One would suppose, that if a paper at this late age of the world, professing to advocate the whole truth on the important subject of the end of all things at hand, should at the same time claim to hold no position, it would be truly an anomaly; but we find that this is even the case. The Ad. Watchman for Sept. 28, speaking of the “new time theory,” says: “The Watchman, as a paper, has no position on this, or any other question.” Says the prophet, “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel ii, 1. But says Paul, [1 Cor. xiv, 8,] “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle.”
Watchman, what of the night! Oh, we have no position. Any one may tell the time of night, and you may believe who you choose: the Watchman is not responsible! Where is the honest inquirer thus left? What will become of the traveler, when those who have taken their station on the watch-tower, refuse the responsibility of watching. The anxious inquiry comes up, What of the night? and the inquirer is left with a mixed multitude of views, a perfect babel of opinions, confused and bewildered.
Says Ezekiel, [xxxiii, 6,] “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” It is no time now, to be without a position. It is no time to be without a trumpet that will give a certain sound, that the world may be warned of the approach of the “day of wrath, of trouble and distress, of wasteness and desolation.” It is no time for the watchmen on the walls, to lay down their responsibility, and not mark the tokens of the coming day; but we should have our loins girt with Truth, and our lamps trimmed and burning, and we like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding.