Herod, and answered him nothing; until even the wailing cry has ceased of the last desponding and disconsolate believer on earth, “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where to find him!” Well, then, the work is done!  The energetic teachers of the propaganda of unbelief have accomplished their long-cherished purpose, and the professors of an earnest and devoted faith in Christ have perished, leaving no memorial behind them except their “curious books,” or their hoary tombstones, which record their old faith in Him as the resurrection and the life.

When such a crisis as this has at last arrived, the world will surely pause, and count the fruits of victory.  Wise men will then doubtless consider with an earnest spirit what has been gained to humanity by this tremendous revolution in all those opinions and ideas cherished during so many ages; and the well-wishers of mankind will examine the spoils which the conquerors have ready for enriching the poor and needy as the result of this triumph over a religion that was clung to by the best and noblest men with a tenacity overcome only when earth was old, and time was well-nigh ending.  But may we not now anticipate such a solemn review, by asking those who are wishful to destroy Christianity, what they intend to put in its place when their object is accomplished.  If they have anything else to give us, let us know what it is, that we may see and judge if it is better than the old religion; if it is better suited to meet the wants of man in every period and condition of his varied life; if it is likely to do better work on earth, and produce better fruit; if its truth rests on better evidence, and if, in short, it is such a gift from heaven that angels with songs of joy might announce this new gospel of peace on earth, and this new message of good-will to man.  Strange to say, such questions, though often asked, have hitherto remained unanswered.  If there be a something better in store for us than what we profess, the blissful secret has not yet been revealed.  Infidelity, often so loud in attacking Christianity, is silent as a god of iron or brass when we ask at its shrine.  If I give up faith in Christ, what wouldest thou have me be and do, and how live and rejoice as an immortal being?

What, then, I again ask, would be lost and gained on both sides after the war, in the event of Christianity being destroyed?  We Christians know full well what we would gain and lose;—­we know that we would gain nothing, and lose everything!  We would lose all which we most love in the universe of God,—­all which makes us rejoice in existence,—­all which enables us to look at the past, present, and future with perfect peace; and of all men we would be most miserable!  It is true that in regard to many an object of affection, it may be said—­

    “Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all!”