Past and Future | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 30, 1877

Past and Future.

The past is lost to us—the book is sealed, By mortal ne'er to be unclosed again; The past is gone—beyond all human power To change the record of but one short hour, Though since repented of in tears and pain.

The future lies before us—a fair page, Whereon 'tis ours to write whate'er we will! Then let us pause in case our careless hand Shall make a stain which will forever stand, Through endless time a silent witness still.

'Tis not enough to keep the pages pure, And let them ever but a blank remain; Each leaf in turn should on its surface bear Some writing that shall stand out clean and fair, To prove our lives have not been spent in vain.