SELECTIONS | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 11, 1858

SELECTIONS.

THEATER OF THE UNIVERSE.

[The following is a copy of a Bill, written by the late Rev. ROWLAND HILL, which was stuck up at RICHMOND, on Saturday, 4th of June, 1774, close to the Play Bill for that day. The design of which was to divert the minds of the gay and dissipated from the vain amusements of the THEATER, and to fix their attention to the awful circumstances which usher in and succeed "The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord."]

**BY COMMAND OF THE KING OF KINGS. And at the desire of all who love His appearing. **

AT THE # THEATER OF THE UNIVERSE. ON THE EVE OF TIME, WILL BE PERFORMED # The Great Assize OR # DAY OF JUDGMENT.

THE SCENERY,

Which is now actually preparing, will not only surpass everything that has yet been seen, but will infinitely exceed the utmost stretch of human conception. There will be a just REPRESENTATION of ALL THE INHABITANTS of the WORLD, in their various and proper colours; and their costumes and manners will be so exact, and so minutely delineated, that the most secret thought will be discovered. "For God shall bring every Work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be Good, or whether it be EVIL," Eccl. xii, 4.

This THEATER will be laid out after a new plan, AND WILL CONSIST OF # PIT & GALLERY only; and, contrary to all others, the GALLERY is fitted up for the reception of persons of High (or heavenly) Birth, and the PIT for those of Low (or earthly) Rank.

*N. B.—The Gallery is very spacious, and the Pit is without bottom.*

To prevent inconvenience, there are separate Doors for admitting the company; and they are so different, that none can mistake that are not willfully blind. The door that opens into the GALLERY is very narrow, and the steps up to it somewhat difficult: for which reason there are seldom many people about it. But the door that gives entrance to the PIT is very wide and very commodious, which causes such numbers to flock to it, that it is generally crowded.

N. B.—The Straight door leads towards the right hand, and the Broad one to the left.

It will be in vain for one in tinselled coat and borrowed language to personate one of HIGH BIRTH in order to get admittance into the upper places, for there is One of wonderful and deep penetration, who will search and examine every individual; and all who cannot pronounce SHIBBOLETH in the language of Canaan, or has not received a white stone and a new name, or cannot prove a clear title to a certain portion of the LAND of PROMISE, must be turned in at the left door.

The Principle Performers.

are described in 1 Thess. iv, 16, 17; 2 Thess. i, 7, 9; Matt. xxiv, 30, 31; xxv, 31, 32; Dan. vii, 9, 10; Jude 14-19; Rev. xx, 12-15. But as there are some people much better acquainted with the contents of a PLAY-BILL than the WORD OF GOD, it may not be amiss to transcribe a verse or two for their perusal:—

"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel," but "to be glorified in his Saints." "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the Judgment was set, and the books were opened." "And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire."

ACT FIRST

Of this Grand and Solemn piece will be opened by An ARCHANGEL with the Trump of GOD!!! "For the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised."—1 Cor. xv, 52.

ACT SECOND

PROCESSION OF SAINTS

In White, with Golden Harps, accompanied with Shouts of Joy and Songs of Praise.

ACT THIRD.

AN ASSEMBLAGE OF ALL THE UNREGENERATE THE MUSIC will chiefly consist of CRIES, accompanied with WEEPING, WAILING, MOURNING, LAMENTATION, and WOE. TO CONCLUDE WITH AN

Oration by the Son of God.

It is written in the twenty-fifth of Matthew, from verse 31 to the end of the chapter. (But for the sake of those who seldom read the Scriptures, I shall here transcribe two verses.) 'Then shall the King say to them on his Right Hand, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Then shall he also say unto them on his Left Hand, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared (not indeed for you, but) for the Devil and his angels." '

After which the Curtain will drop.

Then O to tell! Some rais'd on high, and others doom'd to hell! (a) Those praise the Lamb, and sing redeeming Love, (b) Lodged in his bosom, all his goodness prove; (c) While those who trampled under foot his grace, (d) Are banished now forever from his face, (e) Divided thus, a Gulf is fixed between, (f) And everlasting closes up the scene. (g)

"Thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do thus unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel."—Amos iv, 12.