, or justified in His sight. To be reconciled to God is to be brought into unity, conformity, or harmony with His will. The condition of right relations with God is called righteousness; but it comes to us not by our lawful works; for “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight,” but “by grace are ye saved thru faith; and that not of yourselves, . . . lest any man should boast.” Therefore Jesus is the Lord, our Righteousness. Our righteousness is then the righteousness of Christ.
But let none say that because the deeds of the law can not work justification, the law has no office. Shall we say that the law is sin?—“God forbid. Nay,” says Paul, “I had not known sin, but by the law;” “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 7: 7; 3: 20.
Whoso grasps and applies the atonement (at-one-ment with God) by receiving the righteousness of Christ, is no longer under the dominion of sin, which is the bondage of the law. The law no longer holds6over his head death as the penalty of his disobedience; for, being right (at one, of one mind and purpose) with God, his acts will be in harmony with the eternal principles of God’s law. In this consists his freedom; herein God’s law becomes to him, not the bondage of sin, but the “perfect law of liberty.” He is “free from the law of sin and death.” James 1: 25; Rom. 8: 2.
In his new state of mind, every precept of God’s law becomes to him, not the menacing threat of a cruel master, but a blessed promise, bringing its own fulfilment; for now he loves “God with all his heart,” and “his neighbor as himself.” He does not covet; for by inheritance he is heir to all the riches of heaven, with paradise restored.
The law of God is the expression of His wisdom; man therefore becomes wise unto salvation by cultivating its acquaintance, as could be proved by a score of texts. “They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.” Prov. 28: 4. Yes, it is they who wrestle against “spiritual wickedness.”
Man in his mortal strife against the powers of darkness would surely be overcome in sin but for his help in God; but “he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28: 9. Let us all, then, adopt into our prayer the words of the psalmist, when by the law he knew he was a wretched sinner: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Ps. 51: 10. The spirit of this prayer is in harmony with the eternal principles of God’s truth; for “to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8: 6, 7. Hence the advice: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2: 5. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” Rom. 8: 14, 17. “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” and “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Eph. 4: 23, 24.
“The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment;” for “the law of his God is in his heart.” “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land.” You ask when?—“When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” For “the transgressors shall be destroyed together; . . . but the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.” Ps. 37: 30, 31, 34, 38-40.
F. R. RICHARDS.
A TWENTIETH-CENTURY REVIVAL.
By T.
A NUMBER of leading clergymen met in New York City in the closing days of the old year and of the old century to lay plans for a sweeping revival. It was one of the cherished plans of the lamented evangelist Moody to have the beginning of the twentieth century marked by a world-wide revival effort, and it is to carry out this plan that this movement is set in operation in New York. It is hoped that in a very short time 100,000 ministers all over the land will be engaged in it.
The thoughts that inspire such a move as this are commendable. No pains should be spared to make the work solid, so that whatever is done will be lasting. Any one who ever attended one of Mr. Moody’s meetings was helped thereby, if he gave any attention to the lessons that were given. Mr. Moody was a great Bible student and teacher. There was consequently something solid about his work. The revival is too often built up by excitement, and thru the enthusiasm of the evangelist people are moved to make a profession of Christianity, and are counted as Christians, when in reality they have learned nothing that is required in a Christian experience. It is one thing to profess Christ, but it is quite another thing to “follow on to know the Lord.”
The thought of a person making a profession of mathematics or astronomy without a knowledge of those sciences is readily recognized as absurd. But it is not any more absurd than to make a profession of Christianity without having a knowledge of its principles so as to definitely work them out in the life. If a person were to hear a great astronomer delivering a lecture on the value and pleasure of the study of that science, or if he should hear a mathematician talking of the benefits and advantages of mathematics, and should say in serious earnest, “I will make a profession of mathematics or astronomy,” the world would laugh at him heartily. Everybody would say, “How absurd!” They would say that you can not make a profession of those sciences without studying and mastering their great facts and principles. And yet such a thing is not one bit more absurd than to make a profession of Christianity and not take the pains to study the principles so as to master them and let them shine out thru the life.
Too many people profess Christianity thru the fear that they will be lost eternally if they do not. It is well for any one to fear being eternally lost, but Christianity should be seen as a life of joy—it should be seen as something that is worth taking hold of because of the real and solid values that are to be found in the Christian life. God gives real values to those who will accept Him and seek to live the life of the Man of Nazareth and of Calvary. And in all revival work these thoughts should be kept uppermost, and the effort should be made, not merely to get men to accept Christ in a nominal way, but no pains should be spared to have the one who makes a start go on unto the joys and the perfections that are to be gained only thru a real personal knowledge of Christ.
There is just one way to know Christ, and that is thru a persevering study of His Word and works. There must be no haphazard methods in the study of the Word of God if we would know the joys of His service. The Bible must be studied as earnestly as we would study the science of mathematics or astronomy if we wish to succeed in the divine life. We study mathematics to arrive at definite truth. We do not come to the study of that science with theories that we would seek to establish, or with prejudices that shut out light. We recognize the fact that mathematics is a definite science, and that it embraces definite truth based upon definite principles. And we can not trust to theory in this field of study. If we would know how to build a great edifice, or to navigate a ship, or to do a fine piece of engineering or of surveying, we must know the definite facts and principles of mathematics and work them out accurately, else we will fail in our undertaking. If we are to succeed as Christians we must take hold of the text-book of Christianity, the Bible, and study to know its definite facts and principles. The God who is the Author of the science of mathematics is also the Author of Christianity, and the one contains as definite and scientific truths as the other, the only difference being that they are in different fields of the one great realm of divine truth. And he who will study to know the Bible will find that it is definite and satisfactory in yielding up its rich stores.7
Then every revival in order to be of lasting benefit must be based upon a careful and faithful study of the Word of God. Every one who professes the name of Christ has thereby placed himself under obligation to study the words of Christ, so that he may know how to properly represent the Master in his daily life and conduct. The world is full of those who have made a wreck of their Christian experience and profession. The one underlying cause of it all is a lack of real Bible knowledge. There may be occasional Bible reading, much after the order of doing penance, or there may be Bible reading in order to see if some cherished theory can not be sustained or strengthened by some new “proof texts,” but there is a lack of real study of the Word of God so as to commune with the heavenly Father and definitely know His will.
We should not come to the Bible with creeds, no matter how good they may appear, or with theories, no matter how dear. We should come to the living Word as into the audience-chamber of the Most High, and there reverently listen to the voice of truth. Let the Word of God have its rightful place in every revival effort. T.
DON'T MEAN LIKE THAT.
A good minister, when journeying on the cars, was accosted by a stranger, who said: “Good-morning, Mr. L. I was at your church the other night.”
“Ah, indeed!”
“Yes, sir; I heard you preach. I don’t take much stock in religion.” This was said in a half boastful manner.
“No?” questioned Mr. L. “And what have you been reading?”
“I have been studying Thomas Paine, sir.”
“And he has made you wiser, has he?”
“O, yes, sir; I don’t believe in Christians now or Christianity!”
“So, then, you believe that all Christians are hypocritical?”
“Yes, sir; Christianity is a sham; nothing else.”
“Well, let me ask you, young man, have you had a mother since your infant years?” said Mr. L. impressively.
“O, yes, sir!”
“And was she a professor of religion?”
“Yes, sir,” said the other unhesitatingly.
“And did she live consistently with her profession?”
“O, yes; I believe mother was a good woman!”
“Well, then, you either believe that your mother lived in communion with Christ, or you believe that she was a hypocrite. Which was it?”
“Hold on!” exclaimed the young man.
“Which?” cried Mr. L. with emphasis.
“I—I—didn’t—mean—like—that; wait and hear me,” stammered the excited young stranger.
“Which?” solemnly repeated Mr. L.; and when no answer came, he said: “For shame, young man, to fling at your sainted mother that she was a hypocrite! You know from her life that Christianity was real.”
The cowardly skeptic was silenced, and afterwards Mr. L. saw him in the Fulton Street prayer-meeting, trembling under a sense of guilt.
Christians, if we live up to our profession, our lives will be an unanswerable argument in favor of religion. The skeptic can not but admire consistency, and lives that speak of Christ preach more effectually than words can do.—Anon.
WHY IS HE A DEBTOR?
By G.
IN the fifth chapter of Galatians, third verse, we read this testimony of the apostle Paul, “I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.” We are asked, How does circumcision especially emphasize this obligation? The answer is found in the original purpose of the rite. It was “a seal [or sign] of the righteousness of the faith which he [Abraham] had yet being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, tho they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.” Rom. 4:11.
Abraham procured his righteousness by faith. “For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Verse 3. What is righteousness?—It is harmony with God, doing right; specifically, it is keeping the law of God; for to transgress the law is sin (1 John 3:4), and all the commandments of God are righteousness (Ps. 119:172). The righteousness which was accredited to Abraham was the righteousness of Christ; for Christ kept the commandments (John 15:10); He “did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). Of no other man can this be said.
Now Abraham was accredited with keeping the commandments of God (Gen. 26:5), and circumcision was given to him and to his posterity as a sign of that fact. Therefore circumcision, being a sign of righteousness, was also a profession of keeping the law of God. So all who are circumcised virtually make that profession, and are consequently debtors, especially under obligation, “to do the whole law.” It is the duty of every man in the world to obey the law of God, but when one voluntarily professes to do so he emphasizes his obligation. When one is baptized, he publicly professes faith in Jesus Christ, and even the worldling expects more of him in the way of right living than he does of one who never has made a profession. The same principle is involved in the matter of circumcision.
Circumcision was also a token of the covenant between God and Abraham and his children; but the real “circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.” Rom. 2:29. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29. Circumcision of the flesh is a mere profession; of itself it is nothing more. “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.” 1 Cor. 7:19. This is the essential thing, and circumcision of the heart is the keeping of the commandments of God.
Again, “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17), and “in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature” (Gal. 6:15). And again Paul says, “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Chap. 5:6. Then a true disciple of Christ Jesus is “a new creature,” having a “faith which worketh by love,” and keeps the commandments of God. So from whatever standpoint we may view the subject, every one that is circumcised is debtor to do the whole law. The circumcision of flesh or heart that falls short of this becomes uncircumcision. “For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law; but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.” Rom. 2:25.
G.
The Duty of Patient Waiting
By H. Clay Trumbull
PATIENT, hopeful waiting is hard work when it is the only work possible to us in an emergency. But patient waiting is in its time the highest duty of a faithful soul.—H. Clay Trumbull.
HELP FOR THE DRUNKARD.
By E. Payson Hammond
I REJOICE in all that temperance societies are doing to save the drunkard; but I feel that too much dependence is sometimes placed upon man’s ability to rescue himself from the enslaving power of drink. Sinners of every grade need to be told that they are lost and that Christ alone can save them. When this great truth is brought home to them by the Holy Spirit, then it is that they begin to cry for mercy, and soon find by happy experience that the Lord Jesus is able “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.”
As an illustration of this truth I give the experience of a gentleman of culture in one of the departments at Washington. In a letter which he addressed to me he says:—
I was reared by Christian parents and nurtured in the Sunday-school. At sixteen years of age I stepped out from under their influence into the abyss of worldly pleasures, and sought them in the ball-room, theaters, gambling-dens, rum-mills, and other places of infamy, only, however, to find grief, distress, heart-burnings, and bitter remorse. My constant indulgence in the accursed cup for twenty years had become second nature with me, and to control the appetite was impossible. The fact of my living and dying a drunkard, and my helplessness, were so loathsome to me that I craved death, and on one occasion went so far as to attempt to take my own life by drinking three ounces of laudanum; but thru the providence of God I was discovered at death’s door, and saved. I also lived thru delirium tremens twice.
I shudder at such revelations now that I can realize the terrible perdition which I escaped thru the great mercy of Christ; but suffice it to say that from the time I received the blessed assurance of the forgiveness of sins and the regeneration of my heart, thru the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, I have never had the slightest desire to take a drink of liquor; whereas prior to that time the appetite for liquor was so intense that I had no more control over it than a starving man would have to resist food when placed before him. Nothing but the miraculous power of a merciful God ever saved me from a drunkard’s grave; and while my whole soul pours out its humble gratitude to my Redeemer for His wonderful mercy to me, I so greatly fear the return of that terrible appetite that I endeavor to keep myself constantly under the influence of the Holy Spirit by unremitting prayer, in the faith that He is not only able, but will save me from that as well as all other sins. My life is now one of almost uninterrupted sunshine and happiness. Those things that once seemed to afford me pleasure I now abhor, and my sole delight now is in the association of Christians.
During a revival in St. Louis there were about one hundred and thirty drunkards converted, who banded themselves together in a society to strengthen one another by mutual prayer and counsel.
Thirty years ago a tramp came to my father’s door one Sunday evening and asked the privilege of sleeping in the barn. He was an educated Scotchman. He had spent all his money in Boston for liquor. With blistered feet he walked a hundred miles, pressing on his way to New York, where without doubt he would soon have slept in a drunkard’s grave. But a little kindness shown to him for a few weeks, and the presentation of “Christ and Him crucified” to him in love and tenderness, induced him to become a Christian. For many years he occupied an important position as a teacher, and has since passed away, loved by many. Let us pray and labor for the salvation of those addicted to strong drink. God is able to save them.
Should you, my reader, possibly be of this number, I pray that you may ask God to forgive you all your sins for Jesus’ sake, and to give you a new heart, and put His Holy Spirit within you, so that you shall hate every evil thing you have hitherto loved.
May God help you to heed these words: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isa. 55:7.
Jesus’ words to you are, “Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out.” John 6:37.
Believe in Him now, and be saved. He will receive and change your heart, and give you strength to resist every temptation. Only trust Him.
Come to Jesus, all ye weary,
Burdened with the load of sin;
Come to Jesus; He is ready
To receive such wanderers in.
Come to Jesus; He’ll receive you;
Take His yoke and learn of Him;
As your Prophet to instruct you,
As your King be ruled by Him.
Come to Jesus; He’ll receive you,
He will cancel all your guilt;
’Twas for this He came to save you,
’Twas for this His blood was spilt.
—Rev. E. Payson Hammond, M.A.
THE “TERRIBLE RAPIDITY” OF IT.
In a speech on Lord Mayor’s day Nov. 9, 1898, Lord Salisbury discussed quite at length the war-like conditions that pervaded all Europe. After speaking of the immense armies and navies, the immense war equipments, and the great burdens from war taxations, he said: “Still more serious is the consideration which recent events have forced upon us that these wars come upon us absolutely unannounced and with terrible rapidity. The war cloud rises in the horizon with a rapidity that obviates all calculation, and, it may be, a month or two months after the first warning you receive you find you are engaged in, or in prospect of, a war on which your very existence is staked.”
A General View of the Krupp Gun-works.—One of the Great Industries.
In Lord Salisbury’s speech on the last Lord Mayor’s day, Nov. 9, 1900, he gave utterance to a few sentences that are a remarkable commentary on, or, perhaps better expressed, a fulfilment of, his statement in the foregoing paragraph. Speaking of the South African war, that has been waged between the Boers and the English during the last eighteen months, Salisbury said: “We have shown things in this present war which were not so readily admitted, and which will alter very much the position which we hold in the view of contemporary critics. The achievement of sending between two and three hundred thousand men in that space of time, and with that perfection of equipment, to a distance of 6,000 miles is a thing of which we should not have dreamt, if it had been discussed here eighteen months ago. It is a wonderful achievement.”
It is indeed “a wonderful achievement” to send over 200,000 men a distance of 6,000 miles in so short a time. The wonder is intensified when we consider that many of these men had to be recruited and equipped. The wonder is greater still when we think of the terrible weapons,—the deadly rifles, the desolating machine guns, and the high-power cannon—which formed this equipment. After Napoleon had exercised his great genius for war for a sixth of a century, and after he had drained all the resources of France to the bottom, he had but 475,000 men ready for action when he began his famous march to Moscow. It taxed not only the resources of England, but of all Europe, to overthrow the Napoleonic arms. But here is an army that springs into existence in just a few months in these closing hours of the nineteenth century, that is more than half as large in numbers and many more times powerful in equipment than the one that Napoleon’s abilities were twenty years in organizing.
Calling to mind the thought that has been so earnestly presented that we are getting beyond wars in our civilization, is it not ominous that in the very midst of this peace talk we should have the most unparalleled activities in war? Truly good men have eloquently presented the evils and the barbarism of war, and have pointed out again and again that the enlightened intelligence of this time ought to lead men to do away with war altogether. There can be no doubt that the minds of men are convinced in regard to the evil of war. But in the very face of this teaching to the contrary, we find armies being hastily organized in such vast numbers and with such terrible equipments that old hardened warriors like Cæsar and Napoleon, if suddenly brought into the presence of it, would surely pale before it.
This war fever is in the world. There can be no mistaking it. It is not merely a foreboding of storm that is seen just above the horizon, it is a black cloud that completely covers the political sky of the whole world; and with all the desolating furies of typhoon and tidal wave it is about to burst upon us.
Are you perplexed about it and in doubt as to the meaning? If so, then read carefully the following words from the Book of Inspiration:—
“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.” Rev. 16: 12-21.
The foregoing scripture is plain and explicit in stating that the great day of God will be in close proximity to the battle of Armageddon. Furthermore, the legions of all the kingdoms of the whole earth are to be gathered onto that battle-field by the spirits of devils. Now when you think of the strong sentiment that the Lord has caused to be exerted in this generation against war, can you doubt, as you see the hosts of earth gathering like a furious storm to the battle-field, that we are approaching the very borderland of the battle of that great day?
Against that day of terrors, the Lord has provided a shelter. If you are under the banner of Prince Immanuel, you know what that shelter is. You have rested on its sure foundations, and know what its safety is. You know the all-pervading power of the mighty promises of God. You know what reality there is in these promises. You know what life and power there are in them. You know how they satisfy the weary and distressed soul. Then, as you love your Saviour, who has done so much for you, hasten to give His message of warning and love to those who are terrified by the perils of this time, but who do not know of the Refuge.
SOMETHING ABOUT PESSIMISM.
By T.
THERE are a lot of people in the world who seem to take special pride in their instinct to detect a pessimist. There are numerous editors, many ministers, politicians, and stump-orators almost without number, who pose as special detectives, having a special ability, like the war horse pawing in the valley, to smell the odor of pessimism when it is even yet afar off.
When the crying evils of this time are pointed out, and attention is called to the sure results that will follow them, these detectors of pessimism rise up, put on a very sober and wise look, and, calling into action every reserve power, they shout, “Pessimism.” They do not take the pains to call attention to any reasoning process that has led them to the conclusion that you are a pessimist, but they simply want you to take it for granted that their instincts are a positive guide. When the facts are presented, showing that the world is on the downward grade and that things are getting worse and worse, these persons think that they have overthrown every word that has been said, by simply shouting at the top of their voices, “Pessimist.”
But to call a man a pessimist because he is pointing out dangers does not overthrow the fact that there are evils and wrongs to be speedily righted, else a dire calamity will surely follow. On a cold night one may feel very comfortable as he lies asleep in a burning building. If he is only about half aroused he may feel very indignant that any one should disturb him by shouting, “Fire.” Should he insist on enjoying his nap under such circumstances, he would soon be badly burned, if he did not lose his life altogether.
There are forebodings of disaster rising before this world that are real and not imaginary. It is not optimism to say that they are not there. It is the worst kind of self-deception and foolhardiness to say that there are no dangers ahead, and that the world is rising into a higher and better state of civilization and morals. Shouting, “Pessimist,” in the faces of those who would raise the danger signal may help to keep some, the drowsy, in a state of stupor, but it will not avert the crash.
It is an open and proved fact that in nearly every one of our cities, every form and shade of vice and crime are under the protection of the police. This condition of things has become so open and flagrant in San Francisco that the mayor of the city is now publicly advocating that dens of vice should be allowed to run under municipal licenses. It is argued that you can not shut these places up, because the police will, despite everything, accept bribes from them and refuse to make any arrests. So, in the place of allowing the police to collect this revenue from vice, it is proposed as a good bit of finance to have the city collect a regular license fee and let them run.
Not only are the police corrupted in this way but many of the police courts are in league with the criminals, and when thru force of circumstances it seems necessary to make an arrest, false witnesses are knowingly brought into court to assist in manufacturing pretexts that will excuse the judge in setting the villain free.
The foregoing statements in regard to this one phase of the criminal condition of the country are as nothing compared with what might be said of the things that actually exist, and that everybody knows to be fact. In the face of these indisputable facts how can any one say that the world is9getting better, or that we are advancing into a higher civilization? We may be advancing into a more highly gilded civilization, but a highly polished veneer can only cover up; it can not destroy the decay that is within.
Now, what can be said of a civilization and a morality that will tolerate such things in a community as vice and crime in full open operation and under the protection of city licenses, or watched over by the police and other officers of the law in order that criminals may not be brought to justice? When it is further said that these evils have gotten such a foothold that they can not be stamped out, what does it speak of the times in which we live? To simply call the one a pessimist that talks of them and tells what they portend will not answer the question at issue.
The individual who sees all the evils of this time, and who understands what they portend, is neither morbid nor morose. Every one of the wrongs and crimes and vices and sins of this age tells us unmistakably of the heroic effort that Satan is putting forth to destroy every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth. But he will not be successful. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon to put an end to all this evil. When He comes, He is the same Friend of humanity that He has ever been. All who are willing and desirous of doing the right will find in Him their chiefest joy in that day.
The Lord Jesus Christ is not only our Creator, but He is our Redeemer as well. Who would not want to see Him in person? How strange it is that any one could see pessimism in the thought that the evils of this time will be cut short in their corrupting career by the coming of the Lord of glory!
It is indeed true that the golden age of liberty, and joy, and every delightsome pleasure, is just before us; but it will not be evolved out of this evil world; it will be brought about by the destruction of this world, with all its evil, and the eternal salvation of all that is good. This glorious time is right at hand. Every one who values eternal life and an eternity of happiness should hasten to prepare for the glad time. Tell every one about it. Exhort all to spread the glad tidings. T.
