Increase of Wickedness.
By Editor
One of the signs of the end which Inspiration gives us is the increase of wickedness among the people of God. "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." The following, relating to ministers, is from the Christian Advocate of April 29:— "At all times and in all parts of the world some men have found their way into the ministry of the Christian Church who were destitute of common sense; others, destitute of moral sense; others, basely wicked; and others, both weak and wicked. There is reason to fear that all these classes are increasing in numbers. Within the last year there have been more charges of immorality against the ministry in this country than at any previous time within half a century, and, what is worse, many of them have been proved beyond reasonable doubt; so that all natural sympathy has been overcome, and they have been expelled from the church. A considerable number have withdrawn under charges, an infallible proof of guilt, or so nearly so that they should not be readmitted, even to membership in the church, except upon specific confession." The Advocate well says in closing: "When such guilt is proved, the first step toward diminishing the 'occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme' is for the church to obey the inspired command, 'Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.'"