The Witch of Endor by C. Cotton

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 7, 1868

The Witch of Endor.

By C. Cotton

How can a witch bring up the dead, Or raise them from their dusty bed? Who gave to witches such perfection That they should be the resurrection? And if to life they one restore, Might they not raise ten thousand more? What use for Saul to have those slain Whom Endor's witch would raise again? And get ahead of Prince Emmanuel, By raising up the prophet Samuel? To whom 'twas vain for Saul to look; Whom God and prophets all forsook. Could he his Maker thus forestall, And get a prophet after all? Or was it all a witched hoax Played off on Saul like some vile jokes? Who but the witch did Samuel see? Who a ventriloquist might be, And do the talking after all And thus deceive that wicked Saul. What power but God's can raise the dead? And on his power no witch may tread. What spirit medium by a freak Can raise a corpse and make it speak? Or bring the spirit from above To coo and chatter like a dove? Then why not bring them back from hell, And cause them here on earth to dwell? May not the spirits of the air, The wondrous grace of witches share; Who can believe so? still some may. But hark and hear the Bible say, “The living know that they shall die,” But all the dead in silence lie. Their memory and their sense are gone; Alike unknowing and unknown. They have no share in aught that's done, Beneath the circuit of the sun. But death and darkness in connection Shall hold them till the resurrection.

C. COTTON.

Friendship, N. Y.