The Good Time Coming

e next morning, to produce thoughtfulness and reserve. The night to each had been restless and wakeful; and

e. He eat sparingly at the breakfast-table, and with only a slight relish. A little forced conversation took place between him and his wife; but the thoughts of both were remote from the subject introduced. After breakfast, Mr. Markland strolled over his handsome grounds, and endeavoured to awaken in his mind a new interes

they were surrounded! Now he wandered amid its cool recesses, or sat by the fountain, without having even a faint picture of the scene mirrored in his thoughts. It was true, as he had said, "Beauty had faded from the landscape; the air was no longer balmy with odours; the birds sang for his ears no more; he heard not, as of old, the wind

ing, Frien

was returned with a forced cheerf

," said Mr. Allison, as his mild yet intellig

ly depressed from the tone in which he had first sp

?" inquire

ess; nay, even mo

id Mr. Allison, "the latter, I doubt

hook his head,

been turning to myself; there are few elements of happiness that I do

," said the neighbour; "to my observation, you

est a worker. But there is no disguising from myself the fact, now I reflect upon it

ot reading aright your past history. I have been something of an obser

r. Allison, bears ever after

in has been as prolonged and s

looked restlessly away from the present, longing for some other good than that laid by the hand of a benignant Provide

llison. Now you state the problem I h

m," said the neighbour, "it would be a wiser and

olution? Can y

it flattering to human nature; nothing that seems to give the weary, se

r instruction. Why are we so restless and dissatisfied in the present, even though all of earthly good surrounds us, and eve

peaking slowly, and with empha

and with scarce a ray of intelligence in them, on his ears. He sighed faintly and

e proposition that man, aggregated, as well

tioner's face. "In the human form as to

the attainment of ends proposed, you will find some di

ru

onspires to a single end and how judgment speaks in a single voice. The very first act of organization is to choose a head for direction, and hands to execute the will of this larger man. And now mark well this fact: Efficient action by this aggregated man depends wholly upon the unselfish exercise by each part of its function for the good of the whole. Defect and disor

r form, how can it be different in the inv

m all its active senses you receive pleasure or intelligence; and yet this larger man of society is diseased-all see, all feel, all lament this-fearfully diseased. It contains not a single member that does not suffer pain. You are not exempt, favourable as

is involuntary man of common society, to which, as you have said, we all bear relation as members, each seeks

s among the members. In the degree that each member performs his part well, is the whole bo

ered Mr. Markland. "It is because so many will not work

, and from an affection for the use in which it is engaged, serves the whole body, while every organ or member of the body conspires to sustain it. See how beautifully the eyes direct the hands, guiding them in every minute particular, while the heart sends blood to

plied to your man of common society. But, unfortunately, it

mille

rd which the Christian world look

ered in by procla

" said' Mr. Markham, smiling. "All Christians expect it; an

t have beg

n. If the Lord had actually come to reign a thousand years, surely the wo

may be in error as to the manner of this seco

in all prophecy, there is any

than there was in regar

N

though miracles were wrought for them; t

ru

changes. And when the Lord said to them, 'My kingdom is not of this world,' they denied and rejected him. N

The age is certainly more enlightened, and the world

o understand this higher truth, which it was impossible for t

two or three times, as if there were in them gleams

there are any now living who in all sincerity strive to repress their selfish inclinations, and seek the good of others from genuine neighbourly love, then the millen

ere any

f others from a genu

es

lieve

the millennium

d

w I have been led to expect that this light, whenever it came, woul

e light in all the seven golden candlesticks

may all be possible. But your words aw

fty years ago, it is because individual men and women are becoming better-that is, less selfish, for in self-love lies the germ of all evil. The Millennium must, therefore, begin with the individual. And so, as it comes not by observation-or with a 'lo! here, and lo! there'-men are not conscious of its presence. Yet be assured, my friend, that the time is at hand; and that every one who represses,

, after a few moments of thoughtful silen

lood than is applied to nutrition. As a part of the larger social man, you are not using the skill you possess for the good of the whole. You are looking for the millennium, but not doin

a lover of himself to receive willingly teaching like this. A type of the mass around him, he was content to look down the dim future for signs of the approaching millennium, instead of into his own heart. He could give hundreds of

from which he was suffering had its origin in the causes indicated by Mr. Allison, there seemed little hope of a cure in his case. How was he, who all his life long had regarded himself, and those who were of his own flesh and blood, as only to be thought of and cared for, to forget himself, and seek, as the higher end of his existence, the good of others? The thought created no quicker heart

in. Steadily the light came in, disturbing the owls and bats, and revealing dust, cankering mould, and spider-web obstructions. All on the outs

ibute of manhood?" Mr. Allison had as

not answer

atest glory-the truest honour m

it that," ret

st like him, are most ex

es

t love of creating and blessing others, out of himself. Love of self is a monster; but l

eyes away from the true type of all that was noble and excellent, and striven to create something of his own that was excelle

dden and minute, bears this likeness, in its unselfish regard for the good of the whole body. For, as we have seen, each, in its activity, has no respect primarily to its own life. And it is be

truth from his understanding. It streamed through the little window, shining very dimly at times; but alwa