“Can Ye not Discern the Signs of the Times!”
By C. O. Taylor
SOME portions of God’s word have been fulfilled in every age. There have been some to fulfill the word. There have been others to believe in the fulfillment of the word. Those who have believed have done so because another class has taken a course that has fulfilled the word of the Lord, as spoken by the prophets, Jesus and his apostles. Those who are fulfilling the word of God, generally speak very lightly of those that believe, thinking sometimes they are hardly fit to live, and being confident that their society is not worth possessing, and that to cast in their name and interest with them, would be a great disgrace. This is very plainly seen in those who are “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, &c.,” 2 Tim. 3, all of whom are fulfilling the word of God that marks the last days. You can hardly look amiss; you will see in every direction some one fulfilling the words of some holy man that has spoken by inspiration. 1 Peter 1:21. Yet these same persons deride, and would laugh to scorn, those who thus believe. Very many children, by their disobedience to their parents, are strengthening the faith of God’s people in the soon coming of the Lord. Very many lovers of pleasures are doing the same. Yet they generally think and sometimes talk it, that those thus looking for the Coming One are very foolish, nearly deranged. It has been left to a few days in the past to show a clear and great fulfillment of the cry of peace and safety. 1 Thess. 5:3. One would nearly think the good time had come, or was coming, in and around the famous city of Boston for the last two weeks. While they cry peace, and are expecting a common brotherhood of all mankind, they are doing just what God’s word says some one will be doing when destruction, sudden destruction, shall come upon them. Yet they think those who are looking for the sudden destruction and saying it is coming, and who are seeking a hiding place from the gathering storm, a very strange class of persons, rather weak-minded, easily given to fanaticism. Oh! very good persons, generally, good neighbors, but there is a weak place in their heads somewhere. Truly, a strange world this. Yet the saint hopes on ever. C. O. Taylor.