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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 11.

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NOW.

By Newman Hall

Now! A short word; a shorter thing. Soon uttered; sooner gone.
Now! A grain of sand on a boundless plain. A tiny ripple on a measureless ocean! Over that ocean we are now sailing; but the only part of it we possess is that on which our vessel at this moment floats. From the stern we look backwards and watch the ship's wake in the waters; but how short a distance it reaches, and how soon every trace disappears! We see also some landmarks farther off, and then the horizon closes the view; but beyond, that ocean still rolls far, far away. Memory contemplates the few years of our individual life; history shows us a dim outline of mountains; science tells us that still farther back, out of sight, stretches that vast sea; reason assures us that, like space, it hath no boundary; but all that we possess of it is represented by this small word—Now! The past, for action, is ours no longer. The future may never become present, and is not ours until it does. The only part of time we can use is this very moment—Now!
Oh, listen to the voice of warning now! “Awake thou that sleepest!” Awake now! “Seek the Lord while he may be found!” Seek him now! “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!” Believe now! Confess to Him your sins, ask pardon through his blood, rely on his atonement, implore the help of his Spirit, devote yourself entirely to his service! Do it now! “Strive to enter in at the strait gate” now! Offer the prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner” now! Too much time has been wasted already. Lose no more. This may be your only opportunity! Seize it now!
Now! for time is short, and death is near, and judgment threatens! Now! for in eternity it will be too late, and your very next step may land you there? The only season of which you can be sure is now! The only season in which you can work is now! The purpose may not last till to-morrow; fulfil it now! Fresh difficulties will flood the channel to-morrow—wade it now! The chain of evil habits will bind you more tightly to-morrow; snap it now! Religion is a work for every day; begin it now! Sin exposes to present miseries; escape them now! Holiness confers present joys; seize them now! Your Creator commands; obey him now! A God of love entreats; be reconciled now! The Father from his throne invites; return now! The Saviour from his cross beseeches; trust him now! The Holy Spirit is striving in your hearts; yield now! “Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation!”—Newman Hall.