p. 297 | AN UNHOLY AMBITION by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 20, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 19.

AN UNHOLY AMBITION.

By Editor

THE unholy ambition of unregenerate Christendom (if the term may be allowed) is manifesting itself in the Old World among the nonconformist denominations as well as in America. In this country we have the National Reformers, who are trying to bring everything under their rule; and the following utterance from a celebrated English Baptist divine, Dr. J. Clifford, in an address at Brixton College some time ago, represents a rapidly growing sentiment in England:—

"Religion is to direct and control everything,—legislators as well as churches, peers as well as peasants, trade as well as worship, social customs as well as sermons, the equitable distribution of wealth as well as the individual well-being, the treatment of subject and suspected races as well as our own towns."

Jesus said, when this ambition was manifested among the uninstructed anciently:—

"Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matt. 20:25-28.

Is not this instruction as good now as it was then? We commend it to National Reformers.