SPIRIT OF COALITION IN PRESENT REVIVALS.
By R. F. COTTRELL
THERE is at the present time an increase of knowledge, according to that which was written by the prophet Daniel. Chap. 12:4. The wise will receive the increasing light, the wicked will reject it. “The wise shall understand,” but “none of the wicked shall understand.” Verse 10. Increasing light tests the people. If it is received, it will bring the receivers together into unity of faith and practice; but if it is rejected, it will bring condemnation. “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19. If the churches of the present day are pure, they will receive the increasing light, and by so doing will be brought into a real unity of faith and practice, a very desirable result. But a coalition or confederacy of sects by a mere compromise of their differences, making the Bible truths on which they are divided of no importance, is not desirable, but is to be dreaded; for a union of corrupt bodies will only increase the power of corruption, and result in the persecution of those who adhere to the pure doctrines of the Bible. For the union of churches which have rejected truth and have consequently fallen from the favor of God, speaks only of the oppression of those who love the truth, and walk in its light. As a stream cannot rise higher than its source, so those that are converted under the influence of those who hold such loose ideas in regard to revealed truth, cannot be expected to be very particular in respect to duty. They imbibe the idea from their teachers that God is not very particular, and they like the makes-no-difference doctrine, and for themselves they feel like being fully persuaded to do as they please. I used to wonder how it was that the proselytes of false and apostate professors should be “twofold more the child of hell” than themselves; but now I think I understand it. The tendency of fallen human nature is downward. If teachers encourage a low standard, their proselytes will make it a poor rather than higher. So these teachers of loose, makes-no-difference views of religious duties are often surprised and dissatisfied that their pupils come short of their own ideas of that which is proper and right. They would like to see them more strict, coming up to the standard of their own minds, but they have taught them a looseness that is agreeable to fallen nature, and, consequently, are doomed to see them descend still lower than themselves. It is easy to go downhill—to grow worse and worse. Hence it is that every real reform among men is uphill work. It takes real efforts to rise. And there must be continued effort, or the car of reform will be found rolling backward. It is truly a wonder of mercy that God should undertake the salvation of those so depraved, and that he bears so long with us as a race. R. F. COTTRELL.