Past and Present by Watchman

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 9, 1876

Past and Present.

By Watchman

Do not crouch to-day, and worship The old Past, whose life is fled. Hush your voice to tender reverence; Crowned he lies, but cold and dead.

For the Present reigns, our monarch, With an added weight of hours; Honor her, for she is mighty: Honor her, for she is ours.

See the shadows of his heroes Girt around her cloudy throne; Every day the ranks are strengthened By great hearts to him unknown; Noble things the great Past promised, Holy dreams, both strange and new; But the Present shall fulfill them, What he promised she shall do.

She inherits all his treasures, She is heir to all his fame; And the light that lightens round her, Is the luster of his name; She is wisest with all his wisdom, Living on his grace she stands, On her brow she bears his laurels, And his harvest in her hands. —Watchman.