"Perilous Times."

We have received of late several communications from men whose souls are stirred within them at the proofs they see all about them of the actual presence of the "perilous times " which are to mark "the last days" (2 Tim. 3:1). The "last days " of what ? Of Christendom, of course; which, after it has fully apostatized, and been swept off the earth by the judgment of God, will be followed by another dispensation altogether different from this.

The "perilous times," then, refer to those things which are the issues of corrupted Christianity. Perilous times at sea refer to the dangers to ships and their cargoes. There may be perilous times in finances, in national affairs, in the lives of men through plagues and diseases; but they have to do only with the things of time. Christianity has to do with eternal things, and loss here means loss that can never, never, never be repaired. Is it a wonder, then, if men who love, who feel an interest in all Christians, and in all men, should raise their voice when they plainly see the perils resulting from falling away from the truths of Christianity ?

One writes, " My mind has been led much lately to i Tim. 4:i:'The Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall apostatize from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons.'How can one be passive in view of the exceedingly frequent appearance of heretical teachings of late, from the aggravated forms of Judaizing t he gospel in various shades, to the full renouncing of the truth and substituting heathenism! Prominent among the latter is Theosophy, which raises its head high here where we live, boasting of multitudes of converts, and among them persons of high and responsible places in Christendom. With the Laodicean indifference now so manifest on all sides, and with which, alas, many of the Lord's own are contaminated, one can easily see how soon the triumph of Antichrist can take place. May we cling to the Lord, and watch against 'the dust of evil which settles so easily and without giving alarm, yet quickly dims the mirror of conscience." We need the Lord's ministry with the water and towel, not only when conscious of it, but also unconscious."

Another correspondent sends us a series of articles by a " Rev. —-," who publishes his views about "The Mission of Jesus," and "The Divinity of Man," and formulates "A Christian Creed"; all of which shows that he knows no more of Christ and His mission than a poor heathen. What is dreadful to think of, however, is that such a man, and a host of others now rising up everywhere, are not poor, ignorant creatures who talk without knowing how ignorant they are. They are traitors; they kiss, only to more easily betray; they yet profess Christ, only the better to destroy Christianity. Jude says of them:"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever."

Rome, conscious that the Scripture condemns it, has kept it out of the hands of the people. These are bolder servants of the devil; the Scriptures condemn them, so they labor to destroy the Scriptures. They affect piety, and thus waylay the simple; they affect superior knowledge, and thus capture the crowd of proud minds; they boldly revolt against God, and rebels flock to them. They teach the people from the pulpit, and the people's children from professors' chairs; they destroy the fear of God, of eternal judgment, of government, of parents, in the masses; and the results are ripening fast. Murder, suicide, fornication, adultery, divorce, robbery, covetousness increase as the teaching of Theosophy, Christian Science, Higher Criticism, Unitarianism, Seventh-day Adventism, Millennial Dawn-ism, and the like, prevail. And why should men restrain their passions, if God is too kind to cast them into hell fire? Why should they repent, if there is no such thing as sin ? Why should they be held by the authority of Scripture, if Scripture is so untrustworthy, so full of errors? Why should they submissively flee for shelter beneath the atoning blood of Jesus, if there is no wrath to come ? Why should they not enjoy sin in this life, since they are to have another opportunity for salvation in the time to come ? Men are not slow to catch at what offers them freedom without repentance-a place in heaven without having bowed at the feet of Jesus, confessing Him "my Lord and my God."

Ye that fear God; all ye that yet value your souls, be afraid of these men, and of lending them your ear. The poor drunkard, the thief, the fallen, are not half so pitiable as those who become imbued
with "modern theology." The burden q£ their sins leads to the Saviour, but the "advanced" teaching of the day destroys that Saviour, as far as man's apprehension is concerned, and the soul of its poor dupe becomes a miserable, hopeless chaos. Alas for those who have closed their Bibles, and are now "seeking truth" in the absurd and foolish talk which abounds in newspapers and magazines, and many books. Let God's people cling more than ever to their Bibles, exercising sincere faith in every word of it, prayerfully and perseveringly seeking to understand the will of God revealed therein. Stand fast; the coming of the Lord is near.

To depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better" Phil. 1:23.

A few days ago (Feb. 7), at Plainfield, N. J., our brother R. Hutchinson passed out of our midst to be with Christ. Through many ups and downs, he had attained the great age of ninety-four years, yet was possessed of all his faculties to a marked degree. Many will remember him as the author of the pamphlet, " Death is Ours," which sheds a bright light on that subject. Various leaflets of his are also in circulation, one of which, "A Dry Way through Jordan," is among the gems of truth in verse.

Before passing away, he left in our hands various unpublished MSS., some of which will, D.V., appear in future numbers of our magazine.

What a wonderful provision of the grace of God that poor, sinful men who have fled to Christ for their refuge should have, and know they have, a home of rest, and peace, and love, prepared for them with God their Father, and Christ their Saviour, in the glory where they dwell! May we who are still left here use faithfully for our Lord what remains of our days.

" This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night." Josh. 1:8.

A very valuable lesson is here for us, as well as for God's people of old. We do not get in the passage the lesson of diligence in preaching the Word to others, although that is an important exercise, especially when the great need around us is discerned This exhortation is rather to be in constant occupation with the word of God, finding in it our present joy and delight. "Thy testimonies are my delight" (Ps. 119:24). Thus it becomes our daily food. Thus, too, streams of heavenly light are poured into the soul, illuminating both the path of daily life and our future destiny. It "shall not depart from thy mouth." How infinitely better than our own are the thoughts and the words of God! Truth and wisdom are they, with power in themselves to prove whence they come (John 7:17). They give "understanding of the times," as had the men of Issachar(i Chron. 12:32). They furnish the man of God thoroughly for all good works (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). They enable us intelligently to give an answer to every one that asketh us a reason of the hope within us (i Peter 3:15).

Oh that this exhortation might fall upon the hearts of God's people to-day with divine power! Then we would be sanctified, built up and transformed by its influence, and fitted to represent as well as honor and serve Him, our Lord and Saviour. A. E. B.