The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-01

der God will work among them and
upon them.
8. There is a rapid progress of all
classes and all nations toward a unfit
cation.
There is evidently n tendency every
where toward a making of all man
KIND more truly homogeneous, more
really one, than were the inhabitants
and provinces of single empire in past
ages. This work is two okinds-internaI
ana external, or national and interna-
tional. In the limits of particular ma
tions it shows itself in the removal of
the prestige of noble birth and superior
castles and classes, and in the elevation
OF the lower ranks OF society by means
otthe diffusion of wealth, intelligence
and freedom. The external or interna-
tional work is even more apparent.
Once the different parts of the globe
were even unknown to each other.
Now by the appliances of steam we can
soon visit all the habitable portions of
the earth; by the printing press, Ithe lit
erary treasures of all nations are multi
piled like the leaves of the autumn,
and by the telegraph, intelligence is
flashed over seas and across continents.
The manifest tendency of all this is to
make the world substantially one great
nation. This again prepares the way
for that brotherhood of the nations and
of all people, which will exist when the
gospel universally prevails, and which
must have begun to be recognized be-
fore the gospel can universally prevail.
4. There has been great amount of
decidedly PREDATORY work accomplished.
Not only has Providence been over
ruling and guiding all these events,
but the church also has been at work
AS base of operations, we have now
under the influence of Professionalism
some of the greatest powers of the world
such as Great Britain, the United
States and Prussia, besides others OF
less Importance. Our outposts are
planted in nearly every land. Churches
which will be nuclei for the Christian
izing of whole nations are established
in almost all countries. The Bible has
been translated into, and elementary
rules and dictionaries have been pre-
pared in nearly every tongue. BY these
weapons we expect to triumph. What
we yet need is more men to labor,
money to support them, and the HOLY
Ghost sent down from heaven upon
their efforts.
1t would be easy to mention other
indications of this preparation, such as
the intense activity of mens' minds
about religious matters, the present
state of theology, the present aspect of
the conflict with intidelity, the unity of
effect to which all evangelical denOm-
strations are tending. But let us close
with two or three practical reflections:
l. Manifestly God still has a hand in
the history of the world. While princes
and people are noisily laying their
plans, He is silently accomplishing His
sublime purposes. 1t has been so in
our own country,-it is so among all
nations.
2. The prophecies OF the scripture are
worthy of all acceptation. Ii there is
anything in the Bible which was calcu-
lated TO stagger the faith of the primi-
tive Christians, it was the prediction
that the religion of the crucifed Jesus
should prevail over the earth. We are
living in an age when this is manifestly
its destiny.
8. We should be thankful to God for
what has already been accomplished
toward this preparation for the Gospel.
Let the younger of us thank Him and
glrd ourselves for the conflict. The
Oldest of us may at least accommodate
to themselves and adopt the language
OF the aged Simeon when he took the
infant Saviour into his arms, '.Now
letlest thou thy servant depart in peace
according to thy word, for mine eyes
have seen Thy salvation which thou
hast prepared before the face of all Thy
people; light to tighten the Gentiles,
and the glory of thy people, Israeli
ST, MATTHEW'S EPISCOPAL CFTTrpCu