p. 165 | A Fit Emblem of the World by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 24, 1866

A Fit Emblem of the World.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Just now the ice is breaking up in the river. I stood upon the bank of a river a little below a dam, over which the water was pouring in torrents. Some forty rods above the dam the river was yet covered with ice about eighteen inches thick. At length a large mass about four rods square broke loose. Slowly, gently, and majestically it began to float down the river, as though it feared no danger. To one who could not see ahead, it would appear to be a very safe and pleasant bark on which to ride. But upon close examination it might be seen that it had been perforated by the rays of the sun, with innumerable little holes like a sponge or honey-comb. It was rotten. Foot after foot, and rod after rod, it rode on, on, and on, toward the dam, apparently as safe and sound as ever. As it nears the falls it almost imperceptibly moves faster and still faster, till at length it reaches the verge. One moment, as it seems to have awakened to its impending doom, and appears to stop and look down with terror into the abyss below, it balances, it totters, and then, with a wail, like the voice of thunder, it comes breaking and crashing into the fo ming surges below. I looked again, and that mighty island of ice that was moving so safely upon the gentle water, but an instant before, was now ground into ten thousand pieces.

So with this world. Six thousand years ago it broke loose from its moorings. Since then it has been floating down the river toward its final desuriction . It has moved on and on, and as it moves it gains in velocity, although nearly imperceptible to the careless observer. To him it appears as sound as ever, though it is time-worn, worm-eaten, rotten to the core. As it nears its final doom, the mass of the world are eating and feasting, smoking, drinking, carousing, and making merry. They fear no danger, they heed no warnings. "All's well, a good time coming, on with the dance." If they would but stop and listen, they could hear even now the thunder of the angry waves below. But they are deaf, reckless, spell-bound. On, on they rush with increasing velocity, which grows almost to lightning speed as they near the brink of their final doom. They will awake finally to realize their coming destruction, but too late to save them. With one mighty wail, they will plunge into the eternal abyss below, never to rise any more. Sinner, awake and look around you, and behold the thickening signs all around proclaiming that the last days are here. Leave the doomed world, get into the ark of God, and flee for refuge from the wrath to come.

D. M. CANRIGHT.