The Worldliness of Professing Christians
Hon. W. E. Gladstone, in a recent work, replying to the question as to whether human character is developing for good, says:— “The cruelty of Christians is more cruel; the lust of Christians is more lustful; the animal greed of Christians is tenfold more greedy; and the pre-Christian times afford us no panorama of mammon worship to compare for a moment with our own. The luxury and the worldliness of old were but child’s play in relation to those of modern times.” No man has, from age and observation, a better opportunity to know the tendency of the times, or is better able to express it; than Mr. Gladstone. But, in justice to true Christianity, he would better have said professed Christians. Christianity is ever the same, but the Scripture has told us that “evil men and seducers [without reference to profession] shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3 : 13.