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\"oL X. DECEMBER, 1856.
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THE WORLD .WAITING FOR THE
CHURCH.
The whole world is looking for
change and struggling towards a
brighter day. All the tendencies of
the human mind are toward a fuller
liberty and a better condition of soci¬
ety. Superstition is losing its hold on
the minds and hearts of the millions
of the East. Expectation of change
and of a change to a better condition,
our missionaries tell us, is pervading the
minds even of thoughtful heathen men.
During the past few years, commo¬
tions have shaken all Europe. What
may be the immediate effects of these
clamors and risings of the people —
whether, for the present, they may be
repressed by the combining power of
thrones hostile to change, or whether
they may, through turbulent and im¬
practicable demands, degenerate into
anarchy and misrule — no ono can mis¬
take the indications they present. They
are evidences that the human mind, dis¬
satisfied and restless under present gall¬
ing restraints, is looking forward hope¬
fully, to a brighter period and hasten¬
ing toward it. We live in a momentous
age. Life is earnest now. Men will
have change and the world is changing
fast. Whether these tendencies shall
be rightly directed, whether a true im¬
pulse shall be given to these longings of
our common humanity, whether these
strugglings out of bondage shall lead
to the liberty of the sous of God, de¬
pends, under God’s sovereign control,
upon the efficiency of the gospel and
upon the vigor of the Church in propa¬
gating its principles.
The world knows not what it needs.-
There is among men a painful sense of
oppression, of want, from which they are
panting for freedom. There is a glow¬
ing anticipation of good, of some un¬
defined and dimly conceived blessing,
to the true conception and enjoyment
of which they long to he led. Chris¬
tians have no difficulty in deciding what
those wants and blessings arc. The
pure gospel of Jesus Christ presents
the only relief, secures the purest satis¬
faction, fulfils the longings of the rest¬
less soul, and ensures the largest, most
intelligent, safest and happiest liberty.
The world must have the gospel or it
will never he at rest. God has deter¬
mined that the termination of all these
commotions, the answer to all these
hopings shall he “ the manifestation of
the sons of God.”
Jehovah presides over all the revolu¬
tions of earth and is directing them to a
certain issuo. The real conflict in this
world is between right and wrong, be¬
tween truth and error, between holiness
and sin. It is a contest of principles.
God means that men shall choose— vol¬
untarily, heartily choose— right andtruth
and holiness. Ho will not force them
to be good, and true, and pure. This —
we say it with reverence— God can not
do. Holiness and love can not be com¬
pelled. Under force there might he tho
appearance of holiness and love, but,
these appearances, if they be not the
