SIGNS OF THE TIMES by J. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1859

SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

By J. Clarke

“The Methodist Conference having jurisdiction over north-western Ohio, has for some time had in contemplation the founding of a female Seminary in the northern counties of their bounds. We understand that preference will be given to some thriving point in the Maumee country, easily accessible, and healthy in location, and which will hold out sufficient inducements for the present, and support for the future. Defiance is looked upon with favor already by the Methodists having the matter in charge, and the location could be easily secured if our citizens would but make a reasonable effort. To consult and ascertain what can be done to this end, is the object of the meeting called for next Saturday evening, August 13th.—Defiance Democrat.”

“What say the citizens of Perrysburg to putting in a bid for the location of the Female Seminary at this point? Certainly Perrysburg can present claims equal, if not superior, to those of any other locality in the North West.—Perrysburg Journal of Aug. 11th, 1859.”

To the casual observer, there is nothing in the above extracts to cause remark. Surely there can be nothing objectionable in establishing schools, nor in a wish on the part of those towns to invite what would evidently add to their prosperity and attractiveness.

The feature noticeable in the above extracts is one of a general nature, applicable to our whole country, and the professed christian world; viz., a desire on the part of the world to avail themselves of the advantages of a prosperous, wealthy, and of course popular church, (and this is more or less true of most existing churches,) and a willingness, too, on the part of the church to receive the patronage and support of the wicked world, even throwing out inducements to the public, which are well understood by those interested, so that the location of a denominational Seminary, or other institution of learning, is looked upon by those owning property or real estate in the neighborhood, in some degree as the location of a railroad or county seat, as adding to the value of property, and in elevating the tone of society.

Now there can be no possible harm in any honest endeavors to give an impetus to business, or to enhance the value of property, or to elevate the public mind to a higher tone of intelligence and manners. On the contrary, such endeavors are praiseworthy and excellent.

But what are the facts in the case? Simply these: the professed church of Jesus Christ upon the earth, has somehow or other got in favor with the world, so that the world allures her by such endowments as they can present, and on the other hand the world has somehow got in favor with the professed church of Christ, so that she smilingly receives the aforesaid endowments, and gives her patronage in return.

But what of this? says one. Is it not pleasant and profitable, in a secular as well as spiritual sense, for such peace to exist? Would you like to see the church at swords points with the world?

Sir, here is the principle, the point at issue. Christ and Satan are as opposite in character as light and darkness. They have never made any treaty of peace. Satan wages perpetual war with Christ, and when Christ's followers unite with Satan's disciples, it shows that there is treachery somewhere. If the children of Beelzebub patronize Christian institutions, and sustain them, it is to seduce them; for it is certain that Christ has not changed, neither has Satan improved, except in slyness and cunning.

Indeed! says another, that would be too much to believe, that Satan should have such a strong influence with the church. I cannot agree with any such idea, for should the church refuse to associate with the world she would lose her influence and position at once. Why, more than half our congregation are of the world, and they include some of the most popular and wealthy.

True, sir. You are on the road to present wealth by gaining worldly favor; but Christ says that his kingdom is not of this world; and James says that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. Again says Christ, Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And again, Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

But, sir, when the true church shall let her light shine as it is her privilege to do, she will condemn the practices of the wicked world by her example and precept. She cannot unite in schemes of usefulness with the wicked, for their ideas of utility are at antipodes, wholly at variance, as light with darkness. Of this Christ was aware when he said, 'Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and separate you from their company; and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, great is your reward in heaven; for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.'

Here, sir, you see the Saviour has drawn the line, when he says that false prophets are in the favor of the world. He pronounces a woe upon such. On the other hand, the true prophets have had their names cast out as evil by the world, and history, sacred and profane, does corroborate this testimony most satisfactorily.

Now unless you can prove that the world has improved in moral character since the Saviour's time, you must allow that the church has lowered her standard to such an extent as to satisfy the world that she has lost the Saviour's image.

But say you, I think the world is improving in morals and intelligence; we have schools and churches in almost every neighborhood; missions to the heathen, and all kinds of benevolent and patriotic institutions and establishments.

Sir, it appears from all the evidence spread out before us, that instead of improvement, there is a downward tendency in morals within the recollection of man, so that it is proverbial among thinking people, that this is an apostate age. Compare the men of the American congress of 1776, with the rowdy collection in the halls of Washington in 1859; compare the Wesleys, the Newtons, the Tennetts, the Edwards, of a former age, with the dwarfs of the nineteenth century; (I speak not of intellectual power, but of deep piety and unspotted purity of life;); witness the missionary societies, fairly endorsing southern slavery for a little more gold; witness the American Tract Society with its enormous power, mutilating the work of a living historian, such as D'Aubigne, and sending the crippled copy of that good man's book broadcast over the world, without even giving him notice of the matter; witness the same Society fairly endorsing (by its stubborn silence) that horrid moloch of American slavery.

Again, notice the fall of our political morals since the adoption of the constitution. Who does not see in the Kansas perfidy, in the fugitive slave law, in the decision of the supreme court in the Dred Scott case, &c., a great moral fall? How are the mighty fallen!

Paul said that in the latter days perilous times should come, that men would become lovers of their own selves. He also says that evil men and seducers should wax worse and worse. Now to suppose the world is growing better and better, is both contrary to scripture and other evidence, and in this corrupt age, for the professed church to seek to win the wealth, and favor, and endowments of the world, and the world in turn reciprocating the favor, is indeed conclusive and glaring evidence that the corrupt churches are the apostate daughters of the mother of harlots, who holds in her hand the golden cup spoken of in Rev. xvii, 4, 5.