Year: 1876

No one can turn to any page of the Bible


and read far into it without being impressed


with the spirit eff hopefalness pervading it


The old prophets, out of whatever disma


surroundings they uttered themselves, always


spoke aa from some Nebo top from which


they discerned bright horison. If there is


less of this hopefalness in the utterances OF


the New Testament writers, it is not any


where absent from their lives and their acts.


Paul and Peter are the others who wrote in


the same old spirit of confidence in the COM


ing of better day for the kingdom of God
on earth. They lived and died in this Gear.
nest expectation. There was not man of
them, whatever might be his natural tenn
perament, who was not possessed of this
hopeful, forward-looking habit, this far-see-
ing, worldwide anticipation of good things.


Now as we lcok at it, this hopefulnesS is
one of the most precious legacieS which these
Bible writer's and actors left Christian men
of all after times. 1t heuceforth is the pre-.
rogative of all good men in every age and
circumstance Of the Church's history, to ex-
ercise this hopeful faith, this high, exultant
confidence in the success of every sacred en-
terprise, and in the coming of Gods morn
ing and noon. time to the world. Of all men
on earth the Christian should be the most
expectant and hopeful. But how do We find
it in fact? If we mistake not, good men
furnish more than their full share of croak-
ers. The number of such hopeless, heart
less men, in every church and community is
legion. Let any measure be projected look
ing to the onward advance of truth, or to the
suppression of some gigantic social evil, and
instantly these prophets of doom will stand
around the good movement and begin in ad-
vance to read the burial service over it. cit
can't be done 1t can't be done !" 1t is
the first exclamation which is sure to leap to
the lips of part in every Christian church
or circle whenever some new enterprise, be-
gotten of prayer or divine inspiration, is an
nounced or inaugurated. We know of moth.
ing more grievous than this. We know Of
nothing which cripples so badly all sacred
eudeavor as does this. 1t saps all energy.
1t kills enthusiasm. 1t drags at the very
throat of Christ's Church.


So it is in the mightier Golf ct in which
the Church is engaged. Her soress trial is
not with wicked men, those who confront her
in open ranks, it is with weak men, with
those who number themselves with her,
Their fears, and gloomy apprehensons, and
prophecies of disaster, rob the Church not
only of their service, but rob Ter, too, of not
q little Of the fervor and hopefulness, and
best action of her loyal and courageous
workers. How many pastors in the land,
once burning with great zeal and courage
equal to any enterprise, have become, as re.
spects many cause, utterly dispirited by
reason of the cawings of these birds of i'll
omen which fill the Church. The sin of this
is greater than men are apt to think. This
habit of mind is against the whole spirit Of
Christianity, which is that of faith in God.
1t is in rudest discord with the entire tone
of the Scriptures, which is always clear,
cheerful, exutant, ringing with inspiration
Of hope Watchman and Reflector.