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April 14, 1909. THE PRESBYTERIA
in times ancient and modern, is there the same spiritual
being, the same sense of accountability, the san.c
sense of a supreme being, lawgiver and judge, the same
sense of sin and the fear of judgment, the same seeking
for peace, the same anticipation of another life. Thee
are in all these false religions, the same cravings for ?
revelation of divine mercy, the same beliefs in incarnations,
(jod dwelling in human form, the same hope of
atonement, by the giving of life in sacrifices, the same
seeking in prayer for a deity, if haply they may find
him.
It is an unimpeachable testimony to the religion of
Christ that going everywhere among the nations, it has
found acceptance. It has fully satisfied the wants of
the souls of men, in lands of enlightenment and in islands
of the lowest brutality. It has been bread for
the hungry and water for the thirsty in every land..
1'eyOnd all debate, it is shown that Christ is the desire
of all nations.
THE MINISTER'S CITIZENSHIP.
\Yc hear much of late about the impropriety of ministers
having anything to do with political and civic
matters. The special occasion of it is the interest that
most ministers have shown in evervthino- thnt will
duce the power and remove the danger of the liquor traffic.
The saloonists and their friends and apologists
would do well to remember that ministers are citizens
and as such have just the same rights as othej- citizens,
and their calling no more deprives them of their rights
than the saloon business deprives the liquor man of his
rights. Their calling in no way deprives them of the
privilege of paying their taxes, and if they are taxed for
their polls and their property they, are just as much entitled
to representation in everything pertaining to citizenship
and government as any other citizens. To use
their pulpits for political or civic purposes is another
thing. Xo right thinking person can approve of this
Hut out of the pulpits and official ecclesiastical relations,
where only spiritual matters may be presented, they
have equal privileges with all others, even though these
others be saloon people and their advocates and upholders.
It might be easily argued, too. that if the ministerial
calling disqualifies a man for good citizenship and
the rights and activities of good citizenship, why should
not public opinion regard the nefarious whiskey business
as a disqualification for citizenship?
I he Journal and Messenger (llaptist), in an amiable
outburst, says: "We can not help thinking that multitudes
of such men as the late Theodore Cuyler, John
Hall, John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody and Gipsy Smith
I Il^VP rrof /? !__ i -? ^
? swi hud ^nrisi witnout uaptism. Yes! and once
we heard an educated Roman Catholic tell a Presbyterian
minister that there was a chance for him to get to
heaven "because our Church has a dispensation for
those who sin through ignorance." Hut when they and
we reach that haven perhaps we shall find that the Lord
looketh upon the heart, and that "in every nation he
I that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted
I with him." To make membership in one denomination
I a condition of MiVStioif is foolish.
N OF THE SOUTH. 5
THE REDEEMER'S CARE FOR HIS CHURCH.
As*Seen in the Book of Revelation.
III.
In the Apocalypse we have seen in chapter I the Redeemer,
as the Church's head, appearing in glory and
power for the sustenance and defense of his Church. In
chapters 2 and 3 we have seen him telling his people
how to act and live that they may reap the benefit of
his care. In chapters 4, 5 and 6 we have seen him as the
Church's King so directing and controlling the movements
of armies and of rulers as to richly promote the
welfare of his Church.
In chapter 8. a new presentation of the Redeemer's
work is found. It is that of the Great High Priest.
The opening of the new theme is marked by the usual
language of this book (8:5). "And there were voices
and thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake," an
expression of divine energy.
What was the occasion of this putting forth of the
Redeemer's power? The answer is found in verse 3.
An angel appears, whose characteristic is that he lias
a censer in his hand, "and much incense was given
unto him that he should offer it with the prayers of all
saints."
MM. - i - ' - ?
i ne presentation, tnereiore, is ot the prayers ot Uod's
people ascending to his seat in heaven. What response
do they receive? In the third chapter of Habakkuk
when he prayed, "the everlasting mountains were scattered,
the perpetual hills did bow." So here the thunderings
and lightnings represent God's exercise of his
power in answer to his people's prayers.
Then seven angels begin to sound. The .original
meaning of the word angel is "messenger." Does it
in this connection point to some individual angelic person?
Or does it rather convey the idea of the exercise
of such agency as God may please to use as his mes
<enger? If so, we may regard the "angel" as an expression
of the putting forth of divine power in such ways
as may be necessary for the answer of our prayers.
In the last chapter of James we read: "Elias was a
man subject to like passions as we are; and he prayed
earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the
earth by the space of three years and six months." In
the eighth of Revelation God's people pray, and (verse
7) there followed whatever is symbolized by "hail and
fire mingled with blood." Exactly what it was. we
know not. but we feej that it certainly points to divine
intervention in answer to these prayers.
When the Spanish Armada threatened England. God's
people prayed, and oiie of these angels sounded on the
waters of the English Channel; and lo, the Armada
! _ 1 1
perisneu.
Four angels sound. We may not interpret the exact
significance of their phrases, "all green grass was
burnt," and the "third part of the sea became blood"
and a "third part of the waters became wormwood"
and "a third part of the stars were darkened." Space
limits us from the discussion of these minutiae. They
.seem to point to the crippling of whatever powers would
destroy the Church of God.
When the fifth angel or agency works, the bottomless
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