Restlessness; Turmoil, Strife.—Says the Christian Work, Presbyterian:—
"A prominent Presbyterian, an ex-moderator, is quoted by the Mid-Continent as saying to a caller the other day, in deep distress: 'I do not know what has come over the Presbyterian Church. Look at my desk. It is literally covered with letters from churches seeking new pastors, and from pastors seeking new churches. There is a spirit of restlessness and dissatisfaction everywhere. I do not know what to make of it.'" It is a sign of the times, not only in religious circles, but everywhere. A decisive election has just taken place in America, and yet men are unsettled. In the Old World the recent revelations of Prince Bismarck show that no dependence is to be put upon human compacts in the highest relations of life. We see the very condition of things now which the Lord predicted in Isaiah 59, and the reason given there is that men have departed from the Lord and his commandments. It is true. God calls them back by his Gospel. He tells them to prepare for his coming; to return to his word and the keeping of his commandments, and turn away from the traditions and commandments of men. This great message in its threefold aspect is given in Rev. 14:6-14, and elsewhere. Many people long to hear these things, but the pastors will not preach them. Many pastors long to preach simple Bible truth, but fear some of the people. There is "restlessness and dissatisfaction everywhere" in the earth, and men are so because they are hoping in the things of earth. But nevertheless there is one place of rest in all this sea of strife, and that is upon the rock of God's eternal truth as it is in Christ Jesus.