Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-09-24
EPWORTH LEAGUE, -.
Topic For the Week Beginning Sept.
20-"GrOwth of the Kingdom" Il
Ia Text. Ps. Ixxii. - =

| In nothing Is the contrast between
Christianity and the other religions of
the world more clearly shown than in
such passages as this psalm compared
with the most elevated passages from
their sacred books. China, Japan, In
dia, have nothing to show which for
an instant holds place beside it. Islam
has nothing in Alkoran to offer in
competition, and, singularly, this is
not from the New Testament after
Christ has come nor from the lips of
the Messiah. 1t is from the Hebrew
the Jehovah's Servant, the King Man.
1t springs like a root out Of dry
ground. Nothing in the administra-
ton of Israel's kings from Saul to Zed-
ekiah could have furnished an Illus
tration or foundation for the hope
and expectation which swells here into
clear note Of triumph. Justice and
equity among men! Where had 1t ever
been seen? The poor protected by the
powerful; peace and prosperity encour-
aged by the mighty ones of earth: right
eousness flourishing where fraud and
violence have held sway; harvests way
ing on mountain tops and no robbeF
bands molesting-what dream for an
oriental mind. And this Glorious One
Universal Prince World Monarch!
They of Babylon and AsSyria and
Egypt have been here, but as destroy
ers; fire, blood, ruin, wherever they
set their feet. They of Greece and
Rome shall stand on Zion, but shall
pass and all their cohorts-not theirs
the dominion. The God of Israel is the
One whose name shall endure forever,
and in His name shall all nations of
the earth be blessed.
1t is hardly possible for any fair
minded person to seriously read these
Old Testament writings and compare
with them the Christian teachings and
works and particularly the marvellous
extension of Christian influences in the
world and not be impressed with the
great difference between this religion
and all others which the world has ever
seen.
1t Is valuable to trace the gradual ex-
tension of the Christian church from
the day of Pentecost until the present
time in numbers and from land TO land.
The past century has seen more rapid
diffusion Of the church and more
widely extended influence than could
be shown by all the previous ages
combined. More Bibles have been
printed and circulated since 1900 than
all the preceding 35 centuries since
Moses had produced. The broad
stretches Of Oceanla have in their
countless island groups all been evan
geliZed in very recent times. Africa
and Asia have but just opened their
doors to the gospel, but they are now
wide open. Events of the past few
years have in the influence Of the
United States upon international af
fairs given an object lesson to the
world of the supremacy of Jesus Christ
as pictured in this Seventy second |
Psalm such as the world has never be- |
fore seen.
To fully realize the mighty change in |
tlic hlLalio Vi IdCi h4ou,d IL ~ 'HN SOi'
ception set forth here we need to recall |
the deeds of Nebuchadnezzar, Sennach- |
crib, Alexander and Cesar, and even |
Napoleon. and then TO compare the |
events in Cuba and China and the |
and Porto Rico. Atrocities
have been committed without doubt,
by the troops even of the United
States, but evil does not rule.
Let the whole earth be filled with
His glory! Amen and amen"