HEAR, HEAR, O EARTH! by Uriah Smith

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 30, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 47.

HEAR, HEAR, O EARTH!

By Uriah Smith

[By the late Uriah Smith.]

"O earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of the Lord." Jer. 22:29.

O EARTH, earth, earth, how sunk in sin and sorrow! Tears are the birthright of thy dying men; All hearts are aching for that happy morrow When righteousness and peace shall reign again. That day will come; for He who rules in heaven, Whose word created, and whose power upholds, Has not His work to utter ruin given, But still His creatures with His love enfolds.

But sin must perish in devouring fire; The elements must melt with fervent heat; Evil may not to endless life aspire, Nor curse tread God's domain with fouling feet; The judgment scene is thrust athwart the path Ere pilgrims, glad, their heavenly country win— An outburst of Jehovah's fiercest wrath Against that traitor in His kingdom—Sin!

Heaven sounds a trumpet-call to sons of men; Sky, land, and sea, lift up their voices now; And this the thrilling note of their refrain: Soon hosts of heaven yon parting sky will bow. Six thousand years their course foretold have run, All working, steadfast, to the crowning day, When the wild contest, Right and Wrong, is done, And from the great white throne earth flees away.

One Name alone reveals a door of hope; One lingering moment for escape remains. O Earth, no longer in thy darkness grope! O sinner, break the bondage of thy chains! The great Refiner's fire, who may abide? Before His lightning presence, who may stand? And yet His name's a tower in which to hide, And righteousness beams from His pierced hand.

O earth, earth, hear the summons of thy Lord! The crisis for eternity is near; 'Tis God that speaks; and ne'er canst thou afford The hopeless fate of those who will not hear— Who insult God, His tender call who spurn, Till break from heaven the words, in thunder tone, "'Tis done!" Ah, then all faces black will turn— A guilty, speechless world before the throne!