It differs, again, in its extensive and manifold organization, in the variety and elaborateness of its forms of worship, and, most markedly of all, in its attitude toward the present life. Primitive Jewish Christianity had no interest in the present social order. Intoxicated with apocalyptic visions, it stood on tiptoe awaiting with outstretched arms the return of the Saviour and the overthrow of this whole order by supernatural power. Its primary interest was eschatological. Its deepest feeling was expressed by St. Paul when he relegated all social relations and arrangements to the region of unimportance. "But this, I say, brethren, the time has been cut short, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world is passing away." Cor. 7:29-31. In this respect American Christianity is at the opposite pole. It does not look for the end of the world. It has largely ceased to believe in such a future and, where it still professes the apocalyptic faith, for the most part, it allows that faith little or no influence in actual life. American Christianity believes in the progressive and aggressive amelioration of things. It believes in this life and its glorious possibilities. It is bent on attaining them as no other sort of Christianity ever was before. It is steeped in optimism. It believes that the leaven of Christianity possesses the power to leaven all the relations and institutions of civilization. It believes that the fulfilment of our Lord’s prayer, that God’s Kingdom may come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, rests with the Church. Its real and, to an ever-increasing extent, its conscious and avowed faith is expressed by Dr. Henry Burton in the fine hymn: There’s a light upon the mountains and the day is at the spring, When our eyes shall see the beauty and the glory of the King: Weary was our heart with waiting, and the night-watch seemed so long, But His triumph-day is breaking and we hail it with a song. In the fading of the starlight we may see the coming morn; And the lights of men are paling in the splendours of the dawn: For the eastern skies are glowing as with light of hidden fire, And the hearts of men are stirring with the throbs of deep desire. He is breaking down the barriers, He is casting up the way; He is calling for His angels to build up the gates of day: But His angels here are human, not the shining hosts above; For the drum-beats of His army are the heart-beats of our love. _b_. American Christianity compared with Greek.