p. 163 | PERILOUS TIMES by J. M. A.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 12, 1867

PERILOUS TIMES.

By J. M. A.

The last days are characterized in the Bible as days of unusual peril,—as a time when “evil men and seducers” shall prosecute their vile work with unwonted vigor and boldness.

That we have already fallen upon such times, is a fact that cannot be denied. The weekly records of such papers as devote their columns to the recital of horrid deeds, furnish us with the sad proof that the apostolic prediction concerning the last days, is being literally fulfilled in our own time. As indicative of the nature and tendency of the present time, I present the following black list which I copy from a single number of a weekly paper.

A terrible tragedy! A man murders his wife and children, and then commits suicide!—A horrible affair! A man killed, and woman mortally wounded!—Alleged wife murder! Curious circumstances. Arrest of the husband.—The Milton bond robbery. The bonds recovered, and the alleged thieves arrested.—Extensive operations of four impostors who profess to be Masons in high standing.—Discovery of a band of railroad and river thieves. A remarkable letter from one of them.—Shooting affray in Herkimer County!—Confidence man arrested.—Sad results of a picnic introduction. The wiles of a fair deceiver.—Attempted robbery of the silver plate of the late Daniel Webster. The thieves defeated in their object. They secure only $2,000 and assault the owner.—Bribing a Legislator.—Defalcation of an employee of the Harlem railroad company.—A young Criminal. Attempt by a boy to murder his uncle. A revolver the weapon used. Arrest of the young desperado.—A terrible tragedy! Murder in open court! A man shot through the heart! A father’s vengeance. Full particulars of the occurrence.—An attempt at murder! The villains arrested.—

In addition to the above list, in the same paper, under the head of “Crimes and Casualties,” there were about twenty other cases of crime noticed; such as murder, robbery, arson, seduction, suicide, &c.

In view of such a weekly record as the foregoing, what shall we think of that theology that teaches the immediate conversion of the world! Does not such a condition of the world rather bring to mind the time spoken of by Joel? “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.”

J. M. A.