INTRODUCTORY: THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES (Matt. xvi: 2, 3). May 17, 1885

Summary

“When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

—Matthew xvi: 2, 3.

This could mean nothing unless it meant that, as the weather changes, so God's providential developments are presenting a diversified appearance from time to time. He was in the world and the world knew him not; he was among the then most religiously cultivated people, and he was developing a very much higher conception of morality and spiritual religion than theirs, and they could not understand it. They looked upon all the miracles that he wrought, the transcendent works of benevolence and of grace, as if they were in a circus, watching the athletic feats of men and animals. It was curiosity, not moral hunger; and they followed him here and there, saying, “Now give us a sign; now do some striking thing.” He reproached them because they had no spiritual instinct, by which to discern the work of God that was going on in their own time. And that is the basis not only of this discourse but of the others that may be found in the following pages, on the subject of discerning those great developments of God's providence in this world, in and around about the sphere of religion.