UNDER WHICH BANNER- CHRIST'S OR ANTICHRIST'S ? By WILLIAM PHIPPS. "Thou hast given a BANNER to them that fear Thee, Psalm lx. 4. LONDON: MADGWICK, HOULSTON & CO., LTD., 7, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, E.C. PREFACE. THE present times are pregnant with warning to every loyal student of the Holy Scriptures. Beneath the plans of politicians, and the strife of parties, there is a manifest unfolding of the predicted purposes of God. Romanism and Secularism, in their respective spheres, are increasing in vigour and effrontery, and practically monopolise the field of controversy on subjects connected with the Christian faith. The one claims to be the only defender and director of "religious teaching": the other boldly asserts itself as the only legitimate champion of "religious liberty." But although advancing ostensibly in opposition to each other, these two forces are, in the overruling providence of God, operating towards a common end. In our own land, and amongst our own people in the four corners of the earth, there is a marked revival of that spirit which seeks to exalt the authority of "the Church" above the authority of the State, and to subjugate the persons and consciences of men to the bondage of ecclesiastical power. Discredited in its native home, and to a large extent in other continental kingdoms, Popery has for nearly a century sought to re-establish itself in the British dominions; and so remarkable and rapid have been its successes in this direction-owing chiefly to the spread of lawlessness in the Established |