National Republican., 1886-10-04

now by saying that II all our American
cities got all the punishment they deserve
for their horrible impurities, the earth
would long ago have cracked open into
crevices transcontinental, and taken down
all our cities; and Brooklyn and New York
would have gone so far under that the tip
Of our church spires would be 500 feet be-
low the surface. 1t is of the Lords mercies
that we have not been consumed.
Not only are the affairs of this world SO
a.twist, a-jangle, and racked that there
seems need of the Divine appearance, but
there Is another reason. Have you not
noticed that In the history OF this
planet God turns leaf about every
2000 years. God turned a leaf and this
world was fitted for human residence. About
1000 0moreyears passed along and God turned
another leaf, and 1t was the deluge. About
2,000 more years passed on and II was the ap-
pearance OF Christ Almost 1900 more years
have passed by, and He will probably soon
turn another leaf, What 1t shall be / can
not say IL may be the demolition of all
these monstrositles OF turpitude and the es-
tablishment OF righteousness in all the
earth. He can do 1t, and He will do 1t. 1
am as confident as II 1t were already accom-.
plished. How easily He can do 1t my text
suggests. 1t does not ask God to strike
with His right hand, or stamp with His foot,
or hurl thunderbolt OF His power, but
just TO get up from the throne on which He
sits. Only that will be necessary: "Let God
ariser'
1t will be no exertion OF omnipotence.
II will be no bending or bracing for a mighty
lift. IL will be no sending down the sky Of
the white horse cavalry Of heaven or rum
bling war chariots. He will only rise.
Now lie is sitting In lie majesty and pa
tience OF His reign. He is from His throne
watching the mastering OF all the forces OF
blasphemy, and drunkenness, and impurlty,
and fraud, and Sabbath breaking, aud when
they have done their worst and are most
securely organized, He will bestr himself
and say: "My enemies have defled me long
enough, and their cup of iniquity is full. /
have given them all opportunity for repent
anee. This dispensation OF patience Is
ended, and the faith OF the good shall be
tried no longer"
And now God begins TO rise aud what
mountains give way under His right foot,
and what continents sink under His left
foot, / know not; but standing In the full
height, and radiance, and grandeur OF His
nature, He looks tits way, and that. aud
how His enemies are scattered Bias
phemers, white and dumb, reel down to
their doom; and those who have trafllcked
in that which destroys the bodies and souls
OF men aud families will fly with cut foot
on the down grade Of broken decanters;
ana the pOlluterB OF society that dld their
bad work with large fortunes and high
social sphere will overtake In their de-
scent the degraded rabblo OF uu-
deiground city life as they tumble over
the eternal precipices; and the world shall
be left clear aud clean for the friends of
humanity and the worshipers of Almighty
God. The last thorn plucked of, the world
will be left blooming rose on the bosom
Of that Christ who came 10 gardenize It.
This earth that stood .snarling with Its tiger
iSh passion, thrusting out its raging claws,
shall lie down lamb at the feet of the
Lamb OF God, who took away the sins Of the
world.
And now the best thing / can wish for
you, and the best thing | can wish ior my
self is that we may be found Ills warm, and
undisguised, and enthusiastic friends in
that hour when God shall rise and His
enemies shall be scattered.