THE PILLAR OF CLOUD IS RISING.
[From a late song by Elder A. F. Ballenger. See last page.] ’Twas a glorious day in the wilderness
When the trump of God was blown,
And the mighty millions of Israel’s host
Moved on to their promised home;
When Jehovah’s cloud in its glory grand
O’er the swelling Jordan stood,
When the men of faith from the wilderness
Moved on through its parting flood. ’Twas an awful time for the faithless man
Who refused to leave his sin;
He had failed to learn from the desert tests,
And he could not enter in.
But the conquering host by the pillar led
Moved on to Canaan’s shore,
And the faithless fell in the wilderness,
For the sifting time was o’er. ’Tis a glorious time for the church to-day,
For the trump again has blown,
And the hosts of God, by the pillar led,
Move on to their promised home;
And the Holy Ghost in the “latter rain,”
With His peace and joy and power,
O’er the church now falls with refreshing flood,
Like a glorious summer shower. ’Tis an awful time for the faithless man
In the church of God to-day,
For the final sifting at last has come,
He is falling by the way.
But the justified in their armor bright,
And with faith their battle-cry,
Are marching to-day ’gainst the walls of sin,
With power from on high. The pillar of cloud is rising.
Behold, what a glorious sight!
It moves toward the land of promise.
Awake, ye children of light.
The trump of God is calling
The wilderness-wandering host
Away from the desert sinful;
“Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”