The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-11-03
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE MILLENNIUM.

Although we have no prophet to foretell
what day may bring forth, yet our Lord
requires us to keep our eyes open, and "dis'
Germ the signs of the times, and be ready
for corresponding action. When the heavens
are as brass and the earth as iron, the farmer
has to wait with patience and can do but
little, but when showers descend he can
break up the fallow ground and SOW his seed.
So when heaven pours out unusual showers
of grace upon the Church, and removes the
barriers of many generations, we may pre-
pare for still greater work. When God
calls We must 60 to work on a more extended
scale, and not confne our prayers and aims
to our little home circle. To encourage the
hearts of those of our people who have not
read or heard much, we will notice some fa-
vorable indications of brighter day, and
calls for enlarged liberality and increasing
activity.
1. In consequence of the astonishing i'm
provements in machinery, the great facilities
of intercourse, and the extension of com
merce in our day, the nations of the earth
are much more favorable to the arts Of civ
ilzation and the influence of Christianity
than formerly. Daniel says at the time Of
the end, "Many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased" The light
of Bible truth, independent of the Holy
Spirit, will elevate and refine community,
but we see that the power of God attends it
unto salvation. Already hundreds of thou
sands on heathen soil are monuments of di-
vine grace, and the calls of Gods grace and
providence are loud and clear in favor of the
worlds conversion. The time has been when
the nations of the earth trembled at the
power of the Pope now on the wane, when
nearly all were under grinding despotism
when China, Japan, South America and
Mexico were forbidden ground, and Africa
was unknown except for the Sordid purpose
of slave traffic. But now Protestants have
or may have, missionaries in all those coun'
tries. A few have been murdered, and o.
late some of our good brethren have died o.
disease but if we have something of tht
spirit of Christ and His apostles we will Soo1
fill I'D their ranks. Or if we initiate tn,
zeal of our fore-fathers in settling this cOun
try, we will not disobey the command o
God; for multitudes died and were butchereC
at James Town and Plymouth Rock. Fran
els Xavier who seems to have been piou
Catholic missionary 300 years ago, whel
Ldissuaded from going into dangerous plac
Shall merchants be more intrepi,
hA& the country abounde'
6s and mines of gold, al
Hyel(1Re braved to procure them
And shall these unfortunate people be KEEP
in ignorance of the blessings of redemption
Their character is certainly very barbarou
and brutal but even if it were worse than
is, the God who is able to transform stone
into children of Abraham can soften thei
hearts"
2. Another omen pointing to better da
is growing spirit of love and union anon
Christians. and remarkable outpourings {
the Holy Spirit as consequence, even unde
} the labors of uneducated men. We have n
right to expect miracles, but the cOnversio
of sinners and the revival Of the church'
are as much the Lords work as the remov'
of mountains or the creation of world
' So when we see life and love spreading ovt
Christendom, the gospel preached with pow'
: to half million of people in month, an
Q heather nations we may say born in a da.
/, we may conclude the coming of Christ dra0
e eth near. We may not live to see it exec
. from the battlements of heaven, but some
: our children's children may. In former tim
e we only had revivals in particular church,
;. and partial districts, to keep the churches
: least alive until the set time to favor Zlt
= should come, but now there are signs of Ii