The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-08

to be taken of their guard; be on the alert as men expecting a sudden as- sault and ready to meet it. or as those who, bearing valuabIes and compelled to pass some lawless place, hasten on their journey full of vigilance and eau tion; or as those whose way is dark and slippery-dread a fall. knowing on either side stands a precipice. and so are careful to avoid all danger and keep in the beaten, track; or as one in dense fog watches and guards each footstep.
 This is circumspection. We are bid- den to walk thus. and the warning given is because the days are evil. :"
 Ay. that they are indeed. Never worse, and perhaps never so bad. Paul was speaking primarily about his own age; but it was his constant teaching that if his own times were bad, suc- ceeding ones would be worse; that the later the time the more perilous they should be, for evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived"
 Indeed, it is a curious and remark able fact that no one century lsince Paul wrote) has drawn to it's close but that particular century has been de- scribed by pious and thoughtful men as worse than any which have pre- ceded it. For the world has been steadily growing worse and worse. and for this reason: The increase of light and knowledge and civilization has out multiplied it's guilt and left it without excuse. if in spite of all these bless ings 1t has forgotten or defied God. Whatever the past may frhave been. I our age is the very worst that has yet been seen, the most meet to prepare the | way for eff not to welcome and beget) anti Christ himself.
 What else can we say when we see on every hand its glare of light with out life; it's unqualified and open idol atry of wealth: it's loathsome greed and grinding covetousness; it's widespread profiigacy; it's audacious lawlessness; | It's unmeasured boastfulness; its unre- strained self-esteem; it's entire and | cold hearted selfishness; its forgetful- ness of God?
 Our fathers were as pilgrims with staff in hand making their slow jour- neys step by step. But we rush along life on express trains that never halt, and hardly gives time for thought or breath. The only possible escape from horrible catastrophe in every mile oi the journey rests on the most extreme caption, the most anxious lookout. the
 most vigilant circumspection. We are utterly powerless to check I the reStieSS enSTBi0e ol thS oSO T" which our lot Is cast. Our duty. then
 is to receive all that comes as ordered
 tor at least permNted) by God; and ai Christian men and women to hold fas'
 to sour principles in the trials which
 await us now and in the future.
 When our Lord was leaving thi' world, knowing the coldness and COW l ardice and error which the evil hear
 of unbeiief would develop, foreseeins | the future peril of the world and Hi' | Church, He warned His followers
 "Take heed; watch and pray" And to comfort and inspire tkem, He prom ised His return. This lesson. ofter repeated by Him, was, dwelt upon agaiI
 and again by His apostles.
 Just in these points our own age Il
 deficient It is too careless to watch too unbelieving to look for the tokel of His second coming. Yet we hav' His own word that it is upon such al
 age that He will descend as thief il the night.
 In the lapse of all these years whicl are slipping SO quickly away. so si' iently. SO unnoticed. Christ's coming must be nearer than it was. And H. Himself is far nearer to us at all time
 than we care to think. The Judg standeth at the door; arise and go t' Imeet Him.
 "Blessed are those servants whom
 the Lord, when He cometh, shall finC
 watching