"'Tis time that some new prophet should appear." Mankind stand in need of a new witness for God--a witness who may speak not as the scribes or the pharisees, but in the clear, ringing tones of one clothed with authority from God. The world is weary of the endless wrangling of the scholastics. They settle nothing. Their speculations merely shroud all in profounder mystery, and beget more uncertainty. They darken counsel by words without knowledge. Therefore, to heal the schisms in Christendom; to bring order out of the existing chaos; to stay the stream of unbelief within the churches; to convert the Jews; to evangelize the world; to bring to pass that universal reign of truth, of peace, of liberty, of righteousness that all the prophets have predicted--the world needs a new witness for God. Footnotes 1. Such is the language, slightly paraphrased, which Mrs. Humphrey Ward puts in the mouth of the orthodox Ronalds in her dialogue entitled _The New Reformation_ (See Agnosticism and Christianity--Humbolt Library Series, page 151); and it accurately states the claims of the orthodox Christian. 2. "Agnosticism and Christianity," p. 151. The passage is paraphrased. 3. I thus carefully qualify the statement for the reason that I believe the Christian religion--that is, the Gospel, has a much earlier existence than the birth of Christ. Messiah is spoken of in Scripture as "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world," from which expression in connection with many other evidences--too numerous to mention here (see the Author's work "The Gospel," ch. xxxii.)--I get the idea that the plan of man's redemption through the atonement of Jesus Christ is at least as old as the foundation of the world. It was revealed to Adam, and the Patriarchs, to Abraham, to Moses, and to some of the prophets; and finally through the earthly ministry of the Son of God himself; but it is an error to suppose that it came into existence first through the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth on earth. 4. Æsop's Fables. 5. Mosheim's Ecclesiastical Institutes, book iii., cent. viii., part i., chap. i. (Murdock's translation always quoted.) 6. Mosheim, book iii., cent. x., part i., chap. i. 7. Mosheim, book iii., cent. xii., part i., chap. i. 8. "What the World Believes," Gay Bros & Co., New York. Dr. Hurst's "Outline History of the Church" (1875) gives the following population to the creeds: Christianity ........................ 407 Millions. Judaism ............................... 7 " Buddhism ............................ 340 " Mohammedism ......................... 200 " Brahmanism .......................... 175 " Confucianism ......................... 80 " All other forms of religious belief . 174 "