The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-02

ties. and the result will be most advantageous
20 the Roman Catholic Church. IL is reported
that the Pope has refused TO grant the re-
quest. The American bishops generally have
opposed the request. and Archbishop Ireland
says he bad reason TO believe it would be re-
fused.
We sometimes hear even the friends of mis-
sions ASSERT that the progress is deplorably
small. We ask, Small in comparison with
whatg IL the answer be-small IN proportion
70 the effort made. the answer runs clean
counter 10 our deepest convictions. Consid-
ering how little man has done or tried 10 do,
the blessing from on high appears to Us most
graciOusy. most marvelously large. The
seed we SOW never perishes: il brings forth
fifty sixty and hundred fold. Just compare
the progress made in modern times with what
was witnessed when the Gospel was
preached even by apostolic lips. Some
thoughtlessiy speak IA If the miracle Of Pen
tecost had been frequently repeated through
the early centuries. IL was not so, even dur
ing the first The highest estimate which we
can possibly form of the number Of profess
ing Christians in the year 100 Is not half
million including children and some authori-
ties make it considerably less. But. during
the last century more than 100000 have
been rescued from heathenism by Protestant
missions alone The Lord is pleased TO bless
our poor, initial efforts far beyond what we
had reason 10 expect-for very feeble and fal-
tering have these efforts been; and HIS mar
velous goodness ought u impei us 70 run
henceforth the way Of His commandments
J. Muir rayllitchel, LID.
80
Skeptical persons say: Il can't believe that
God would first make laws for nature and set
them in motion and then 60 on and violate
his own laws What would be the use Of
making them If he himself would break them
or so easily suspend or set them asidey" We
meet the objector on the very threshold and
honestly dispute his position. is a miracle
a violation Of the laws of nature, or IS 1t only
such an interference with the established
course Of things as infallibly shows US the
presence and the action of supernatural pow
er, | have a watch here; when wound up 1T
runs straight forward until 1t needs WIND
ing. BY a fixed law. IN conformity with
the very structure of the time-piece, its
hands move only in one direction while they
move at all Yet, when ] find that it IS too
fast move the hands backward-I interrupt
the usual movement, but | violate no law.
The watch could not have turned back its
own hands and corrected itself, but superior
intelligence nterferes for proper end. Have
/ suspended or violated any law, or have L
simply brought new law to bear which.
though not in ordinary operation, is entirely
consistent with the laws which govern the
movements of the watch? AS ! examine
more infinitely into the structure of this
delicate piece of mechanism. / observe
remarkable fact - the maker of
this watch has made provision for just such n
reversal OF that law, by which both minute
and hour hands move only forward He has
provided for backward movement, when
the intelligent owner chooses, without any in
reference with this exquisite arrangement
while I turn back the hands | disturb no
wheel. and there is not even one tick the less,
and vet left to itse f. the hands of that watch
never could change their direction of move
God reverses the hands on the great dial of
nature lie has made no provision for such re-
versal "A. T. Pierson-Many Infallible
Proofs.