p. 5 | DESTRUCTION OF SODOM by Cora Glunt

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 19, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 32.

DESTRUCTION OF SODOM.

By Cora Glunt

In Jordan’s lovely, blooming vale, Where living waters never fail, Where flowers shed their fragrance rare, Stood Sodom’s city, grand and fair. Her fields were dressed in harvests white, And verdant hills did greet the sight; Her plains were clothed in robes of sheen, Of palm, the vine, the olive green.

Profusion reigned, till life did seem To people but an idle dream. Her wealth and leisure were the seeds That ripened into fearful deeds. But God in love sent beams of light To pierce this gloom as dark as night. But, sad indeed! the last, last ray Was also spurned and turned away.

But now the fatal night draws nigh, And clouds of vengeance fill the sky, As o’er the city, doomed, they cast Their heavy shadows, thick and fast. While angels on their mission came To rid the earth of Sodom’s name, Men’s hearts were filled with visions bright, And dreamed of naught but false delight.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN.

The evening brought a lovely scene; All nature smiled and looked serene. The sun, more softly seemed to say, “Adieu,” by its declining ray. As twilight shared her fair estate, Two strangers neared the city gate, And, tho as pilgrims lone they came, Their welcome was but scorn and shame.

How little did this people know Their cup was filled to overflow, When from these heavenly guests they turned, And all persuasions madly spurned! But ’mid the careless throng was one By whom a kindly act was done. ’Twas righteous Lot, who day by day Was vexed by Sodom’s sinful way.

The angels, by his strong request, Went home with him that night to rest. And there they opened to his view What God had sent them there to do. “We will,” they said, “this place o’erthrow, Because the Lord she will not know; Because so great has waxed her cry. Before the face of God, most high.”

And there was given the thrilling word By which their very hearts were stirred. “Arise and flee,” the angels said; “To right or left turn not thy head; In all the plain remain thou not, Nor stop to gaze at earthly lot.” So forth they went and entered Zoar, As day did flood the valley o’er.

All o’er the plain the smiling morn Seemed but to laugh all fears to scorn. But soon the fearful tempest broke, And as a furnace, great the smoke From Siddim’s vale rose as a cloud: So perished Sodom, fair and proud. But O, to-day, this witness sounds E’en to the earth’s remotest bounds!

For as it was in former time, They heeded not the truth sublime, But ate and drank and bought and sold, And in their sins waxed very bold, Until was closed sweet mercy’s gate, Which left them to their fearful fate: In this, our day, so shall it be When we our blessed Lord shall see.

And now the angel’s warning voice Bids us, in haste, make God our choice. For, lo, we are in judgment’s hour, And soon the work will close with power! Let none by idly scoffing say, “Our Lord his coming doth delay.” For ere this generation’s passed That glorious day will come at last!

CORA GLUNT.

Princeton, Ind.