"THINGS COMING ON THE EARTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 60, 11 March 1878, Page 4

"THINGS COMING ON THE EARTH.

Dr. Cumming lately delivered a lecon this subject at the London Scottish Church, Drury Lane. He remarked that the newspapers were the amanuenses of Providence, unconsciously recording what God had predicted. They saw nation rushing against nation and kingdon against kingdom. For the last forty years there had been wars and rumors of wars, and they saw the prophecy of Ezekiel being fulfilled when they observed the Russians moviDg towards the East, and seeking to obtain a passage to India. No statesmen could say that there was any prospect of peace to be seen in the immediate future. They had another warning in the present social state of the country. Christ said " iniquity shall abound ;" and who would say now it did not. He admitted that that there was much truth aud piety ia many Christians in the land ; but on the other hand the churches were brokeu up by internecine struggles ; benefices were publicly sold to the highest bidder, and in others bitter dissensions arose about the appointment of ministers. In the State, ascendancy of party was valued more than the ascendancy of principles, and in commerce the most dominant characteristic of the present age was an indecent haste to get rich. He knew of his own personal experience of the utter wretchedness and misery of many of the poor of London. Yet they could see in the papers any days (he will of men who died worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, while at their very doors were to be found the most fearful wretchedness and misery. Might not the crimes of the lower classes be considered as a retribution upon the heads of the higher classes for (heir neglect ? He himself should not like to be worth two or three hundred thousands of pounds when he knew there were so many absolutely wanting bread. In the face of all these signs, who would venture to say that the prophecies relating to the end of the world were not being fulfilled ?