The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-06-18
tandpoint The Scriptures show a

show silver lining to that cloud to
those who have the eyes to see 1.-THE
spiritual perception. The Bible teaches
us that the inventions of our day and
its enlightenment will. under the oper
alton of avarice. prove TO be the upper
and the neither millstones which will
crush humanity terribly.
How can these things come about, do
you ask? We reply that the inven-
lions of our day. which are bringing
so many blessings to the whole people
at so little cost. are gradually drifting
into "strong hands, the hands of
trusts and capital Some of these, in
deed, have been and are yet blessings,
helpful in many ways. Yet the con-
Centration of power into the hands of
a few is too strong a temptation to be
long resisted. The day is not distant
when the leverage will be used grad
ually to draw the coveted wealth more
and more to the Golfers of the trusts.
Meantime liberty and enlightenment
have been doing more than merely Civ
ing us mechanical inventions and help
full cOntriVances and comforts. They
have given us thought, intelligence,
compulsory education, breadth of mind
lifted the poor man out Of the dunghin
and have given him thought, and have
recognized his liberties and rights theo-
retically, even more than he has yet
realized them actually. The masses
cannot be said to be asleep and need
ing to be awakened. They are awake,
as evidenced by their thorough organ
fzation, extending to every avenue of
business. But although awake the
giant has not learned his power. He
knows not how to coordinate his
forces and TO use them at the polls
We cannot doubt that men will learn
this lesson very soon. Then will come
the time of trouble. when the giant,
Labor, will strike against his master,
Capital, and when the wonderful re-
sources of both will be used with
frenzy. The result will be what the
Scriptures graphically portray as
Time of trouble such as never was
since there was nation" Daniel xii,
y.
Will Not God lnterpose?
Yes, we answer, God will interfere,
but not in the time and manner, nor
for the purpose generally expected.
The same great Creator who through
the past has supervised, and who lat
terly has caused the development of
Liberty and the preparation of the
mechanical arrangements for the Mil
lennial Age-this same God has pur-
posed the time of trouble which he
declares, and which we understand is
nigh, even at the door. He purposes
1t because through 1t better than in
any other manner the world can be
taught great lessons and be prepared
for the Millennial Kingdom of Christ.
In that time of trouble, according to
the Scriptures, the rich, the proud, the
great the mighty, shall weep bitterly
and have sore distress. Likewise the
poor
Yes, the Word Of God declares that
there shall be no peace to anyone
the trouble will be general There will
be no way of escape from it, The
Scriptures imply that in that time of
trouble the rich and the great will
receive a lesson; likewise the masses
a different lesson-but both evidently
to their mutual advantage.
The Silver Lining.
Thank God, the Scriptures give us a
view of the silver lining behind the
clouds of trouble; assuring us that at
Its conclusion the whole world will
have learned q most valuable lesson in
the furnace of it's affliction. Both par
ties to the strife, humbled by their ut
ter failure, will be ready to acknowl-
edge Messiah King Of kings and Lord
OF lords. Many nations shall go and
say, Come, let us go up to the noun
tain Of the Lord, to the house Of the
God of Jacob; and he will teach us of
his ways, and we will walk in his
paths; for out Of Zion shall go forth
the Law, and the Word Of the Lord
from Jerusalem" isaiah ii, 81. Of the
glories and blessings of that Millennial
day the prophecies of old are replete
with testimony. But the chief bless
ing then to be brought to mankind I'M
der the reign of Messiahs Kingdom
will be the knowledge of the glory of
the Lord. All men shall come to APP
preciate the Divine character and it's
principles of Righteousness-Ju
Love, Wisdom and Power-that all
men might, after experiencing the bit
ter and the sweet, the evil and the
good, know how thereafter to choose
the good, in harmony with the Divine
Law, and, by obedience, come to ever
lasting life and joy and blessing. 1t is
of that happy time, we remember, that
st. Peter assures us, saying, "Times
Of refreshing shall come from the pres
ence of the Lord; and he shall send
Jesus Christ, which before was preach
ed unto you; whom the heaven must
receive until the times Of restitution
of all things, which God hath spoken
by the mouth Of all his holy prophets
since the world began" The Apostle
informs us that whoever
will not accept the righteous regula-
lions of that government shall perish
in the Second Death; "And it shall
come to pass that every soul which
will not hear that prophet shall be de-
stroyed from among the people" (Acts