SIGN OF HIS WORK by C. M. S.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 26, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 52.

SIGN OF HIS WORK.

By C. M. S.

It was stated not long ago, on good authority, that the Bible printed in English and Chinese could be read by one-half of the inhabitants of the globe. For the other half of the world the Bible would need to be printed in about three hundred and fifty languages and dialects. There has been a wonderful impetus given within the last decade to the study of the English language in almost every part of the earth, and the growth of the number who speak it has been more rapid than that of those speaking any other language. A recent decree of the emperor of Germany makes the study of English compulsory in the higher schools, taking the place of the French.

In the marvelous growth of this one language is there not a lesson for the Christians who speak it? That is certainly one of the opening doors of God's providence. God's last message to a perishing world has been committed to a people speaking the English language; for a people speaking that language can proclaim that message to the world quicker than a people speaking any other. This is not disparaging the work that is being done in other languages. God has His people in every land, and they will proclaim His message when they learn it; but they would learn it slowly did it go forth in the iron bonds of the rigorous Russian tongue, or the Portuguese, or even the fluent French.

To reach the greatest number in the shortest time, the most universally spoken language must be used; but it must also be the language of a people among whom there is a foreign-mission spirit. Is it not significant then that the language of those countries from whose shores most missionaries go, the language of those countries where the Gospel has been preached with least hindrance, should have grown to such proportions as to be a well-nigh universal lan-

guage? The opening of the doors of foreign countries to the English language opens also the doors in those countries to the English-speaking bearers of God's last warning to the people in those countries; and those who do not understand the English tongue will learn the message from their own people who do.

God is preparing to do a "short work" in the earth, and in this thing we see one of His preparations. To speak a language, men are needed; to speak God's message in any language, consecrated hearts are needed. So of those to whom this one talent has been given, God expects the increase which the use of one talent will bring. You can not even hide this one talent. If unused for God, its disuse is open and manifest both to the world and to Him who gave it.

Intensity is taking hold of all powers in the earth. It is the intensity of despair and last supreme effort on the part of the hosts of evil; it is the intensity of assured victory on the part of the agents of God; for God is about to arise and do His "strange work," His terrible work—strange to Him, for mercy to the sinner is finished, and terrible to the sinner, for beyond it there is no hope. But God will not do that work without warning man of His purpose. He is doing it now, and the volume of that work will increase like the swelling tide till the fiat of eternity goes forth, and it is done. It will not be long; for the tide is rising with the power of heaven now, and God's work will never finish on an ebb tide. Do not expect it. Get ready, and get ready now.

C. M. S.