MEN'S HEARTS FAILING THEM.
By M. C. W.
IN speaking of the signs which should precede his second coming, our Saviour gives the following:— "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:25-27. The Christian Commonwealth, of London, England, which is by no means a pessimistic journal, without any allusion to the Scriptures, records, unconsciously perhaps, their very fulfillment. After speaking in a recent number of the famine now prevailing in India, in which five per cent. of the population in some districts are on the verge of starvation, it says:— "Surely the outlook just now is anything but encouraging. Calamities of all kinds seem to be quickly following each other. In nearly every direction we look we behold flood, fire, famine, railway disaster, and pestilence staring us in the face. However, the rapidity with which news travels in these days may partially account for the accumulation of these miseries into the reports which reach us each week. Still, it must be evident that there is great activity among the destructive forces in all parts of the world. And should a great European war break out as a sequel to all this preliminary destruction, surely the closing scenes of the nineteenth century will be sufficiently marked for the historian of the future." All these disturbances are but indications of what have been predicted by the Son of God. We are nearing the time of his advent. Civilization is spreading, men are becoming more enlightened in the arts and sciences, but not in the word of God. Much of the wisdom of the world counts it "foolishness." Its prophecies are ignored, its precepts trampled in the dust, many of its promises are regarded a vain thing. Many others who are convicted of its simple potent truths, through fear of man, turn from the path of light and are swallowed up by the great unbelieving mass. Notwithstanding all this, the word of God is true; the prophecies are light in a dark place; the precepts of God are immutable; the gospel of Christ's kingdom is the power of God unto salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is about to come. When we see all these things predicted by our Lord, we may know that Christ is near. Matt. 24:33. Says our Lord, "When these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28. The beginning is long since passed. We stand just before the shaking of the powers of heaven; the next event is the coming of our Lord. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.