THE PRESENT "REVIVALS" IN BABYLON.
By R. F. C.
A beloved brother writes: "The great so-called revivals of the day, it seems to me, are the greatest deception ever imposed on mankind. For I can look upon this work only as a deception, while I hold the Advent faith. Christ is not divided. If he is with us, then he is not in these [so-called] reformations." It is certain that if the voice from heaven is saying, 'Come out of her my people,' any voice that says, 'Unite with her,' is not from heaven. I believe this movement is a great deception; but whether it is greater than that in the Roman empire by which the Papacy was established, is a question. But considering the superior light existing in this land of Bibles, this is doubtless much greater. These revivals seem to take everything in their way. I have heard it asserted that, in some whole towns, not an individual adult was left—all were brought under their influence. At this rate, how long will it be ere Babylon will become the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird? These things will flatter the people with the idea that the Devil's doctrine of the conversion of the world is true; and consequently strengthen the opposition to present truth. The people are doubtless, in very many instances, moved by fear that the Advent doctrine may be true, and feeling the need of some kind of religion, in order to escape those things that are evidently coming on the earth, they very naturally choose that kind which is most popular. The mass of the people know not what they do in this movement. The mass of church members are left to believe a lie. God suffers them to be thus deceived, because they have rejected truth. But the great Deceiver has a definite object in this movement. That object, I believe, is to increase the political strength of the nominal church, and thus prepare the way for the last persecution against the people of God. He wants more stringent laws to enforce the observance of his favorite institution. His pious petitions to the present New York legislature have been rebuffed. He wants more strength, and he will have it, too. God's word is out for it, that the two-horned beast will enforce the mark on pain of death. Union is strength; and these 'union meetings,' and wholesale conversions are well calculated to consolidate and increase the strength of Babylon upon any measure that is so popular with almost every branch of the great Babel of sectarianism. I do not mean to say that there is no religion in these sweeping revivals. Man is a religious being; and without enlightenment from the word of God will bow down to Popery, or even to stocks and stones. They have religion, without doubt; but there is a vast difference between the different kinds of religion. The prophets of Baal had religion, when they cut themselves with stones and lancets till the blood gushed out, while calling upon their god to send down fire from heaven. But it was of that kind that drove the prophets of the living God into dens and caves of the earth, till he, through Elijah, undeceived the people and cut off their deceivers. But it may be urged that these people have the right kind of religion, the Christian religion. Nominally they have; and the Papal church could claim the same, from the beginning to the end of its bloody reign. Be not deceived. The word of God points us to a Protestant persecution just before us; and there must be an increase of religion among the sects, in order to bring it about. Since 1844 the nominal churches have been too dead to do anything of the kind. It is religion only that persecutes religion. Without the false, the true never would be persecuted. Dear brethren, it is our business, in all meekness and humility, but with firmness and perseverance, to oppose the true religion to the false; and, in the spirit of Elijah, to call upon the people to choose which they will serve. The spirit to war against flesh and blood should have no place with us. The love of souls should move us. There are many honest souls united and uniting with the fallen, corrupt and corrupting churches of the present day. These, when they have the light, will obey the voice from heaven. Come out of her my people. We must labor to enlighten and save them, though it call forth the wrath of the worshipers of the great and anti-typical Baal and his image—the worldly, pleasure-loving churches around us. There is no escape from the contest, but by an ignominious retreat. If we escape the wrath of the enemies of truth, it will only be upon such terms of vile submission as will bring down upon us the wrath of God. Onward, then, as good soldiers, to the conflict; that in the end we may say, with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith." R. F. C.