PRESENT AND FUTURE by L. D. Santee

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 11, 1879

PRESENT AND FUTURE.

By L. D. Santee

Toward the sea the fountain streams are welling, Flowing onward to return no more; Rivers broad their seaward floods impelling, There to mingle in the breakers’ roar.

And the angry wave, whose dire commotion Thrills the brooding air with thunders deep, Once was whispering on its way to ocean, Where the nodding daisies were asleep;

Murmuring onward through the flowery meadows, Singing low its peaceful quiet song, Sparkling in the sunlight or in shadow, Gliding peacefully and still along.

But its life of quietude has vanished, And its voice of wrath is lifted high; All its heart is restless,—peace is banished By its foam-wreaths flung against the sky.

Such the type of earth with its commotion, Back in paradise a peaceful flow; Now waves of sin, like swelling waves of ocean, Break in mad fury on the sands of woe.

Earth was at peace when morning stars were singing, And when the song of God with joy did shout, When like a lover, votive offerings bringing, Her Maker hung his starry banners out.

But since the star of hope went down in sorrow Full six millenniums have well nigh fled; And still the warm earth waits a coming morrow When they shall live again—the myriad dead.

Redemption waits the earth now clothed in sadness; To Heaven ascends the mourner’s piercing cries; Brief was the springtime morn of joy and gladness— Then storms of wrath and pain ’neath wrinkled skies.

But as the wrathful tempest stills its roaring, The foam-caps fall again in pearly dew; The Saviour soon shall come; his love restoring The weary earth to paradise anew.

L. D. SANTEE.