would strike and call the pulpit to an
account and rouse it from its lethargy, and demand that it should
untrammel itself and be free and equal to the age and demand. I have met
with miserly persons who didn't believe in beautiful churches, or the
missionary cause, or any cause indeed that wanted money. They would
argue for plainness, and so on. The secret of their peculiar ideas on
these matters was to be found in their stinginess and their love of
money. They advocated such theories because it saved them from
contributing. Like a man I met with on my vacation tour who said that he
saved forty dollars a year by pretending to be angry with the minister or
some of the deacons when they came round collecting money. Some
ministers, no doubt the majority of them, talk about holding on to the
old landmarks and being orthodox for the very reason that to make a move
implies labour, which they are not willing to give, hence they prate
about orthodoxy and landmarks as a pretext to cover over their
indifference. He is the most orthodox who searches after the truth and
keeps up with the age. "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good,"
says Paul. These pretended followers of Paul say: "Prove nothing, hold
fast what you have got."

It is as plain as A, B, C, that the Bible teaches the return of the Jews
and Ten Lost Tribes of Israel to the land of Palestine. Also, that after
they are settled in this land Anti-Christ appears. The dragon and beast
are already in existence, but Anti-Christ is not; the spirit of
Anti-Christ is. When Israel and Judah are settled and prosperous in the
old fatherland, then is to come on the battle of Armageddon. Thank
Heaven! that though the struggle will be awful, it will be final, and
victory will turn on the Lord's side. Then will be set up a kingdom that
shall endure in abiding peace and prosperity for at least a thousand
years. The world will nestle in regaling plenty and great assurance.
This kingdom is to be set up in the latter days of the four kingdoms
spoken of by Daniel. By this we understand that these kingdoms will have
their day, and by succession, after a time, run out. These
kingdoms--namely, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome--are now
disappearing. Rome, politically, is gone, Persia will soon be absorbed,
also Greece. Babylon, being continued in the Empire of Russia, has yet a
glorious future before it for the next fifty years or so, then she will
disappear to rise