The Angel’s Record by S. M. Spicer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 27, 1876

The Angel’s Record

By S. M. Spicer

Would fain drag down to his vile dust. Unhappy he whose humble name Attracts the poisonous arrow's touch, Or feels the scorching, withering flame Of slander's breath, envy’s first kin. Should fallen nature ever fail, Make but a slip, a sad misstep, What earthly legions, born of hell, All ready stand to help him fall.

Record of shame to fallen man! Delight to see a brother fall! “Away with him! away with him!” Never-forgiving malice cries; “The law is right, the trespass wrong, The guilty sinner ought to die.” The holy angel blushed to write That guilty man cannot forgive; While Jesus said from his pure heart, “Go sin no more,” and thou may’st live; “Forgive as thou wouldst be forgiven.” And prejudice—dire foe of truth— Of rumor born, yet ever strong To blind the eye and seal the heart To all except accusing wrong.

Thank God! in Heaven that galling yoke Ne’er binds the struggling sufferer down; Though failing once—there yet is hope To win and wear the highest crown. How many lives of usefulness, Disheartened, crushed, to earth are lost! How many bleeding hearts attest The wrongs this world’s injustice costs! And all the pity of God’s love Does wronged and suffering virtue need. Be patient still; Jesus above The judge will be—not man, nor creed. Take cheer, ye sorrowing ones below, Through trials now—the waters deep Shall wash your robes as white as snow, And God’s own book the record keeps. When earth’s account with time shall fail, The angel’s record ALL shall see; And truth, eternal truth, shall tell Thy just rewards, eternity.”

S. M. SPICER. Battle Creek, Mich.