p. 4 | TIME AND ITS STORY by George E. Price

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 3, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 56.

TIME AND ITS STORY.

By George E. Price

BY GEO. E. PRICE.

(Continued.)

IX. HISTORY REPEATED.—GOD'S LAW MADE VOID.

We wonder at the Israelites of old, That they so oft should disobey their God, Who wrought such wondrous deeds to prove his love; But, oh, how soon, when Christ our Lord was gone, His children wandered from their early love! How soon were they with all the heathen mixed, From whom to separate them he had died! The pagan superstitions thick and fast Came crowding in where God was wont to dwell. The holidays that pagans had observed Were sacred made by change of name, or by Ascribing to that day some great event In man's redemption, which to celebrate Was then observed as an high festival Little distinctive from the heathen mode. Thus came the Christmas and the Easter tide, And thus, too, came the Sunday, wearing still Its character and name, as when the priests Of Baal shouted in their sacred groves, Only they said it was to celebrate Our Saviour's resurrection from the dead— That Sun of Righteousness which then arose And shed o'er all the world his glorious light. And this "wild solar holiday" retained The same pretentions that it did at first, Till, waking from her long night of debauch, Still drunken with the wine her mother made, The church endeavored to maintain the claims Of all the bastard children that she held And wished to father off upon her God. 'Tis true the claims of some were so absurd That forthwith they were cast aside as false; But some, more dearly clasped, she still retained, Because of memories clustering round their birth, In spite of all her God and Saviour said, She claimed that God's word plainly gave this day The place that long before the Sabbath held; THAT was commanded in his holy word, But she strove hard to show that law transferred, To show herself consistent this to hold, While claiming to reject all man-made laws. But this she ne'er could make the world believe, Who take for pleasure what she sacred calls. Assimilating to the world's gay life, A worldly wisdom she imbibes from thence— That which is foolishness with God, which makes On worldly things her every thought to dwell. So near alike why not each other love? So it would seem; the church, in favor grown, Finds not that hatred which the Master found, And told her to expect; for now men see The road to honor and to good esteem Is only made by walking with the church, Who goes wherever pleasure leads the way. Replenished from the East with power and wealth Of baptised worldlings showered in her lap, She builds a temple grand on some gay street, And chooses one who can attract and please And preach smooth things to suit their itching ears. The latest fashions and the gayest dress Are surest seen here on a Sunday morn, As they come here to praise and worship God. Church fairs and festivals and grand bazaars, These all conduce to gather in the means Which love for Christ is feeble to supply. O solemn mockery! Can the Spirit dwell Where worldlings feel at home, or where the church Will practice low, disreputable sports To gain the worldling's favor or his purse? But how is this, with Bibles in their hands? Why do they not the good Book search and see?

Oh, 'tis the same old story! Sick at heart It makes the lover of his brother man, When fables, creeds, and theories false are loved, Instead of God's eternal word of truth. The wine of Babylon has made all drunk, And blind made every eye by prejudice. Do these things not go now as erst in Rome? Do we not live her life a second time? With light that dwelt within them turned to night, How great the darkness that enshrouds the soul Of those who once did know the world to come, And were partakers of the Holy Ghost, But who have turned from this to temporal things! Forsaken of the Lord, so near the world, How wildly does the church seek to lay hold Upon the civil arm, to use its power To force respect where her attraction fails! Thus ever is the history of the church. (To be continued.)