could be used to make waterproof shoes and garments. He had a long, dreary struggle with poverty and unbelief before his idea was finally accepted. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hancock, and Adams had visions of a nation without a king, or aristocracy, or order of nobility. Out of their visions and needs of the Colonies came the American Revolution and Constitution of the United States, with nothing like it on file for their guidance. While ministering in the temple like the father of John the Baptist, I, too, have had a vision. I believed and therefore did not become dumb like Zacharias. My vision was that the United States is a chosen Nation sustaining a similar relation to the work of redemption under the New Testament like Israel did under the Old Testament, and that the gospel applies not only to the conduct of individuals but also should control in government.

XIX. PROPHECY OF UNITED STATES.

The way to test a prophetical vision is to see if it agrees with the Holy Scriptures. Mine exactly coincides with these words of the Lord Jesus (Matt. xxi, 43): "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you (Israelites) and given to A NATION bringing forth the fruits." We have usually interpreted this prophecy as applying to the church, but Christ states it to be a nation, and if you go back to the original Greek in which the gospels were first written the word there used is not the ecclesia for a church but a nation. The American people are better fitted for this work than any other that have ever existed. We have facilities, resources, and opportunities to accomplish it that were never to the same extent given to any other people. We have them in steam, in electricity, in the printing press, in our unrivaled methods of education and in our vast natural resources of soil, climate, and mineral treasures. The gas, oil, coal, iron, copper, and the precious metals of silver and gold that we are now getting from the earth were all placed here by the hand of God at creation, but kept hidden down through the ages until the fullness of time was come in the twentieth century and all nations became accessible. Then at the opportune moment these great resources and facilities for producing wealth were revealed to the American people that it might enrich them for evangelizing the world, elevating the human race, and spreading peace, prosperity, and civilization over all the earth. If we are not that nation Christ referred to in this prophecy it has not yet appeared and there does not seem to be any other continent out of which it could come and for many centuries. In view of our preeminent fitness for the work and that we now can and ought to do just what this prophecy of Christ requires I am in hopes you will all agree with my vision that the chosen nation under the New Testament to evangelize the world, elevate the human race, and spread peace, prosperity, and civilization over all the earth is the United States.

XX. CALL OF AMERICA.

Nothing is more certain than that the Scriptures will be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall vanish away but nothing written there to the last jot and tittle will fail of coming to pass. God with the might of omnipotence is behind that inspired word and their doctrine is most reasonable. What is more reasonable than that the world should

become disillusioned to see the folly of keeping 6,000,000 men in the prime of life constantly under arms and always ready

To cut a throat or scuttle a ship

America now has the call to lead in this work of disarming the nations. England or France or Germany, on account of their history, place in the world, and traditions of their people, could not at present become leader in the movement. This great Republic, composed of near one hundred millions of the most moral, intelligent, and prosperous people that were ever assembled under the same government, and the support of the Christian nations could to-day practically determine the peace of the whole world. I have had considerable to do with bringing young men into the gospel ministry. Fitness, willingness, the ability to do what is right, proper, and Scriptural, with a strong conviction that it ought to be done, constitutes a call to the ministry. It generally becomes more clear and manifest both to the individual and others as he gives himself to the work. In the same way by a parity of reasoning it would be with an elect nation. Fitness, opportunity, and that the Scriptures declare there would be such under the New Testament now constitutes the call of America to render this most important service to both God and man. Would we assist in the consummation? Then let woman use her influence against war; let commerce see that trade is paralyzed by war; let labor understand that it and not capital must bear the expense in blood and treasure of war; above all let the church through its pulpit urge pews and people to vote against war and this twentieth century will not close before the nations beat their swords into plowshares and battleships into locomotives and electric generators and no more learn war.

XXI. PROMISED LAND.

World peace is only one of a group of moral questions of the greatest importance to the welfare of society. Temperance is another. Not less than one-third of all the wealth labor now produces is wasted on war and intemperance and the crime, disease, pauperism, and destructions they cause. The mind becomes lost in contemplating the good that could be accomplished were that much wealth and energy used to promote the welfare and happiness of mankind. From such a vast amount it would be an easy matter to allow any citizen who had lived an upright life and at 60 years of age was in needy circumstances a dollar a day pension. Then any young person who would take it could have a college education or a trade, or both, at the public charge. These expenditures would not be more than a drop in the bucket in comparison with what we are now worse than wasting on war, intemperance, and their consequences. There would be ample remaining to spend every year hundreds of millions for good roads, in the prevention of floods, and in draining and bringing under cultivation the swamps. It is practicable to drain the Dismal Swamp in Virginia, the Everglades of Florida, the sunk lands of Arkansas, and much of the bayou country in Louisiana. These are among the richest alluvial soils in the world. While now practically uninhabited, if reclaimed would soon be settled with thriving and prosperous communities. The earth is to be redeemed as well as man. Both suffered in the fall and both can be

restored under the gospel. All that is now necessary to cross over into this modern promised land of peace, sobriety, and prosperity is a recognition of Christ as King, with a general advance in morals among the people, and the faith, hope, and charity that will apply gospel principles in society, education, commerce, and government.

XXII. PRAYERS IN THE LOFT.

There was once a church-so the story runs-where they would meet together and talk about the Kingdom of Heaven, preach about the Kingdom of Heaven, and even at times on Sunday morning the minister would solemnly pray that the Kingdom of Heaven might come. There they stopped; instead of following it up and supporting gospel principles at the polls, they invariably petered out and voted for something different. This was very inconsistent, to assert a principle in preaching, pray that it might prevail, and then at the polls, when they had the ballot, fail to vote for its adoption. How much do you suppose it would hasten the millennium, or anything else, suppose we all go to praying for it and working for the opposite? In that church at one of their meetings a spell and enchantment came down on the edifice until nothing spoken inside the four walls of the building could be heard. Everyone on entering became deaf and unable to hear the sermons of the minister, or songs of the choir, or prayers of the leaders, and soon the boys on the outside began to say that the church was dead. So many talking about the spell and enchantment that had fallen on the church, making it palsied and powerless for good, that the minister and his deacons searched the building on the inside, searched it on the outside, but still did not discover the cause of the deadness of the church. At last one of the trustees took down a plank out of the ceiling, and lo, to his surprise and astonishment, saw stacked up in the loft all the hypocrítical prayers for the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. Not one of them had ever cleared the roof. The inconsistency of praying one way and voting in another direction had killed the church dead-dead.

XXIII. MOSSBACK OR PROGRESSIVES.

There is a "hint" in this illustration it would be well for the churches to observe. The eyes of the world are now turned to America for leadership in things that are noble, lovely, and of good report, and beyond all doubt the churches ought to assist in the consummation. The American people in the twentieth century have become a world power and can only retain leadership as they solve world problems, like building the Panama Canal and leading the nations to disarm. We must advance as a nation or perish. Progression in working out the plans of God for the elevation of the people and coming of the kingdom of heaven among men is the law of national endurance and preservation. Not mossbacks, with eyes all in the back of their head and only looking to the past, but progressives, turning their faces to the light, becoming of the day, and looking to the future, are the most desirable citizens for a nation in fulfilling its destiny. The high calling of Israel to spread the knowledge of the true God and lead the progress of the world was a favorite expression with the Hebrew prophets. In the same way ought not

the pulpits in this land proclaim the higher calling of America to bring down the kingdom of God among men and spread peace, prosperity, and civilization over all the earth? It was bad enough for Adam, made in the very image of God and fresh from the mint of creation, to become a failure in Eden. It was still worse for the Israelites, with the hand of God so plainly manifest in their national deliverance, to turn aside to idolatry and become unfaithful in Canaan. I say it humbly, reverently, in the fear of God, and after having carefully studied the subject, that there might be a still greater calamity. That would be for the American people not to see the glory and grandeur of their opportunity for good to all nations and let go unfulfilled the mission and destiny of these United States. Longfellow, with the clear vision of a great poet, and many years before the Spanish War forced us out into the open, saw our destiny and far-reaching influence when he penned the lines

Sail on, O ship of state,

Sail on, O Union, strong and great.
Humanity, with all its fears,

With all the hopes of future years,
Hangs breathless on thy fate.

XXIV. GLORY OF THE NATION.

As goes America in the twentieth century, up or down, so will go the whole wide world. The American people are now called to the moral leadership of the human race that through us peace, prosperity, and civilization may spread over all the earth. Christ risen from the dead with power to destroy all the works of the devil, war included, only needs the cooperation of man that it may be accomplished. Oh, the glory of Christ in offering life and immortality to every living creature! Oh, the unsearchable riches of Christ in offering peace, prosperity, and civilization to all nations and calling on the American people to become examples of its benefits and help spread it world-wide over the whole habitable earth! The more we respond to that call, the more will the Nation prosper and the more will our children become to future generations pastors, evangelists, missionaries, teachers, educators, inventors, discoverers, fill the learned professions, become bankers, merchants, manufacturers, pioneers of progress, and heralds of civilization in all lands. The way now to fulfill that highest mission and grandest destiny that ever came to any people in all the annals of time is to recognize that we are the chosen Nation under the New Testament to hasten the coming of the kingdom of God among men, spread peace, prosperity, and civilization over all the world and do our part to let it extend under the best symbol of liberty and progress that has ever appeared in government—the American flag.

XXV. FUTURE OF THE NATION.

Finally; a few more moments and I am done. This Nation is now in the lead of the world, and with faithfulness to gospel principles may forever endure. It is expressly stated in the gospels that the atonement in Christ not only offers salvation for the soul but also "healing for the nations." Although history is full of the wrecks of

nations that have perished and the fragments of mighty empires that, in spite of the valor of their armies and wisdom of their counselors, have been destroyed, I rejoice to stand before this assembly and proclaim that, with faithfulness to Christ and the work of Christ for the elevation of the human race and loyal devotion to the crown rights of the Lord Jesus, these United States will live, thrive, continue to flourish, and may in righteousness be forever exalted. Let us recognize the hand of God in the founding, great prosperity, and marvelous opportunities for good now before us as a Nation, and, as Lincoln said in his Gettysburg address, highly resolve to act a worthy, honorable, and patriotic part in helping to Americanize the world and fulfill the mission and destiny of the United States. Therefore, let all present now in conclusion join me, with one of Paul's grand climaxes, in ascribing through Jesus Christ, unto the one only and eternal God, glory, honor, majesty, and dominion throughout all ages and in all nations, but preeminently, and in the very highest degree, may this gospel of peace and prosperity forever prevail over these United States. Amen and amen.

XXVI. PRAYER FOR THE NATION.

Almighty God, through the redemption in Thine own Son and invoking the assistance of Thy Holy Spirit, we would render unto Thee our praise, worship, and adoration. We praise Thee for having formed man in Thine image and for Thy glory. Even after he had fallen Thou in great love and mercy made a way that he could be restored, created anew, and eventually whole nations will be born. in a day to truth, love, justice, and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven among men.

We acknowledge Thy good hand in the great national deliverance that came to Israel in bondage and when their oppressors had control of the sources of power, in the army, courts, and temples of Egypt. Then Thou, with a strong hand and mighty arm broke their bonds, led them through the sea, and gave them a land flowing with milk and honey for the territory of a free and prosperous commonwealth. We would also on this occasion acknowledge Thy mercy in the much greater blessings that have come to the American people. Here on this continent have been gathered from the East, West, North, and South, as it were, no people, and coming here as impoverished immigrants and have become the greatest, richest, and mightiest Nation that ever existed. Surely Lord, Thy hand must have been in the founding, building, and great prosperity of this Nation. Make it an instrument in Thy hand, Lord, to cause wars to cease, to the ends of the earth, and spread peace and prosperity among all nations. Use this discourse in promoting these objects and Thy name shall have all the praise, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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