TIME AND ITS STORY by Geo. E. Price

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 26, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 55.

TIME AND ITS STORY.

By Geo. E. Price

(Continued.)

VI. PROPHECY FULFILLED.

God gave to Christ, our Saviour, clearest views Of what his church should suffer here on earth While he was pleading in the heavenly courts. These John received by angel sent from him, Who also blesses those who heed this word. It was but fuller light on what was given To one in earlier ages greatly loved, And yet as well befits a clearer view; Its curses are more fearful, blessings rich. He tells us there should come a trying time, A time of trouble to the saints of God, Whom persecuting powers should oppress And for long, weary years wear out their lives. The power that should this outrage cause to these Who, touched, are as the apple of his eye, Was so described that all who would might shun Participation in its awful crimes, And those who after lived might know the time In which their lot was cast, by what was past And present, what the future should disclose, As traveler knows by milestones just how far He has progressed from where he first set out, And thus the distance to his journey's end. O woful day to God's most holy word, And all who hold its sacred precepts dear! Their blood ran fast adown the mountain sides From where they had for safer refuge fled From papal fury, many more from beasts And hunger died, and some were bound and brought Before the potentates of Church and State, And there confession witnessed, brave and grand, Lauded in heaven, yet their names cast out On earth as evil. Forty months and two This beast with seven heads, ten horns, and fierce, Or, as by Daniel seen, a horn with mouth That spake great things against the God of gods, That wore the saints of God with awful woe, And thought that he could change the law of God, And holy time appointed by his word, Had power to do his work. Of men redeemed By blood of Christ he long wore out the souls; The stake, the dungeon, and the rack he used Their consciences to bind. Insatiate wretch! He only mourned that some had yet escaped. Its power began when three horns of the ten Had been plucked up to give it ample room; Then, casting to the ground the truth of God, It practiced its deceptions on the world And prospered in its work; its power ceased When its great head a prisoner was made To one regarded as a faithful son.

Its time was shortened and its rage was tamed, Because, helped by the world which lessened much The flood that was designed to drown her sons, The church gained freedom from the cruel war. But as the day was trying when oppressed, How much more trying when, in favor grown, She gained the friendship of the great of earth! The persecution had kept free from weeds The garden of the Lord; but soon they grew When once the tillage ceased. Friendship thus gained Was dearly bought, for 'twas at cost of truth. The few who boldly stood for truth and God Were few and far between; religion now Assumed the worldly garb of former days. As Bibles now were scattered all around, Like leaves of autumn driven by the wind, He who had once their use by man suppressed, Unable to accomplish this again, Now strove to have their truths but little prized, And urged contentment with a show of love, Without a purity of faith and life. But now, as those that walk with closed eyes, Or those with sense benumbed by opiates' use, The church and world approached a solemn time,— A time of anguish to the world unsaved, And to the church as well if unprepared,— The revelation of the Son of Man. Unconscious they approached this wrathful day, Although the signs our Saviour gave to show His coming near were now among things past. Long years before the sun had wrapped his rays Within himself, refused to give them forth, Until such consternation should be caused On earth as should with terror smite all hearts. The moon, thus left in darkness, ceased to shine; And in the memory of those living then The stars had fallen from the skies above As figs untimely cast by parent stem. Men should have known that when these things occurred Our Saviour King was nigh, even at the doors; But they were drunk with worldliness and care, With thoughts on temporal not eternal things.

VII. FALSE PRACTICES.

Oh, what a little burden on the heart bear Those shepherds who, with counsel from on high, Could sleep while souls were perishing around, Who, sent in haste of God, would waste their time In loitering by the way with toys engaged, And see souls perishing before their eyes For want of knowledge of eternal truth, Which they were charged to give them warm from heaven! Were Zion's prophets thus with toys engaged? Could they have surely known how these things were? They had the Bible; all was therein plain; And, had they wished they could have known the times, But they had shut their eyes and stopped their ears To facts unwelcome to their carnal hearts.

VIII. FAITHFUL WARNINGS.

As judgments were not hurried on the world Without a warning given from the Lord, So Noah, sent of God, for sixscore years Preached to a wicked world, of righteousness, And of deserving judgments just at hand. God never hurls his wrath on heads unwarned. How then could Jesus to this earth come down, And cut off man and beast without a sign? Hark! through the world the solemn cry has gone, Proclaimed as coming from an angel's mouth; "Fear God; glory give to his great name. Awake! Awake! Why do ye slumber more? The solemn hour of his great judgment dawns. Fear him and worship, whom the heavens made, And earth the honored footstool of his feet. Worship the God that made you, not your lands; Love him, and not yourselves nor fleeting toys." How could the world more solemnly be warned? (To be continued.)