Signs of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 2. (1/13/1887)

Signs of the Times

Jan 13, 1887

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1887

OUR PRESENT DUTY AND THE COMING CRISIS.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

"AND because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." The very atmosphere is polluted with sin. Soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers. The promise is, "Them that honor me I will honor." Shall we be less firmly attached to God's law because the world at large have attempted to make it void?

Already the judgments of God are abroad in the land, as seen in the storms, in floods, in tempests, in earthquakes, in perils by land and by sea. The great I AM is speaking to those who make void his law. When God's wrath is poured out upon the earth, who will then be able to stand? Now is the time for God's people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when his law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few, —this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.

The days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place, we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that his fan is in his hand, and that he soon will thoroughly purge his floor. The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing.

With unerring accuracy, the Infinite One keeps an account with all nations. While his mercy is tendered with calls to repentance, this account will remain open; but when a certain limit which God has fixed is reached, the ministry of his wrath commences. The account is closed. Divine patience ceases. There is no more pleading of mercy in their behalf.

The prophet, looking down the ages, had this time presented before his vision. The nations of this age have been the recipients of unprecedented mercies. The choicest of Heaven's blessings have been given them, but increased pride, covetousness, idolatry, contempt of God, and base ingratitude, are written against them. They are fast closing up their account with God.

But that which causes me to tremble, is the fact that those who have had the greatest light and privileges have become contaminated by the prevailing iniquity. Influenced by the unrighteous around them, many, even of those who profess the truth, have grown cold, and are borne down by the strong current of evil. The universal scorn thrown upon true piety and holiness, leads those who do not connect closely with God to lose their reverence for his law. If they were following the light, and obeying the truth from the heart, this holy law would seem even more precious to them when despised and set aside. As the disrespect for God's law becomes more manifest, the line of demarkation between its observers and the world becomes more distinct. Love for the divine precepts increases with one class, according as contempt for them increases with the other class.

The crisis is fast approaching. The rapidly swelling figures show that the time for God's visitations has nearly come. Although loath to punish, nevertheless he will punish, and that speedily. Those who walk in the light will see signs of the approaching peril; but they are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned expectancy of the ruin, comforting themselves with the belief that God will shelter his people in the day of visitation. Far from it. They should realize that it is their duty to labor diligently to save others, looking with strong faith to God for help.

Already the restraining Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the earth. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they may not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid his angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of his avenging wrath as no pen can picture.

We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Prophecy is fast fulfilling. The Lord is at the door. There is soon to open before us a period of overwhelming interest to all living. The controversies of the past are to be revived. New controversies will arise. The scenes to be enacted in our world are not even dreamed of. Satan is at work through human agencies. Those who are making so great efforts to change the Constitution and secure a law enforcing the first day of the week little realize what will be the result. A crisis is just upon us.

But God's servants are not to trust to themselves in this great emergency. In the visions given to Isaiah, to Ezekiel, and to John, we see how closely Heaven is connected with the events transpiring upon the earth. We see the care of God for those who are loyal to him. The programme of coming events is in the hands of the Lord; the world is not without a ruler. The Majesty of Heaven has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of his church, in his own hands.

Brethren, it is no time now for mourning and despair, no time to yield to doubt and unbelief. Christ is to us not a Saviour in Joseph's new tomb, closed with a great stone, and sealed with the Roman seal. We have a risen Saviour. He is the King, the Lord of hosts; he sitteth between the cherubim, and amidst the strife and tumult of nations he guards his people still. He who rules in the heavens is our Saviour. He measures every trial. He watches the furnace fire that must test every soul. When the strongholds of kings shall be overthrown, when the arrows of God's wrath shall strike through the hearts of his enemies, his people have the assurance that they are safe in his hands. In patience they are to possess their souls.

Those whom God employs as his messengers are not to feel that his work is dependent upon them. Finite men are not left to carry this burden of responsibility. In Ezekiel's vision, God had his hand beneath

the wings of the cherubim. This is to teach his servants that it is divine power that gives them success. He will work with them if they will put away iniquity, and become pure in heart and life. The heavenly messengers seen by Ezekiel, like a bright light going among the living creatures with the swiftness of lightning, represent the speed with which this work will finally go forward to completion. He who slumbers not, who is continually at work for the accomplishment of His designs, can carry forward His great work harmoniously. That which appears to finite minds entangled and complicated, the Lord's hand can keep in perfect order. He can devise ways and means to thwart the purposes of wicked counselors, and those who plot out mischief.

Those who are called to responsible positions in the work of God, often feel that they are carrying heavy burdens, when they may have the satisfaction of knowing that Jesus carries them all. We permit ourselves to feel altogether too much care, trouble, and perplexity in the Lord's work. We need to trust him, believe in him, and go forward. The tireless vigilance of the heavenly messengers, their unceasing employment in their ministry in connection with the beings of earth, show us how God's hand is guiding the wheel within a wheel. The divine Instructor is saying to every actor in his work, as he said to Cyrus of old, "I girded thee, though thou hast not known me."

Men are not to take credit to themselves for the success of their labors. The clear, sharp thought, the wisdom to plan and to execute, are of the ability that God giveth. God is the Master-worker; men are only the instruments in his hand. It is his mind that is working through all who yield themselves to his control. While we are to act our part by improving to the utmost every talent committed to us, we have nothing which we have not received from God, and we should give him all the glory.

The important future is before us. To meet its trials and temptations, and to perform its duties, will require great faith, energy, and perseverance. But we may triumph gloriously; for not one watching, praying, believing soul will be ensnared by the devices of the enemy. All Heaven is interested in our welfare, and waits our demand upon its wisdom and strength. Neither wicked men nor evil spirits can hinder the work of God or shut out his presence from his people, if they will, with subdued, contrite hearts, confess and put away their sins, and in faith claim his promises. Every opposing influence, whether open or secret, may be successfully resisted, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." If the Lord had a company of workers who would rely wholly upon him, he would accomplish a great work through them. One could chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight. God is just as willing now as anciently to work through human efforts, and to accomplish great things through weak instrumentalities. We shall not gain the victory through numbers, but through the full surrender of the soul to Jesus. We are to go forward in his strength, trusting in the mighty God of Israel.

Let all who have received the light, who have had the opportunity of reading and hearing the prophecy, take heed to keep those things that are written therein; "for the time is at hand." Let none now venture to tamper with sin, or remain in a state of lethargy and stupid indifference. Let not the destiny of your soul hang upon an uncertainty. Know for yourselves that you are on the Lord's side.

OH, LOVE DIVINE!

By Arthur E. Smith

Oh, love divine! from Heaven sent down To cheer us on our way, And show the path whose end shall crown Us with eternal day.

Oh, love divine! a gift thou art, More than all earth beside; Thou givest ev'ry heir a part In Heav'n, close to his side.

Oh, love divine! come dwell in me, And fill my heart with love, And let me feel the surety That I've a home above. —Arthur E. Smith.

A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

By Editor

UNDER the heading, "The Foe of Civilization," the San Francisco Chronicle, of January 2, speaks editorially as follows:—

"The most dangerous enemy to the civilization of the century is to be looked for, not in the ranks of outside barbarians, thirsting for conquest and plunder, not in the forays of an Attila or Jenghis Khan, but in a debased and demoralized public sentiment. The reversion of the civilized world to barbarism will be brought about, if at all, by a laxity of morals and a disposition to minimize the gravity of certain public offenses, and to tolerate, if not to encourage, the offenders.

"The danger lies chiefly in the line of excusing or palliating breaches of confidential relations existing between employers and employes, or principals and agents. Such relations, which were formerly considered so sacred as to be absolutely inviolable, are now broken every day and constantly, and their frequent repetition seems to have blunted the popular perception of their enormity. 'Skipped to Canada' seems to be a standing caption in the Eastern papers, while the measure of the guilt of the offender is not the offense but its detection. Embezzlement, fraudulent conversion, breach of trust, and similar crimes have grown so common as to scarcely excite comment, and even if remarked upon, it is generally from the standpoint of the ill-fortune of the employer, not the crime of the employe.

"This vicious tone of public feeling is not confined to the United States. In England, France, and Germany the same sentiment prevails, though possibly in a less degree. In those countries, as well as in our own, successful rascality is looked up to, and the man who has made a fortune by robbing others, provided he has been adroit enough to escape the law, is quite as well received and quite as highly esteemed as he is under our more modern and less polished civilization. There, as here, the measure of success is the amount of money, and not the way in which it was obtained; and society is very careful how it throws any mud against the walls of the town mansion in London or the palace in Paris, even though its occupant may have made his fortune by robbing his employer or appropriating trust funds."

The Chronicle then goes on to say that it cannot be expected that laws against such offenses will be enforced until they are supplemented by public opinion. But there is where the trouble comes in, for it is the defective public sentiment that makes these offenses so common. Who is going to reform public sentiment? Only the law of God could do that, and that is being scorned even by professed Christians.

SUNDAY LAWS.

By C. P. Bollman

FOR more than thirty years some have maintained that the Sunday-sabbath would yet be generally recognized and enforced by the laws of our land. And this not simply as the day has been recognized all along in the several States, but that it will have a place in the Constitution of the United States and be rigidly enforced upon all regardless of creed. But till within a very few years, just how this was to be brought about did not appear. It is true that for more than twenty years there has been in existence a party having this very thing as its avowed object, but for some time it seemed to make little or no progress; and for this reason many were ready to assert that rigid Sunday laws could never come into popular favor in this country. But recent events have not only demonstrated the possibility of such a state of affairs, but they have shown how it can be brought about.

The past few months have been exceedingly fruitful in events which indicate most unmistakably the course of the Sunday law agitation, and he must be blind indeed who cannot now see, only a little way in the future, unjust and oppressive Sunday legislation. On every hand influences are at work which will very soon bring together in favor of such laws elements hitherto antagonistic. Indeed the rapidity with which this is being done is simply astonishing.

Speaking of the recent enforcement of the Sunday law in Boston, Mass., the Watchman (Baptist) of that city says:—

"Much Sunday business was interrupted, especially in barbers' shops and apothecary stores. . . . A considerable number of arrests were made, most of the offenders being Jew clothing dealers, and vendors in small bake and grocery shops, and cigar and fruit stands. . . . The Jew clothiers claim a special and very questionable exemption on the ground that they cannot be required to keep two Sabbaths, when very few of them are known to close their stores on Saturday."

The Tuesday following these arrests the Jews held a meeting, and decided to appeal to the Legislature; but inasmuch as the law of that State does at present, we believe, exempt conscientious observers of the seventh day, it is not easy to see what the Jews hope to accomplish. It seems scarcely probable that they can secure the repeal of the law altogether; and exemptions in favor of conscientious observance of another day than Sunday can do them no good so long as they do not observe the other day. And not only so, but as they do not close their places of business on the Sabbath, their opposition to doing so on Sunday will be very generally attributed to a desire on their part to gain an advantage over others in the same line of business, by keeping open on all days. And this will cause other tradesmen who desire to have one day's respite from business each week, to demand that the law be made even more rigid than it now is. Therefore, none need be surprised if the action of the Jews should not only prove futile, but should result in the repeal of even the present reasonable exemption, just as a similar provision was repealed in Arkansas a year ago. And should such be the case, of course really conscientious Sabbatarians will suffer just as they have in other States.

Scarcely any legitimate business would be injured by Sunday closing, provided all engaged in it close; therefore, as soon as business men are assured that the movement is to be general, and to operate alike on all, they will favor it almost to a man; if for no other reason, because of the rest it affords them; and they will insist that there be no exemptions. The masses will not discriminate between those who really keep the seventh day, and those who only profess to do so and yet keep no day. Business men, and laboring men too, for that matter, will insist that justice demands that all rest alike; and of course neither the wishes nor the rights of the few who are really conscientious will be respected, and therefore all such will have to yield to the will of the majority or suffer the consequences, just as some have already suffered in several States where exemptions in their favor are not made.

Another important element of strength in the Sunday movement is the opposition to the liquor traffic. It is urged that saloons reap their greatest harvest on Sunday, and that to compel all such places to close on that day would reduce their business nearly one-half. Of course Sabbatarians would all be glad to see saloons closed, not only on Sunday but on every day; and they argue that if the law can be made to close them one day it can do the same thing every day. But as there are a great many people who are really opposed to saloons only on Sunday, the proposition to close them altogether does not meet with the popular favor that it deserves, nor as much as we have a right to expect from those who make such a loud profession of temperance principles. Very many of the impassioned appeals which we hear for the abrogation of the saloon evil, seem to be inspired almost solely by the idea that the liquor traffic is a "Sabbath-breaking business." And these zealous reformers apparently lose sight of the real merits of the temperance question in their blind zeal for the "American sabbath," the "Christian sabbath," or the "civil Sunday."

But not only do the temperance people, as such, demand a general Sunday law, but the working men are demanding the same thing, only for a different reason, i. e., that they may have a day of rest. As with business men so with working men, when they rest they insist that others shall not work. Indeed, the enforcement of the Sunday law in Massachusetts was owing to the action of certain barbers who belonged to the Knights of Labor. Of them the Watchman says:—

"They desired to enjoy the benefits of the day of rest, and were unwilling to pay for them the heavy price of losing much of their business to competitors who were indifferent to those benefits. Hence arose the prosecution of a Sunday-working barber, his conviction, and the affirming of that conviction as legal by the court of last resort."

Thus it is easy to see what the result will be when the Knights of Labor as a body declare in favor of strict Sunday laws. It matters not that they look at the matter from a purely selfish standpoint; those who desire to enforce the observance of the day as the "Christian Sabbath" will not scruple to avail themselves of all the assistance they can get from whatever quarter; nor will they stop to inquire as to the motives of their allies. And right here comes in one of the most powerful influences ever enlisted in behalf of Sunday; to wit, the power of the Papacy.

The Church of Rome has a special proprietary interest in the Sunday-sabbath, and though apparently indifferent on the subject, she has for some time been shaping her course in such a way as to give substantial aid to those who propose to enforce upon all the observance of her chief festival,—the one to which she points with special pride as being the badge of her authority,—the one by observing which Protestants acknowledge her power to establish festivals of precept. But the relation of the Catholic Church to the Sunday movement will be best shown by the statement of a few facts.

The plenary council at Baltimore decided that Catholics must abstain from selling intoxicants on Sunday; and now after being affirmed by the Pope, this decree has been published by the Archbishop of Philadelphia, who says that it will be rigidly enforced upon all Catholics within his diocese. This action places the whole Catholic Church in America substantially on the same ground with the mass of Protestants who demand Sunday prohibition, and will have the effect of dividing the saloon element itself upon the Sunday question. A great many liquor dealers are Catholics, and when in obedience to "the church" they are compelled to close on Sunday, they will very naturally demand that all others do the same. And when the time comes that saloons must close on Sunday—and it soon will come—it is vain to imagine that conscientious Sabbatarians will be allowed any freedom upon that day. When the laws are so shaped that the saloons must close on the first day of the week, saloon-keepers will vie with members of the popular churches in hunting down every other form of business upon that day; the first class will be actuated by a desire to make the law odious and so secure its repeal; the other to root out, if possible, the little sect of commandment-keepers whose very existence is a standing rebuke to those who make void the law of God by their traditions. He who cannot see in the near future the complete triumph of the Sunday, so far as civil law is concerned, must be blind to the signs of the times. C. P. BOLLMAN.

TO WHOM ARE YOU LOOKING?

By A. A. John

In traveling from place to place one meets a great variety of people among Christians. Some are nearly always discouraged on account of the failure of some fellow-mortal. Others are watching the world to see if they can get wealth, honor, or pleasure from it to make smooth and cheerful the rugged, lonely path in which Christians are supposed to walk. Many belong to these classes, and it is not difficult to point them out. They are often emotional, and it is nothing strange to see them elated one day and the next almost in despair.

Another class, very much smaller than either of the above, seem to have so few shadows in their pathway that their joy is almost complete. This class do not seek joy and comfort from the world, nor do they continually watch their erring brethren. Their own weaknesses teach them that "vain is the help of man," so they look unto Jesus, and find in him an ever-present helper. This is the secret of the whole matter. Nothing seems to stimulate them but the nectar from the Lord's great chalice of divine grace. It is their all-satisfying portion. And thus they walk in the humble path of life with a silent, but irresistible influence. They are the salt of the earth. They are Christians, and we cannot help loving them.

Dear reader, are you almost ready to yield to doubts, discouragements, and worldly temptations just because some poor striving mortal like yourself is failing in his efforts to overcome? or, because the worldling's cup seems to overflow with pleasure? If so, you are in danger. You are looking in the wrong direction. Says the apostle: "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." By heeding these words you may have a new experience in the divine life, and may finish your course with joy. A. A. JOHN.

Aberystwith, Wales.

"O give thanks unto the Lord."

MAN'S INVENTIONS.

By R. S. Anthony

"God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." Eccl. 7:29.

How true the language of the wise man! Ever since the fall of man, Satan has lost no time in his work of deception. And he is ever suggesting to the minds of men various ways of misapplying texts of Scripture.

A few weeks ago I entered a certain church in the city of ---, W. T. Taking a seat I noticed, placed in pockets on the backs of the seats, small envelopes. Examining these envelopes I found printed, in bold letters, this text: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." 1 Cor. 16:2. The explanation, or application, was as follows: "Place your contribution in this envelope, and deposit it on the plate at collection."

Can the honest mind apply this text so? Not saying anything concerning the many translations which read, "by himself," "by himself at home," etc., the language of the text itself would not allow any such application.

Let us notice the language of the text and the application given. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him." On the first day of the week everyone was to store by him (himself), according as he was prospered, in produce or money. Is church, Sabbath, or contribution plate in any way mentioned? The application requires that he must first go to church, and then put money on the contribution plate at collection. If "by him" means, collection plate, and "in store," the church, then might this application be made. But such, the candid reader will see is not the case.

First-day sabbath advocates use the same rule of interpretation, we presume, in the following plain scriptures: "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex. 20:10. "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week." Matt. 28:1. "The Sabbath was made for man." Mark 2:27. When their rule is applied, the texts read thus: "The first day is the Christian sabbath." "Sabbath begins Saturday, at 12 P. M." "That old Sabbath was made for the Jews."

Is this not a complete fulfillment of the prophet's words: "Her priests [ministers, Joel 1:9; 2:17] have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, . . . and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them." Eze. 22:26. "Seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken." Verse 28. Such are some of the inventions of man.

R. S. ANTHONY.

A PURE HEART MAKES PURE SPEECH.

By Dean Bradley

THE true way to make pure and wholesome our own share in the ceaseless tide of words which is forever flowing around us is to strive to make pure and wholesome the heart within. "Keep thy heart," says the wise man—"keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." If once our hearts have been trained to care very deeply for what is best and purest in life, for what is beautiful and true in thought, our heartiest mirth, our freest jest, or hasty words, will not be those of men and women who are indifferent, who care nothing for noble living, nothing for a Christian life, nothing for a Christian spirit.—Dean Bradley.

The Gospel Values Small Things

By James Freeman Clarke

ONE of the best things in the gospel of Jesus is the stress it lays on small things. It ascribes more value to quality than quantity. It teaches that God does not ask how much we do, but how we do it.—James F. Clarke.

THE MOLE AND THE ROBIN.

By Henry C. M'Cook

A MOLE, who had been hunting earth-worms all day, stopped at the door of his long, dark tunnel, and listened to the evening song of the robin. The bird was perched upon a clump of golden-rod, close by the mole's run, whistling notes of praise.

"Who are you?" asked the mole.

"I am robin redbreast," was the answer; "one of the great bird family."

"You sing very sweetly," said the mole.

"Ah! that is nothing," the robin replied. "Have you never heard the morning concert of the birds, Mr. Mole?"

"Concert! I know of no such thing," was the mole's response.

"You surprise me!" exclaimed the redbreast. "How can you have lived so long in these parts, and not have heard the morning praise of the birds? You have much to learn, I assure you. Why, the air and trees are full of birds, who float and sing in the early sunlight, and soar away into the heavens. Our mother earth has many other beautiful things; there are gay flowers of many colors and sweet fragrance; there are green grass, waving boughs, and luscious fruits; there are blue skies, golden, white, and rosy clouds, nodding forests, sloping hills, and myriads of painted insects sporting in the sun. But there is nothing fairer to my eyes than the birds, the beautiful birds!"

So saying, robin flew to the very top of the golden-rod, and as he rocked back and forth, whistled loudly the notes of his song.

"What are you saying?" cried the mole. "I do not believe it! There are no such things as those you tell of. Flowers and clouds, forsooth! Insects, forests, and concerts of birds—it is incredible! I never saw them, I never heard them, and I am an old mole, and am counted a wise one, too; for I have burrowed long and far, with scientific skill, beneath the ground."

"Dear me!" whistled the robin merrily. "That is no proof at all; for earth has a life more lovely and wonderful above its surface than beneath."

"Nay, nay!" laughed the mole scornfully. "I have burrowed all my life, and know and affirm that earth produces nothing but fishing-worms!"

"Poor, blind mole!" said the robin, and flew away toward the setting sun.

"Poor, deluded bird!" squeaked the mole, and ran back into his burrow.—Henry C. M'Cook.

“BLIND GUIDES.”

By R. F. Cottrell

How forcible the words of Jesus! How just the comparison! How reasonable the apprehension that both will fall into the ditch together! Who would knowingly trust himself to the guidance of a blind guide? Yet in matters pertaining to religion, in that which relates to our highest interest, men choose to be led by the blind. In matters pertaining to earthly interests, to mammon, they do not thus; but they are keen-sighted and shrewd, and will trust no one to manage for them but those who have eyes and are accustomed to using them. But in religion they are willing to intrust the helm to those who are as morally blind as themselves, and fancy themselves safe without any watchfulness on their own part.

God sends his ministers to preach reform, to reprove sin, to correct the erring and turn them into the path of truth. But it is the business of blind guides to counteract and oppose the work of the servant of God, to tell the people that they are right and need no reform; and the people love to listen to them, and trust that they tell them the truth.

The poor minister of error is in a sad case. He must defend error, and teach the people that they are safe in breaking the commandments of God, or he will lose his flock. Should he, on the other hand, embrace the truth and keep the commandments, he will lose his salary. Poor man! He must be moved by higher motives, or he is doomed to see himself, and those he leads, in the ditch together. Until he can take a higher stand, until he can devote himself to God and truth, fearless of the consequences, the people will compel him to defend their errors, crying, Peace and safety! while they choose the road to death; and then, oh, how confidently they will trust themselves to his guidance! Our minister, say they, is a learned man, and we may safely confide in his judgment! They compel the man to sustain them in error and sin, and then how safe they feel with such a competent guide! He is what they have made him. They have educated him, and called him to preach the doctrines they believe, and to sustain them in their practices, however erroneous; and then they think he must be right, and that they can trust in him, as to a divine oracle, believing that whatever he says will be made good, and that following him, they will be delivered from all evil; just like a person that carves out a god with his own hands, and then trusts that his god is able to deliver him.

Ah! what can be done for poor, fallen, and deluded humanity? R. F. COTTRELL.

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