concessions, even to sell their religious liberty, bought with the blood of the martyrs, to gain the coöperation of the Church of Rome. Hear their proposition expressed by the chief organ of the denomination, The Christian Statesman, thus:

"Whenever they [the Roman Catholic Church] are willing to coöperate in resisting the progress of political atheism, we will gladly join hands with them." Again, "We may be subjected to some rebuffs in our first proffers; for the time is not yet come when the Roman Church will consent to strike hands with other churches, as such; but the time has come to make repeated advances, and gladly accept coöperation in any form in which they may be willing to exhibit it. It is one of the necessities of the situation.' -Rev. S. F. Scovel (Presbyterian).

The same journal also marked the duty of the United States' government as follows:-"Our remedy for all these malific influences is to have the government simply set up the moral law and recognize God's authority behind it, and lay its hand on any religion that does not conform to it." Yes, "the necessities of the situation are indeed forcing the religious powers of Christendom into peculiar positions, and it does not require a very keen observation to note the backward turn of the wheels of religious progress; nor to surmise where religious liberty will be brought to an abrupt end.

Said an Episcopal clergyman, Rev. F. H. Hopkins, in an article published in The Century Magazine:

"Of one thing I am certain: If at the time of any of the great separations among Christians in the past, the condition of the church had been what it is to-day, and if the mind and temper of those who became separatists then had been the same as that of their representatives now, no separation would have taken place at all. [Very true!] This change on both sides is a proof, to me, that the God of unity and love is, in his own time and way, bringing us all together again in him. [But to those not intoxicated

with the spirit or wine of great Babylon (Rev. 17:2) it is proof of the decline of vital godliness and love of the truth; and an evidence that the spirit of that noble movement, The Great Reformation, is dead.]”

Hear, further, the more sober testimony of Archdeacon Farrar. On resigning his position as editor of The Review of the Churches, he made this remarkable statement :

"The whole cause of the Reformation is going by default, and if the alienated laity do not awake in time and assert their rights as sharers in the common priesthood of all Christians, they will awake too late, to find themselves members of a church which has become widely popish in all but name."

While we see that, in this country, the church nominal, both Papal and Protestant, is seeking the protection and cooperation of the state, that the various sects are associating themselves together for mutual coöperation and defence, ignoring their doctrinal differences and emphasizing their points of agreement, and that all are anxious for a speedy union at any price which will not affect their policy, in Europe the case is somewhat reversed. There the civil powers feel their insecurity and danger most, and they consequently look to the ecclesiastical powers for what assistance they may be able to render. Here the languishing eye of the church looks imploringly to the state, while there the tottering thrones seek props from the church.

Such is the unhappy condition of that great system which is now brought to judgment before the assembled world that system which proudly styles itself Christendom (Christ's Kingdom), but which Christ promptly and emphatically disowns, and most appropriately names "Babylon." How manifest the absurdity of applying the name Christendom to the kingdoms of this world! Do the prophets portray any such condition of things in the glorious Kingdom of God? Will the great Prince of Peace go

about imploring the nations to recognize his authority and grant him his rights-of territory, of wealth, or of dominion? Will he beg a pittance from the poorest peasant or court the favor of the affluent? Or will he implore his subjects to bestir themselves and exert their dying energies to support his tottering throne? Oh, no; with dignity and authority, when the appointed time comes, he will take unto himself his great power and begin his glorious reign; and who shall hinder or obstruct his way?

Thus there is a general banding together of the powers that be, both civil and ecclesiastical, and a mutual dependence one upon another; and with these are bound up the interests of all the rich, the great and the mighty-the interests of kings and emperors and statesmen and lords and ladies and titled officials and priests and bishops, and the clergy of every grade, great capitalists, bankers, monopolistic corporations, etc., etc. The present status of the conflict is but a clashing of ideas and a general preparation for the impending crisis. The ecclesiastical powers, referred to in the Scriptures as the powers of the heavens (the nominal spiritual powers), are approaching each other, and truly, "the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll;" but "while they be folden together as thorns [for there can be no peaceful and comfortable affiliation of liberty-loving Protestants and the tyrannical spirit of Papacy], and while they are drunken as drunkards [intoxicated with the spirit of the world, the wine of Babylon], they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry" (Nahum 1:10), in the great cataclysm of trouble and anarchy predicted in the Word of God as the introduction of the Millennial Kingdom.

We would not be understood as including all Christians as "Babylonians." Quite to the contrary. As the Lord recognizes some in Babylon as true to him and addresses

them now, saying,-“Come out of her, my people" (Rev. 18:4), so do we; and we rejoice to believe that there are to-day thousands who have not bowed the knee to the Baal of our day-Mammon, Pride and Ambition. Some of these have already obediently "Come out of her," and the remainder are now being tested on this point, before the plagues are poured out upon Babylon. Those who love self, popularity, worldly prosperity, honor of men more than they love the Lord, and who reverence human theories and systems more than the Word of the Lord, will not come out until Babylon falls and they come through the "great tribulation." (Rev. 7:9, 14.) But such shall not be accounted worthy to share the Kingdom. Compare Rev. 2:26; 3:21; Matt. 10:37; Mark 8:34, 35; Luke 14:26, 27.

"The time of trouble nears, 'It hasteth greatly;'
E'en now its ripples span the world-wide sea;
O when its waves are swollen to mountains stately,
Will the resistless billows sweep o'er me?

"Or, terror-stricken, will I then discover

A wondrous presence standing in glory by,
Treading the waters!-Immanuel-Life-giver,
With words of cheer,- Be not afraid,—'tis I.'

"Yes, a hand, strong, yet tender as a mother's,
Will from the surging billows lift me out.
With soft rebuke, more loving than a brother's:

'Of little faith! O, wherefore didst thou doubt ?'”

CHAPTER VII.

THE NATIONS ASSEMBLED AND THE PREPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS FOR THE GREAT FIRE

OF GOD'S INDIGNATION

HOW AND WHY THE NATIONS ARE ASSEMBLED.-THE SOCIAL ELEMENTS PreparING FOR THE FIRE. THE HEAPING OF TREASURES.-THE INCREASE OF POVERTY. SOCIAL FRICTION NEARING COMBUSTION.-A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR.-THE RICH SOMETIMES TOO SEVERELY CONDEMNED.-SelfishneSS AND LIBERTY IN COMBINATION.-INDEPENDENCE AS VIEWED BY THE RICH AND BY THE POOR.-WHY PRESENT CONDITIONS CANNOT CONTINUE.-MACHINERY AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN PREPARING FOR THE GREAT FIRE-FEMALE COMPETITION.-LABOR'S VIEW OF THE SITUATION, REASONABLE AND UNREASONABLE. THE LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND INEXORABLE UPON ALL. THE OUTLOOK FOR FOREIGN INDUSTRIAL COMPETITION APPALLING.-MR. JUSTIN MCCARTHY'S FEARS FOR ENGLAND. KIER HARDIE, M. P., ON THE LABOR OUTLOOK IN ENGLAND.-HON. Jos. CHAMBERLAIN'S PROPHETIC WORDS TO BRITISH WORKMEN.-NATIONAL AGGRESSION AS RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.-HERR LIEBKNECHT ON THE SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL WAR IN GERMANY.-RESOLUTIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADES UNION CONGRESS.-GIANTS IN THESE DAYS.-LIST OF TRUSTS AND COMBINES BARBARIC SLAVERY VS. CIVILIZED BONDAGE. THE MASSES BETWEEN THE UPPER AND NETHER MILLSTONES.-THE CONDITIONS UNIVERSAL AND BEYOND HUMAN POWER TO REGULATE,

"WALT

JAIT ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy [wrath]. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."-Zeph. 3:8, 9.