rily interfere.
It is difficult to see how he can refrain. The Second Advent may
therefore be expected before the date assigned by Prophet Baxter, and
we shall probably soon hear the faithful singing "Lo he comes in clouds
descending."

Why should he not come? we may ask the Catholics. His mother has
often appeared, if we may believe the solemn affidavits of priests and
bishops, backed up by the Holy See. Why should he not come? we may also
ask the Protestants. His second coming is an article of their faith; it
is plainly taught in the New Testament, and was recently propounded by
Mr. Spurgeon as part of the irreducible minimum of the Christian faith.
That he will come, then, may be taken for granted; and what better
opportunity could be desired than the present? Surely the faithful, all
over Europe--ay, and in America, to say nothing of Asia, Africa, and
Australia--will cry like one man, "Come Lord Jesus, quickly come! Tell
us, oh tell us, which of these mouldy old rags did once grace thy holy
shoulders? Save us, oh save us, from the pain, the ignominy of adoring
a dirty relic of some unknown sinner, who perhaps blasphemed thy holy
name. Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord!" Meanwhile we may
point out that, if Christ does not come and adjudicate between Treves
and Argenteuil, a multitude of Christians will certainly go on a fool's
errand. Our private opinion is that all will do so who visit either or
these places. Nevertheless they will no doubt congratulate themselves,
if they go to Treves, on winning absolution. The Holy Father at Rome,
who has a supernatural dispensing power, promises to wipe out the record
of their sins. Liars, cheats, seducers, adulterers, and undetected
assassins, may take a trip, perform genuflexions before something in
a glass case, and return home with a clean record. Who can conceive an
easier method of avoiding the consequences of wickedness? As for the
prayer which the pilgrims are to offer up for "the extirpation of
erroneous doctrines," it will cost them very little effort, for sinners
who are washed clean with such delightful celerity are not likely to be
in love with "erroneous doctrines" that declare the Pope's dispensing
power a sham, and sternly tell men that the consequences of action,
whether good or bad, are inevitable. We very much doubt, however, if
"erroneous doctrines" will disappear through the prayers of the
pilgrims or the curses of the Pope. Scepticism will proba