A Present to Kings — Page 42
( 42 ) ) by the faith, and the flood of vices is rushing so violently that to stem it is beyond the power of man. It may well be said that the indifference to religion, which prevails at the present time, had never its like to show in the past history of the world, the reason being, that the material progress of the modern times is without an example in the past, and it is a rule that the growth of ambition and avarice leads men to plunge deeper into sins. It thus happens, that as this age exceeds all other ages in the supply of worldly enjoyment and comfort and progress of secular learning, so also it surpasses all other ages in the multitude of vice, and the assault of the devil is deadlier in this age than in any of the preceding ages; because previously vices flourished, as a rule, by means which smacked of barbarity, but now they have been more firmly implanted in the minds of men by being dressed in the garb of culture; and the progress of the latter has led man to fancy that he is the entire master of his actions, and that it was merely a folly on his part to think that there was a controlling mind to look after the world, the fact being that the machinery of the universe was merely working under certain laws of nature, the keys to a good many of which had already come to his hands and he would soon acquire the rest for a little more effort and thus become the absolute master of his fortune. Thus the present assault is deadlier than all previous assaults, and to subdued it there is the need of some person enjoying a specially close relation with God, who might allay the discord through the influence of his holy spirit and offer living evidence of the power and authority of God, so that the affections of men which are now tied to the world might get cooled and be directed towards the Almighty. . A DIVINE REFORMER WAS PROMISED IN ISLAM. . The gravity of the present dangers is obviously such as might occasion the utmost despair. But when we find the mention of them occurring in the Quran and the traditions for the last thirteen hundred years, we feel encouraged and 1011