Page:The Last Judgement and Second Coming of the Lord Illustrated.djvu/342

 desire to abolish the cruelties of the sword. They regard war as an old barbarity which may result in a triumph of the strong over the weak, but which cannot decide the justice of a cause. Such societies are among the developments of the new age: they exist in England, they are being formed in various nations on the continent, and are known to have exercised an influence favourable to the maintenance of peace upon the governments of Europe. Surely the rise of societies having such an object in view is in conformity with true civilization and Christian sentiment; they have faith in the prophecy that God shall judge among the nations, and that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; they remember that the God of Christianity is the Prince of peace, and they may be reasonably regarded as among the valued fruits of His second coming.

Again: look at the moral changes which have been effected by the teachings of temperance and the establishment of societies for its promotion. There was a time in our own recollection when the odious vice of drunkenness was considered a manly indulgence, and spoken of rather as an accomplishment than a crime. It pervaded all classes of society, from the throne and the court to the artisan and the beggar. Although this degrading vice is not entirely abolished, a most astonishing reformation has been achieved. At the present time scarcely any indulge in this wickedness who are not sensible of the shame which it incurs; and there can be no doubt that this prolific source of musery and crime has greatly dimished. What can be the cause of this improvement? Satan does not cast out Satan; it must therefore be the Lord's doing, and, as such, it should be marvellous in our eyes.

And who has not observed that growing desire for the