The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-01-10

delayed and during our Lords alb.
sence, the one whom he calls the
prince of this world is "the god OF
this age" He Is none other than Sa-
tan himself who is also called "the
prince Of the power of the air, the
spirit that 20 worketh in the chill.
dren Of disobedience." (Ephes. 2:2.)
Our ideas Of Satan have been gain
ed largely from the way in which man
has depicted him. According to the
Scriptures, Satan the usurper is not
that hideous monster man so often
portrays him to be. On the contrary,
he is a being Of great dignity, SO lofty
that when Michael the Archangel
disputed with him about the body Of
Moses, he burst not bring against him
a railing accusation, but said. the Lord
rebuke thee"
This Age.
Now we should expect, If he is the
god Of this age, that the age will In
character be like Its god. This is
precisely what 1t Is, for he is "the
evil one" and the age V e which he
reigns is called an "evil age" (Gal.
Ia r. W To say this. as the Scrip
lures do, does not necessarily imply
that the age is grossly immoral. In
fact, we believe 1t is the most ethical
age the world has ever seen. and that
1t suits the god of this age to hide az
tar Us possible its vice and crime.
Its Progress.
To prove the evil character of the
age, it Is not necessary to deny its
progress, its achievements. its clyili-
cation. In these the world has made
giant strides, but they do not, Of them-
selves, indicate that the world Ia near.
God. Indeed, to these a s~elf-satls-
fed, ~self-centered, goddess world points
with pride. and they are the very
things with which the god of this age
would have us occupied. He hates the
cross and the. crown, the atonement
of u Lord and his coming glory, and
nothing suits his purpose better than
to obscure them both.
Blinded Eyes.
We are told that "the god Of this
age hath blinded the minds Of them
which believe not, lest the light Of the
Gospel Of Christ should shine
unto them" And it does seem as II
he were succeeding very well; for we
hear in these days less and less Of the
cross, and very little Of the crown. The
age, like its god, is utterly and abso-
lutely opposed to the purpose and plan
Of God to redeem mankind by the
blood Of his cross. and the world by
the coming of its king. It is satisfied
with its own self-righteousness and its
own self-suficiency. I
Christ Not Enthroned.
Whatever we may think Of the char.
acter Of this age, 1t Is very evident
the facts as they are. that II
Lord is not now reigning over the
earth as the Scriptures predict he
shall reign. "All kings do not fall
Town before him !" "all nations do not
,erve him )" "all enemies arc not under
,is feet :" 'he does not execute judy
nent and justice in the earth 4" "ths
kingdoms Of this world have not be-
.ome his :" "he does not have dominion
into the end of the EARTH" It is also
rue that wrongs are still unrighted;
hat poverty and riches dwell side by
tide; grinding competition and servile
oil are the lot of many; the earth Is
lot free of famine, pestllence, and
Europe IL wet with blood
md there are wars and rumors Of war
N every hand for swords are not
'eaten into plowshares, nor spears in
o pruning hooks; iniQuity and vice
bound; the love Of many wakes cold;
many are departing from the faith,
living heed to seducing spirits and /,
Doctrines of demons, and many false :
eachers are bringing in damnable
eresies, even denying the Lord that
ought them. These facts are so pal .
able no one can deny them. :
A Ray Of Light. X
But in the midst Of all this dark. t
ess there is a ray Of light, for Christ
, coming to the earth to reign and
ule. The earth which was the scene
+ his humiliation is to be the place
( his exaltation; here where he was .
ruciied, he is to be crowned. The
supper has only a short time to reign =
or "Yet a little while and he that shall /,
ONE will come and will not tarry." 4
Heb. 10:37.) Then "the god Of this j
&c" shall be dethroned, and the world
hall have its rightful and lawful king I
J reign over It