all the signs of our time tell us that the day of earthly kings has gone by, and the advent to power of the great body of the people, those who live by manual labor, is at hand. already a considerable percentage of them are as intelligent and provident as the classes above them, and as capable of conducting affairs, and administering large interests successfully. in england, the co-operative movement and the organization of the trade societies should be enough to prove this, to any one who has eyes, and is open to conviction. in another generation that number will have increased tenfold, and the sovereignty of the country will virtually pass into their hands. upon their patriotism and good sense the fortunes of the kingdom will depend as directly and absolutely as they have ever depended on the will of earthly king or statesman. it is vain to blink the fact that democracy is upon us, that “new order of society which is to be founded by labor for labor,” and the only thing for wise men to do is to look it in the face, and see how the short intervening years may be used to the best advantage. happily for us, the task has been already begun in earnest. our soundest and wisest political thinkers are all engaged upon the great and inevitable change, whether they dread, or exult in the prospect. thus far, too, they all agree that the great danger of the future lies in that very[201] readiness of the people to act in great masses, and to get rid of personal and individual responsibility, which is the characteristic of the organizations by which they have gained, and secured, their present position. nor is there any danger as to how this danger is to be met. our first aim must be to develop to the utmost the sense of personal and individual responsibility.

but how is this to be done? to whom are men wielding great powers to be taught that they are responsible? if they can learn that there is still a king ruling in england through them, whom if they will fear they need fear no other power in earth or heaven, whom if they can love and trust they will want no other guide or helper, all will be well, and we may look for a reign of justice in england such as she has never seen yet, whatever form our government may take. but, in any case, those who hold the old faith will still be sure that the order of god’s kingdom will not change. if the kings of the earth are passing away, because they have never acknowledged the order which was established for them, the conditions on which they were set in high places, those who succeed them will have to come under the same order, and the same conditions. when the great body of those who have done the hard work of the world, and got little enough of its wages hitherto—the real stuff of which every nation is composed—have entered on their inheritance, they may sweep away many things, and make short work with thrones and kings.[202] but there is one throne which they cannot pull down—the throne of righteousness, which is over all the nations; and one king whose rule they cannot throw off—the son of god and son of man, who will judge them as he has judged all kings and all governments before them.