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158 influences of country life, made the task of reform almost hopeless. Then at this period of the world's history, the besetting sin—a craving for money and gain—lowered the minds of the people who resided in such places to a much greater degree than it did to the minds of those that lived in the country. All these reasons tended to act against the doctrines of this great sect of reformers; still they continued to labour, and after 400 years' continuous work, they numbered fully half the earth's population. One of their great apostles had in the beginning prophesied that theirs would in course of time be the universal belief of the world. This prophecy has come true, though it came about in a manner that was never contemplated. Continual living on short diet, we are told, had a beneficial effect on these people. History informs us that they could endure longer hours of labour; that they had brighter and clearer thinking powers; that they possessed greater determination; and that they took a much wider and far-seeing view of all subjects than