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CREATION'S GROANS:

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 12, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 22.

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CREATION'S GROANS:

FAMINES, PESTILENCES AND EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERS PLACES—THE SEA AND THE WAVES ROARING.

Say, why are these tidings of suffering and woe From all quarters coming, and what do they show? Say, whence are these ills? why is old mother Earth To such heavings and tumults and woes giving birth?
Lo! the solid earth trembles, the fast-rooted rock Now reels to and fro at the earthquake's dread shock; The abyss of great waters is heaved in its hand, And the tidal wave swept with a flood o'er the land.
Loud roars the volcano with furious fire, Belching torrents of lava and vomiting fire; Vine-covered Vesuvius its thunders gives forth, And bellowing Hecla responds from the north.
The wild-raging tempest with furious sweep Strews with proofs of its power the whole face of the deep; The Eastern typhoon and the cyclone's loud roar Are answered by storms from the far Labrador.
But hark the sad tidings that load every gale! From all lands north and south comes the heart-rending wail; Gaunt Famine's abroad on its mission of fear, And death-dealing pestilence stalks in the rear.
Now why is all this? why is old mother Earth To such monstrous progeny now giving birth? Say, why do convulsions and terrors abound? Why raves the wild tempest? why trembles the ground?
Philosopher, sage, men of science and lore, Come answer these questions, and tell us wherefore. You cannot—your skill can no answer afford, But the cause is revealed in the word of the Lord:
Earth's cup of iniquity nigh runneth o'er, And the long-suffering God can endure it no more; His wrath long restrained will soon burst forth like fire, And the wicked who scoff be consumed in his ire.
The shock of the earthquake, the hurricane's breath, The famine and pestilence scattering death, Are but the precursors of wrath to be hurled By a sin-hating God on a sin-loving world.
Then kneel, sinner, kneel, ere the trumpet is blown,— While vacant as yet stands the awful white throne; Call loudly for pardon while mercy is near, And the sin-hating God you will meet without fear.

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