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when their iniquity was full； the despisers of God learned too late that it
is a fearful thing to have worn out the divine patience。 The restraining
Spirit of God； which imposes a check upon the cruel power of Satan； was in a
great measure removed； and he whose only delight is the wretchedness of men
was permitted to work his will。 Those who had chosen the service of
rebellion were left to reap its fruits until the land was filled with crimes
too horrible for pen to trace。 From devastated provinces and ruined cities a
terrible cry was hearda cry of bitterest anguish。 France was shaken as if
by an earthquake。 Religion； law； social order； the family； the state； and
the churchall were smitten down by the impious hand that had been lifted
against the law of God。 Truly spoke the wise man： 〃The wicked shall fall by
his own wickedness。〃 〃Though a sinner do evil a hundred times； and his days
be prolonged； yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear
God； which fear before Him： but it shall not be well with the wicked。〃
Proverbs 11：5； Ecclesiastes 8：12； 13。 〃They hated knowledge； and did not
choose the fear of the Lord；〃 〃therefore shall they eat of the fruit of
their own way； and be filled with their own devices。〃 Proverbs 1：29； 31。
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God's faithful witnesses； slain by the blasphemous power that 〃ascendeth out
of the bottomless pit；〃 were not long to remain silent。 〃After three days
and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them； and they stood
upon their feet； and great fear fell upon them which saw them。〃 Revelation
11：11。 It was in 1793 that the decrees which abolished the Christian
religion and set aside the Bible passed the French Assembly。 Three years and
a half later a resolution rescinding these decrees； thus granting toleration
to the Scriptures； was adopted by the same body。 The world stood aghast at
the enormity of guilt which had resulted from a rejection of the Sacred
Oracles； and men recognized the necessity of faith in God and His word as
the foundation of virtue and morality。 Saith the Lord： 〃Whom hast thou
reproached and blasphemed？ and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice； and
lifted up thine eyes on high？ even against the Holy One of Israel；〃 Isaiah
37：23。 〃Therefore； behold； I will cause them to know； this once will I cause
them to know My hand and My might； and they shall know that My name is
Jehovah。〃 Jeremiah 16：21； A。R。V。
Concerning the two witnesses the prophet declares further： 〃And they heard a
great voice from heaven saying unto them； Come up hither。 And they ascended
up to heaven in a cloud； and their enemies beheld them。〃 Revelation 11：12。
Since France made war upon God's two witnesses； they have been honored as
never before。 In 1804 the British and Foreign Bible Society was organized。
This was followed by similar organizations； with numerous branches； upon the
continent of Europe。 In 1816 the American Bible Society was founded。 When
the British Society was formed； the Bible had been printed and circulated in
fifty tongues。 It has since been translated into many hundreds of languages
and dialects。 （See Appendix。）
For the fifty years preceding 1792； little attention was given to the work
of foreign missions。 No new societies were formed； and there were but few
churches that made any
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effort for the spread of Christianity in heathen lands。 But toward the close
of the eighteenth century a great change took place。 Men became dissatisfied
with the results of rationalism and realized the necessity of divine
revelation and experimental religion。 From this time the work of foreign
missions attained an unprecedented growth。 （See Appendix。）
The improvements in printing have given an impetus to the work of
circulating the Bible。 The increased facilities for communication between
different countries； the breaking down of ancient barriers of prejudice and
national exclusiveness； and the loss of secular power by the pontiff of Rome
have opened the way for the entrance of the word of God。 For some years the
Bible has been sold without restraint in the streets of Rome； and it has now
been carried to every part of the habitable globe。
The infidel Voltaire once boastingly said： 〃I am weary of hearing people
repeat that twelve men established the Christian religion。 I will prove that
one man may suffice to overthrow it。〃 Generations have passed since his
death。 Millions have joined in the war upon the Bible。 But it is so far from
being destroyed； that where there were a hundred in Voltaire's time； there
are now ten thousand； yes； a hundred thousand copies of the book of God。 In
the words of an early Reformer concerning the Christian church； 〃The Bible
is an anvil that has worn out many hammers。〃 Saith the Lord： 〃No weapon that
is formed against thee shall prosper； and every tongue that shall rise
against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn。〃 Isaiah 54：17。
〃The word of our God shall stand forever。〃 〃All His commandments are sure。
They stand fast for ever and ever； and are done in truth and uprightness。〃
Isaiah 40：8； Psalm 111：7； 8。 Whatever is built upon the authority of man
will be overthrown； but that which is founded upon the rock of God's
immutable word shall stand forever。
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Chapter 16
The Pilgrim Fathers
The English Reformers； while renouncing the doctrines of Romanism； had
retained many of its forms。 Thus though the authority and the creed of Rome
were rejected； not a few of her customs and ceremonies were incorporated
into the worship of the Church of England。 It was claimed that these things
were not matters of conscience； that though they were not commanded in
Scripture； and hence were nonessential； yet not being forbidden； they were
not intrinsically evil。 Their observance tended to narrow the gulf which
separated the reformed churches from Rome； and it was urged that they would
promote the acceptance of the Protestant faith by Romanists。
To the conservative and compromising； these arguments seemed conclusive。 But
there was another class that did not so judge。 The fact that these customs
〃tended to bridge over the chasm between Rome and the Reformation〃 （Martyn；
volume 5； page 22）； was in their view a conclusive argument against
retaining them。 They looked upon them as badges of the slavery from which
they had been delivered and to which they had no disposition to return。 They
reasoned that God has in His word established the regulations governing His
worship； and that men are not at liberty to add to these or to detract from
them。 The very beginning of the great apostasy was in seeking to supplement
the authority of God by
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that of the church。 Rome began by enjoining what God had not forbidden； and
she ended by forbidding what He had explicitly enjoined。
Many earnestly desired to return to the purity and simplicity which
characterized the primitive church。 They regarded many of the established
customs of the English Church as monuments of idolatry； and they could not
in conscience unite in her worship。 But the church； being supported by the
civil authority； would permit no dissent from her forms。 Attendance upon her
service was required by law； and unauthorized assemblies for religious
worship were prohibited； under penalty of imprisonment； exile； and death。
At the opening of the seventeenth century the monarch who had just ascended
the throne of England declared his determination to make the Puritans
〃conform； or 。 。 。 harry them out of the land； or else worse。〃George
Bancroft； History of the United States of America； pt。 1； ch。 12； par。 6。
Hunted； persecuted； and imprisoned； they could discern in the future no
promise of better days； and many yielded to the conviction that for such as
would serve God according to the dictates of their conscience； 〃England was
ceasing forever to be a habitable place。〃J。 G。 Palfrey； History of New
England； ch。 3； par。 43。 Some at last determined to seek refuge in Holland。
Difficulties； losses