THE rapidity with which infidel principles advance, ma" the feebleness of resistance that they meet, are no more prophetic truths simply, but present realities. The struggle between a superficial Christianity and the deep seated unbelief of the age has commenced. The period, is a solemn one for the Christian, and one which bring into prominence the value of the truths received by those whom God has graciously reserved from the mere powerless religion which so characterizes the state of Christianity around us.
Any one observant of the condition of this country must see that the current of infidelity, once restrained within narrow limits comparatively, has now overflowed its embankments, and, by means of the numberless publications issuing from the press, and the activity of its living agents, has laid under its influence vast portions of our fellow men, who are now in masses beginning to throw of everything like religious constraint, trampling under foot everything that is sacred, at the same time hating that religion which was too weak to hold it back in its reckless course.
The state of religious parties will be manifested in the struggle. Those bodies which, like Unitarians, have disseminated the principles which open out into rank atheism are already openly declared friends to irreligion and profanity, gliding on with the stream, and helpers in its course.
It will be found, too that many called orthodox, but who have so far been drawn into the current as to have advocated views in accordance with the latitudinarian spirit of the age, will be found powerless for resistance of the evil.
The subtlety of Satan has been such, that while every year has added to the strength of the ranks of infidels, superstition has been growing along with it. There has been more zeal for temples, for priests, for sacraments; and shall we not see that the two, apparently so distinct, so opposite, may meet at one common point, blend, and thus form unitedly for a time a stronger opposition to the truth of the living God?
On the other hand, we find that there are those who, watching with painful interest the progress of error and ungodliness, are beginning to see how frail have been their attempts to bring about a state of universal blessing on the earth.
They have been denying the plain testimony of God's Word as to the progress of evil; they have been adding institution to institution, in order to bring about their desired end: all is disappointment and confusion. The act is, the presence of Satan has been ignored, the power of the god of this world has been left out of their reckonings, and as a consequence-means unappointed of God have been brought to bear upon man's condition; the name of Jesus has been despised; the finger of God 'has been slighted. It now becomes a solemn period for the Christian to look well to his goings.
My object in this paper is to give a word of exhortation to such. In so doing, I feel conscious of my own weakness, but at the same time I feel the responsibility for faithfulness to God.
When Jacob was returning back from his long sojourn in those regions from which God had called out Abram-a country which had been positively forbidden to Isaac, but to which he had fled to escape the con-sequences of his deceitfulness towards Esau-he found that the nearer he drew towards Bethel, where God had called him to dwell, the more necessary was it ' that he should put away the strange gods that were with him. Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, " Put away the strange gods that are among you and be clean, and change your garments. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods that were in their hand, and all their ear-rings which were in their ears and Jacob laid them under the oak which was by Shechem" (Gen. 35:1-4).
When Gideon was summoned to appear, as a mighty man of valor, to save Israel from the hand of the Midianites, he must throw down the altar of Baal that his father had, and cut down the grove that was by it; he must build an altar to the Lord, and offer a burnt-sacrifice with the wood of the grove that he had cut down (Judg. 6:25,26). When Peter was to stand foremost, and to lay to the charge of Israel that they had denied the Holy One and the Just, it was needful that he should go out and weep bitterly for the share he had had in the denial of the Lord of Glory; and so now-now—when the enemy has come in like a flood-how many strange gods must be buried-how many altars to Baal destroyed-how many acts of denial be wept over, be-fore we can take our true place as servants of the Most High God? Happy are they, who like Abram, when he heard that his brother was taken captive by his enemies, armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan, and brought back all the goods, and also brought back again his brother Lot and his goods, and the women also, and the people (Gen. 14:14-16). Happy are they, who like Moses, have been shut up in communion with God, while the golden calf has been molten, and the people invited to the worship. He could descend from the mountain with clean hands into the midst of a defiled people. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side, let him come unto me (Ex. 32:26).
I believe that the grace of our God has been exceeding abundant in our day. He who foresees the evil has mercifully provided for it. The' Spirit of the Lord has lifted up a standard against the enemy who has come in as a flood. Let us recount some of the mercies of our God, and see how adapted to the need of our times. God has alike called us away from the superstitions that would supplant Christ, and His gospel; and from the infidelity that would despise, and trample on both. He has so revealed His grace and love, as to fix us firmly upon His own foundation; other foundations can no man lay than that which is laid -Christ Jesus. Have we not been taught in such power the value of that precious name, that we can say, " Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. The glory of His person-the value of His incarnation-of His life-of His death-of His resurrection- of His ascension and His session at the right hand of God-of His intercession there-have we not been taught to rook for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ? We have learned the value of meeting in His name- we have realized His presence according to His promise-we have learned to prize not only the love of God the Father, and the grace of our Lord Jesus, but also the operations of God the Holy Ghost, and to honor Him according to God's word. Has not God in His mercy furnished us with those weapons which are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds; made us bearers of the seed of the kingdom, the Word of God, and fulfilled his Word, the word of Jesus to His disciples-" Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." And for why have all and every of these precious truths (and more too) been revived, preached with more clearness, and believed with more sincerity? Has it been only for our own special individual use? Has it not been rather for the need of our fellow-men and for the days of darkness in which our lot has been cast? Unto whom much has been given, of him much will be required. Have not some of us been ready in the unbelief of our hearts almost to deny the specialty of God's grace in these things, to speak of our ground of meeting as a failure, etc., and been like unto Orpah of old, who kissed her mother-in-law, and went back to her people and her gods. The grace of God to us has been this, that He has swept away the clouds and mists from His own eternal truths, and made them shine more brightly upon our hearts, and this is power.
Let us beware, brethren, lest any of us be like the men of Gideon, who turned back to their homes before the fight began, lest we lose the glory of the three hundred before whom the Midianites melted away.
The Lord be gracious to us, and renew in our hearts the freshness of His own truths, and give us more grace to walk uprightly before Him, and to seek to follow out the full blessing He would have us know.
The more dangerous the coast is, there is the more need of a light-house; and the darker the night, the more need is there that the light be full and clear; nay, the darkness of the night will but cause the lights to be more distinctly seen. We have not learned one single truth too many. Would God, our hearts, not our intellects only, were more under their power!
Y.
" Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die."-Job 2:9.
"Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil."-James 4:7.
Doth the tempter, as of old,
Urge thee on to curse thy God?
Fear not: only be thou bold;
Thou shalt bless Him for the rod.
Not in anger, but in love,
Hath He thus afflicted thee;
Let thy thoughts, then, rise above;
Praise Him, bless Him heartily.
He is wise, and thou art not;
He is good and thou art vile;
Though sharp trials be thy lot,
Patient wait "a little while."
Can that God who gave His Son,
Now deny thee "any good"?
He'll not leave one thing undone,
Who redeem'd thee with such blood.
Boldly, then, resist the foe;
Lay thee low before thy God;
Soon thou shalt in glory know
Love and wisdom's in the rod.
B.
"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."-Heb. 12:7,8.
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