IMPORTANCE OF WATCHING.
By R. S. Owen
Do we realize that we are daily drawing nearer to the closing scenes of this world's history? that the day of the Lord cometh, and it is nigh at hand? Alas! how many are closing their eyes to the signs of our times, and to the fulfilling prophecies, which show with certainty that we are living amid the perils of the last days. God has revealed his will unto us, and if we take the trouble to examine his word for ourselves, we shall not be left in darkness. If we are overtaken as by a thief in the night, we shall be without excuse; for the sure word of prophecy is to us line upon line, line upon line, bringing us down through the succeeding ages of the history of this world until the present time, clearly showing that the next great event is the dashing in pieces of all earthly governments, and the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom. This is so clearly portrayed in some nine or ten different chains of prophecy that the careful observer needs only to examine them to become impressed with the same conclusion. Again: we need only to open our eyes to see events of frequent occurrence which are as much the precursors of the coming judgments of God, as the vivid lightning and the roaring thunder are indications of an approaching storm. The earth reeling to and fro; the frequent earthquakes, which are increasing to an alarming extent; the sea and the waves roaring; the remarkable tidal disturbances, causing the destruction of hundreds of vessels yearly; waterspouts and whirlpools on the sea, and unprecedented storms, both on sea and land; the bright glare of the aurora borealis,—a wonder only of late occurrence; the earth waxing old, like a garment, so that in many places it will not produce a tithe of the product of former years; the great army of destructive insects attacking almost every variety of the product of the soil,—these are but a few of the many signs that God has sent to warn the world of its approaching crisis. Many of the most thoughtful and active of the age are watching these phenomena, and tremble for fear of those things which are coming upon the earth. Yet in the face of all this, while many of God's servants are giving meat in due season to the household of faith, how many, alas! lulled into a state of carnal security, are passing the warnings by, unheeded. The siren song of peace and safety is sent out far and wide upon the breeze. It is heralded from the pulpit and the press. But what has the Lord to say of them? “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” Nearly forty years have passed away since the proclamation was heralded to the world, “Fear God, and give glory to him;” for the hour of his Judgment is come.” There was not a nation nor a missionary station on the earth that did not hear the sound of its warning voice, and thousands responded to the call. But was that to be the last message, the closing scene? No; for there followed another angel. Rev. 14:8. Another proclamation was made, showing that God's professed people were not in a condition to meet the great decisions of eternity; that the confused state of Christianity was far below the requirements of the great Judge of the earth. “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” This message followed in quick succession. There was a general lament throughout all Christendom, by the true minister and the sincere Christian, over “the sad state of the churches.” Is the harvest ready for the Reaper, and does he then thrust in his sharp sickle? No; mercy still lingers. God, in his unbounded love for poor, fallen man, sends forth another note of warning. A more solemn proclamation is not to be found in the word of God than the third angel's message. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are held up as the great standard around which the people of God are to rally, where they will be shielded from the unmingled wrath of God, which is to be poured upon the shelterless heads of the wicked. This solemn message is now going forth to the world. The next scene brings to view, not an angel of mercy, but the great Harvester, coming to reap the harvest of the earth. We are in the day of God's preparation. The closing scenes of earth are transpiring, the warning voice is sounding; and how will it be with the great mass of mankind? Our Saviour, speaking of our time, said it would be as in the days of Noah. As Noah went out to proclaim the truth relative to the flood, the world and its allurements attracted the attention of the people, and they put off the approaching deluge, or denied it altogether, until they were swept away with inevitable destruction. In this preparatory hour the solemn question is asked, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?” Mal. 3:2. Shall we be able to stand in that great day that is just before us? Do we believe it is near? Are we preparing? or shall we put off this important work as did the antediluvians, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, until the day of destruction? Delay is dangerous; but nothing is more common in this world. Felix was only expressing the sentiments of humanity in general when he said, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” “Procrastination is the thief of time.” How often man is brought to the point where death is staring him in the face, and he laments and mourns because he has put off the needful preparation until he hardly dares to ask for pardon. “I will give all I am worth for ten minutes longer to live,” said a dying man who had spent his whole life in the accumulation of wealth, but had no treasure laid up in Heaven. Many are saying, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” and are becoming drunken with the cares of this world. To such, the Lord says he will come in a day when they look not for him. The reckless course of the present world is forcibly illustrated by a company of happy youths who started for a boat ride upon the Niagara, some distance above the falls. The day was uncommonly pleasant, the air was refreshing, and they were all buoyant in spirits as they launched out on the stream. To them the scenery was charming. The sweet melody of the birds singing upon the shore unites with the merry songs and hearty laughter of the company, until they think this the happiest time of their lives. The floating bark takes its own course, while the oarsman joins with the rest in the pleasures of the ride. All at once they are startled by a voice from the shore: “Hallo! friends! this way! The rapids are before you!” Quickly they look around to see where they are. No rapids are in sight. Their fears quickly vanish, and they begin to laugh at the one who would seek to deprive them of their pleasure. They answer, “We will take care of ourselves. When we see there is danger we will pull to shore; but we are going to enjoy this ride awhile yet.” “Let to-morrow take care of itself; sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Thus they pass on, engaging as heartily as ever in the pleasure of the ride, until again they are warned by a man who sees their danger, and rushes down to rescue them, crying, “Young friends, ahoy! This way; the rapids are before you!”119“Don't be alarmed,” they reply; “no one knows just how far off they are; we can't see anything of them yet, and we are going to stop before there is any danger. We can take care of ourselves.” They glide swiftly along, and are just striking up a pleasure song, as they are seen by another man in the distance, who, running toward them, swinging his arms, cries out at the top of his voice, “Young friends, ahoy! The rapids are before you!” They raise a loud laugh at him and pass on. But soon they see their danger. As they look at the objects on the shore they see they are going at a rapid rate. Turn the rudder! Pull at the oars! Quick! Quick! to shore! to shore! But, ah! it is too late! They cannot cross the current. On they are carried, faster and faster, until, amid shrieks, and cries, and groans, they are carried over the precipice, and dashed in pieces upon the rocks below. Thus many to-day, while the warning voice is sounding, are saying, “Peace and safety.” “All things continue as they were from the beginning.” The world and its allurements engross their attention. “Come ye,” say they; “I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves, . . . and to-morrow will be as this day, and much more abundant.” And thus they will continue until the last warning has sounded, probation has closed; and their voices will close with the last sad lament, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” R. S. OWEN.