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When the infidel rejoices over what seem to him tokens of the decrepitude of the

Church of Christ; when the atheist foretells the destruction of all religion, and the
approach of the millennium of animalism; Christ’s followers do not yield to fear. They
remember that their Divine Lord has promised that “the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against” his Church.
Its dead branches may be lopped off, and its living branches may be pruned; but life
shall only be the more vigorous, and fruit the more abundant. The gold may be cast into
the furnace, and the dross be consumed; but the precious metal shall only be refined and
purified, and shall shine with brighter luster, and be fitter for the Master’s use.
Is there hope for humanity? Is this race of man destined to deteriorate; is it doomed
to remain for ever a prey to strife, to vice, to sin; or is it appointed to sure progress and to
final happiness? Questions these which have disturbed many a sensitive and
philanthropic mind; clouded many a generous, disinterested life with sorrow and with
gloom. The pessimism which is a sort of fashion in some circles refused to take any
comfort in looking forward to the future of mankind. As the individual is of necessity
unhappy, as life is of necessity a calamity, a disaster, and death the only alleviation,
annihilation the only thing worth looking forward to; so for the race, composed of units
thus unhappy, no destiny that is desirable can be in reserve. Progress is an illusion, and
the general happiness a baseless dream.
The Spirit encouraged Hebrew prophets of old to anticipate a universal reign of
righteousness, knowledge, and peace. That Spirit directed evangelist and apostles to
base, upon the incarnation and sacrifice of the Son of God, the broadest of all beliefs and
the brightest of all hopes. That Spirit has sustained the faith and inspired the energy of
Christ’s people, amid the darkness of human ignorance, the din of human conflict, and
the desolation of human despair.
The omen of the birth of Christ and Christianity has not been falsified. The progress
of the truth has been slow, the hindrances have been many, the corruptions and
distortions have been serious. War, cruelty, slavery, vice, ignorance, brutality, are still
scourging this human race. But no candid observer can say that the religion of Christ has
attacked these evils in vain. And no Christian, convinced of the supernatural powers of
his religion, can do other than bravely hope in the progress of enlightenment, the victory
of righteousness, the reign of Christ.

The Pulpit Commentary, Romans p. 438, Romans 15:13, (J. Radford Thomson)

Gold Nugget 292


The Brightest of All Hopes

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