(4) Two Classes of Texts. There arc two classes of Scripture to be considered—those pas sages that represent the carelessness and worldli ness of the unbelieving and unready, and those that describe the universal triumph of the Gospel. and the prosperity of the Church in the latter days. By looking only at one class we get dis torted views.
(r) First Class. Some of the first class look as if the world were never darker or more for getful of God than in the hour when the Son of man shall come "as a thief in the night." "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the com ing of the Son of man be." "Then shall two bc in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill ; the one shall be taken, and the other left." This shows that some will be going on in. the ordinary pursuits of life, forgetful of spiritual things, as at the present time, and as in the time before the Flood. And that question in the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, "Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" looks in the same direction, and seems to suggest a doubt whether any will be found faithful. But these relate to the unbeliev ing. They give the worldly side of the picture. There is no doubt that "the day of the Lord" will come unawares upon many, and surprise them in their sins.
(2) The Other Side. But there is another side. The Church is to grow, and spread far and wide her holy influences, so as to leave the unthinking worldliness of the age without excuse. "This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." "The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and all nations shall flow unto it." The name of Christ shall be known from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. The knowledge of God shall cover the earth. "For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." The time will come when it shall be said, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ ; and he shall reign forever and ever." What, then, must be the conclusion from this seeming con trariety of description? In all probability, some of the passages relating to the glory of the latter days, in their ultimate meaning. look to the condition of things in the regenerated earth, beyond the conflagration.
(5) Better Things. And yet, as we have said, we cannot explain the Scriptures without antici pating a day of better things for the Church than has been realized. The imprisonment of
Satan denotes curtailment of his power, and in creased restraint upon his actions, possibly to the extent of hindering his access to men in this world. This will be great gain in advantage for the truth. It will give the Gespel access to the heart, impeded only by the opposition of the depravity within. Under such conditions, the relative power of the Gospel will increase ; the accumulated evidences of its divinity will shine out with a luster unseen before ; and the quick ened activities of Christian people will add to its efficiency, as its conquests are extended, and its victories multiplied. But will every living soul be converted ? We dare not assume this. The universal spread of the Gospel neither implies the removal of depravity from human nature nor the submission of every sinner to the sway of divine grace. Men will still be descended from Adam, born after the flesh, and need to be "born again." But Christian intelligence will ban ish superstition. Idolatry will cease. Apostate churches will be reformed or destroyed. False religions will be overthrown. Enlightened gov ernments, permeated with Christian principles, will displace tyrannies, and religious liberty will become the heritage of all the nations. This much may be expected, and such a millennium will be indescribably glorious. But the old fight with inward corruption will go on. Carnality, and selfishness, and pride. and love of the world, and love of power, will struggle for the mastery, call ing for watchfulness and self-denial. and keeping up all the conditions of a real probation. And some will be overborne. Infidelity will find vo taries. Alen of evil passion will love darkness rather than light. Such will shut their eyes to the brightest beams of the brightest day of Gospel light. and when Satan is loose, they will be ready to join in the battle against the truth. Thus, in the final day of the Lord's coming, will worldli ness and sin be found in the earth. So we read the prophecies. But we "see through a glass darkly." The best lights that reach our vision disclose only the mountain peaks of the land ahead. The valleys and plains of the landscape he beneath the mists. We must wait till proph ecy materializes into history, and then the morning star shall give place to the risen sun. S. M. M.