WHEREVER we go, all over the land, the words, “no trust,” are prominently posted up. When we enter stores, mechanics’ shops, or mills, generally the first thing that greets our eye is the significant words, “No Trust.” But what a commentary is this upon the character of the times! Men will solemnly promise to pay at a certain time, and then as though the obligation was discharged, have no more care about it! This kind of lying has fashionable. It has become a “matter of course.” Nearly all confidence in fellow-man is gone. There are so few honest people, that business men have decided to have but one rule, namely, “Deal with an honest man as you would with a rogue;” or in other words, “Take it for granted that all men are rogues, and treat them accordingly.” To distrust men is now so common that it is no longer attended with embarrassment; and the cards of “No Trust,” “No Trust,” “No Trust,” all around the premises have become fashionable ornaments.
This then is now so prominent a characteristic that it is no wonder if it be a matter of prophecy and a sign of the times. Most religious people admit, theoretically, that we are living in the last days. Be it so, the apostle Paul speaking of these days, [2 Tim. iii, 1-4,] says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, unthankful, truce-breakers, traitors,” &c. But while there is “no trust” for fellow man, there is but little confidence in God. Behold that meeting-house! They have professedly dedicated it to God. The eloquent minister prayed that God would preserve the house they had built for his name, and there meet with his people. But as if there was doubt whether the prayer was heard, forth-with a lightning-rod is raised above the very summit of the sky-piercing steeple; and, as though there was still doubt whether the dedication prayers and the lightning-rod were sufficient to preserve the Lord’s property, they go and have it insured by the most reliable insurance company known. In some instances the lightning has overleaped their rods, and the steeple has been shivered to atoms. And one case is reported where a very high steeple, which a spirit of strife had run up about twenty-five feet higher than any other in “town” was wrung off and hurled upward by a furious whirlwind; and when it came down, as if directed by an avenging power, some point first, driving the twenty-five feet of their superiority through the roof to be admired only by themselves.37
Thus for once that monumental pile of pride, vain show, and aristocracy, which they professed was to represent their “upward tendency,” was suddenly reversed, and made to represent the facts in the case. This happening on the night before their day of worship, they were compelled to assemble and silently view their boasted twenty-five feet, as a solemn index, faithfully pointing whither they with all their pride and superiority were fast hastening. But the day is soon coming when the Lord will aim his fury at all the high towers of Babylon, when the buildings and builders shall perish together. “For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low. And upon every high tower,” &c. Isa. ii, 12, 15. The prophet also speaks of “the day of the great slaughter when the towers shall fall.” Isa. xxx, 25. And Ezekiel in describing the same, says, “The mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places (towers, margin) shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.” Eze. xxxviii, 20.
The prophecy of Amos (chap. vi) undoubtedly has reference more or less to the present time, and how truly applicable such as the following: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,” “Ye that put far away the evil day.” “That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music like David. That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments; but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph.” “Ye which rejoice in a thing of naught, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our strength.”
How often do we hear the churches, in referring to their boasted progress, say, “We now count our spires (horns) by thousands.” These steeples, spires, or towers, are now the pride and glory of the daughters of Babylon, and it is no wonder that God should single them out as the especial objects of his vengeance in the day of his wrath. See Amos iii, 13, 14.
There is one church in Detroit, Mich., that has (altogether large and small) about thirty of these. They stand out before the world as an extra number of the real emblems of pride and vanity. The proud king of Babylon said, “Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” Dan. iv, 30. To transpose this so as to represent the haughtiness and pride manifested by some of the latter day ministers, when they have gathered their flock, and superintended the building of the highest steeple in the city, it would read somewhat as follows: “Is not this the high steeple that I have built for the house of my church, by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?”
A popular minister in Mich. might say, as he enters his pulpit on Sunday morning, and casts his eyes upon the gold-covered Bible before him, “Is not this the great golden Bible that took the premium at the World's Fair, and cost three hundred dollars, which my church has purchased for the honor of our majesty?” But the time is coming when they will say of the great God as did king Nebuchadnezzar, “those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”
Oh! how much of haughtiness, pride and love of popularity, and how little of Christ-like simplicity and humility, and “trust” in God, do we see in the churches of the present day. The present general rush after the world, heaping up treasures on the earth, with the pretense of “preparing against a rainy day,” the lightning-rods and insurances on churches, together with the cold, formal prayers of the age, all, all are signifying with sad and fearful certainty that on these premises there is “No Trust.” “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?”