The Present Parallel

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 22, 1902

The Present Parallel.

—Edwin B. Monyon, a Methodist Episcopal pastor of Kansas City, in a Christmas sermon, referring to the corruptions of the heathen world at the first advent, said:—

It has been said that “the epoch which witnessed the early growth of Christianity was an epoch the horror and degradation of which have rarely been equaled, and perhaps never exceeded in the annals of mankind.” In the first chapter of his letter to the Romans St. Paul brings a terrible indictment against them—so terrible that it makes one blush to read it, and so terrible that one might be tempted to think that the apostle had overstated the case if the Roman writers themselves had not told us the same awful story.

But the same apostle, speaking of these very days, presents as terrible an indictment of even those who profess to be children of God and go through the forms of worship. Read the two lists:—

TO THE HEATHEN IN A.D. 60.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.” Rom. 1:28-31.

TO PROFESSED CHRISTIANS “IN THE LAST DAYS.”

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

Look on the two pictures. Did not the same apostle speak as truly of the latter as of the former? We are in the last days. Our salvation is to heed His warnings.