1876: A Year of Important Events
By R. F. Cotterill
This year will be crowded with important events. This can hardly be doubted by the observer of the present attitude of the nations of the world. It is a year of thrilling interest to the people of the United States, as it completes the hundredth year of our republican government. Many and complicated are the issues which are to be tried in the near future. And so it is almost everywhere. How things will turn with the governments of the earth, cannot be solved by human wisdom. But some of the events, at least, have been accurately pointed out by divine prescience. * It is a time of deep interest to the people of God. The devout student of prophecy sees, by the aid of revelation, thrilling times ahead. The last conflict between truth and error is imminent. Fearful trials are before the servants of God, and the great question is, Who will prepare for the battle, and come off victorious? Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth; seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger. That great day is near and hasteth greatly. Oh! that all might have a due sense of it. It is truly time for the people of God to humble themselves and draw near to God by fasting and prayer, that they may have the needed help to pass the perils that are before us. The Spirit has expressly said that in the last days, perilous times shall come. When God advertises us of danger, it certainly means something. Oh! that we might realize it. It is time to arise. God is warning the people as the angels did Lot: Up! for the Lord will destroy this place. We, my brethren, have started, as did the family of Lot; and the voice of Jesus to us is, Remember Lot’s wife. Spare thy people, Lord! R. F. COTTERILL.