The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-05-22
MISCELLANY.
WHAT DOES 1T MEANy

Ahete Is something ominously mysterious
about the continuance and severity of the
present financial crisis None in the history
of this country has ever lasted SO long, and
even after five years of the shrnkage and dis
appearance of values we seem to be still sink
ing into financial nihilism, and no theory
dares more than promise us relief in the flu
ture, based on the fact that crisis must have
an end and that we must be at least five
years nearer to the good times coming Scep
ticsm of every kind is on the increase but
unconscious faith is also on the increase as
well, through that other fact growing clearer
day by day, that there is a controlling Power
at work beyond the reach of human nvesti-
CATION. In other words, that God has hu
man affairs at this juncture under His control
and is stripping man of every pretext by
which he can deceive himself into adenial of
the most potent present fact that God rules,
so that even the infdel is compelled to admit
that, whether God does or does not rule, it is
most certain that man does not.
We have before us the strange phenomenon
that while man is suffering from need over
half the world, it is in the midst of unparal-
leled abundance. Never were earth and skies
so prolific and what is still more conround-
ing is, that this stratness is only confined to
those beings who must, in the nature of
things, use their mental faculties in directing
them in providing for their wants. Those be-
tween whom and God there is no appointed
medium of selfefficiency, or those dependent
for their meat on God alone, never had SO
much for their wants. Beasts and birds were
never fatter or better provided for 1t looks
verify, as if it were to bring man to sense of
his direct dependence on God and that bis
life, despite all his vain pretensions, is far
more sparrow-life, butterfly, or flower
life, than a self-sufficient one. All financial
crises heretofore have taught this lesson, but
men have been quicker to admit it, and have
acknowledged and adjusted themselves to it
sooner. A sense of dependence on God, and
of utter selfhelplessness, has heretofore
brought revival of religion in this country.
Years of financial distress in the past have
been years of great spiritual prosperity.
In 1857, in sixty days hundreds of thous-
ands of this nation were on their knees. New
York city seemed to be changed in few days
into Bethel, and the cry, "What shall we
dol" and What's the news 2'' went up in
song and prayer everywhere--in home, tenn.
ple hall and street-thousands were convert
ed to God, and all classes were awed and
thoughtful and this was the condition all ov-
er the land. But who can explain the fact of
the utter deafness and indifference of the
uol, N
this present period of depression Revivals
have almost ceased, the places of prayer and
praise are so poorly attended at night, in
many places, that cannon ball might be shot
through the worshiping congregations with
out seriously endangering life. What does it
all mean? We think that it is continued,
and will be continued until the nation is on
its knees, and the sooner men undertake to
correct their sinful practices, to restrain their
avarice and love Of show, their extravaganza
and soul-destroying luxuries, and humble
themselves before God, recognize their entire
dependence on Him, and turn from their sins
| and confess the sooner God will turn our cap
tivity as he did Jobs. But it is in this con-
nection worth remembering that this was not
done until he had become praying man, not
only for himself but for others as WE'LL
''Then the Lord turned the captivity of Job
when he had prayed for his friends.''
Some portions of our people are waking up
to the fact that our national disorders are
more moral and religious than financial
Turning unto God is therefore the best and
only remedy for all this. 1t will bring into
active exercise graces heretofore imperative,
aud bring them to their perfection. We will
need seasons of prayer and humiliation and
il this condition of affairs goes on much long
er We will need no more scientific prayer tests.
Helpless need will stop doubling the efficacy
of prayer. We have restrained prayer and
grown poor in the midst of abundance. We
have no confidence in each other, nor even
power to appropriate the abundance every
where about us.
But another result will be seen by and by.
1t is Gods time, and these are His means for
the redistribution of vital forces. These
harder times are for the scattering of the peo-
pie over wider expanse, as the confusion Of