SUPERIORITY OF THE PLOWSHARE.
Whether men believe the Bible or not, whether they believe in the existence of a chief adversary of all that is good or not, there is one thing that seems to be certain: There is some subtle, sinister power that impels men to work against their own best interest. There is some peculiar influence at work causing the human race to indulge in all sorts of suicidal schemes. Judgment is all awry, the world is over head and ears in debt, and its investments are largely unprofitable. Referring to another subject, the San Francisco Chronicle of recent date incidentally says, "The plowshare is infinitely more potent in raising the value of government bonds than big armies and navies." This statement is so evident that one would hardly expect to hear a dissenting voice; yet, look at the world and behold the vast armaments, the almost incredible investments in military and naval establishments. These are not only maintained by the national governments, but by states and provinces. They call for the best bone and sinew among the sons of men, to become consumers of the people's substance rather than producers; to become trained systematic destroyers of men and the fruits of their labor. And it is all to gratify the ambition of men to dominate their fellow men, to sustain the ambition of governments, to outdo and to outshine other governments. To this end the prophetic Word foretells the disposition of the last days to beat the plowshares into swords, and the pruning-hooks into spears. Thus unto the very end will go on the process of destruction unto destruction; and when men shall be prophesying, "Peace, peace," then "sudden destruction shall come upon them." See Joel 3:9-14; 1 Thess. 5:1-3.