TO ARMS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1876

Do your own work! No other can do it for you. The conflict intensifies as the age’s end approaches.

It is the last age of sin’s reign on the earth. The sinful church rages, and his dragon voice roars hideously. His day of doom is fast nearing. Men may well be alarmed at his fury and power, but God is not alarmed. God’s hour of eternal victory cometh. The storm will end in glorious, ceaseless calm. All that sin has disjointed and marred shall return sweetly into its assigned place, and be restored to its old-time beauty. The conqueror shall rest from toil, and wear the laurels of the hard-won fight.—D. T. Taylor.

“TO ARMS.”

A MIGHTY conflict is in progress. It is the war of the centuries, between truth and falsehood, holiness and sin, good and evil, God and the devil. This conflict deepens. There is not a soul on earth who does not bear a part in it. Each and every one is for or against: neutral positions in this war, there are none. He or she that is idle is against God, and to be against him is to be in peril of irretrievable loss; for Jehovah will at last certainly win.

There is so much to do, and so short a time in which to do it, that to do nothing is a crime of the deepest dye. Besides, to sit down and sit still is personally perilous. Resist, or be swept away. All may, and should, work. Wisdom cries, Work well. Some can do much; others, but little; each can do something; all can do more than they dream.

Mankind are treading the verge of a wonderful age. Mighty foes heave and toss society. Mighty activities accelerate its masses to a pitch of speed as absolutely headlong. Rest or calm there is none. Hurry, hurry, haste, haste, goads on all men. A trumpet-call sounds, “To arms!” Under a blood-stained banner, or beneath a black flag, all are ranging. What are you doing? Where is your place? Come out of your hiding, come into the light. Report for active service. You are wanted in the King’s grand army. Cling to the evil, and you will go down in the swift-coming struggle. Awake! Bestir yourself! Fold not your arms in lazy lock! At the foe! Dare to do right, dare to be true!