p. 68 | A Contrast by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 26, 1864

A Contrast.

By Editor

THE Laws of Life for January 1864, opens its editorial, thus: "So a new year dawns upon us in beauty and glory! This 'old Earth,' about which poets have sung, is new, and fresh, and bright, in the blessed light of the year eighteen hundred and sixty-four."

Such is the theory; and as a theory it reads very well; but it happens that nature has given us a commentary on that theory, which comes very near destroying the text. The year 1864 opened, in fact, with the most intense paroxysm of cold that has been known for many years, if not in some localities the most severe that was ever known. The furious storm that raged all over the North west, ushering in the new year, was the cause of an untold amount of suffering and distress. Reports have reached us from all quarters of a fearful loss of life from the intense cold. We have heard of one family in Indiana, who were turned out of doors in that fearful night by their house taking fire, and who all, seven in number, perished before reaching a mile from their burning dwelling. Soldiers frozen in their barracks, stage-drivers coming in, frozen stiff upon their seats, brakemen frozen on the cars, cattle and stock of all kinds frozen in large numbers, on various railroads, trains blockaded with snow, holding their living freight for long hours in extremest peril, multitudes frost bitten and perhaps maimed for life,—such is the burden of reports every where, concerning the effects of the late storm.

The truth is, the earth is not new and fresh. It shows more and more, as year after year wears away, the signs of decrepitude and old age. Its paroxysms of heat and cold are more frequent and intense, the miasma of its corrupted atmosphere is more prevalent and deadly, its fertility is waning away, it is growing old, it is wearing out. It groans for the renewing touch of its Maker's hand, who will lift from its worn bosom the heavy weight of the curse, and set it forth anew upon its pathway to run its race buoyant and fresh forever and ever. It will behold no dawn of "beauty" and "glory" until he who sits upon the throne shall say, "Behold I make all things new!" Thank God that tokens of that glad morn already appear. Unfortunately for the false theorizers of the present age, facts all run contrary to their speculations. Wars and rumors of wars, mock their cries of peace, and omens of trouble and destruction give the lie to all their visions of peace. Happy will they be who amid the din and confusion of earth's closing scenes, do not lose sight of the sure word of prophecy, but guided by its sure unerring light, prepare for the transition into the approaching kingdom, where the sun shall not scorch, nor wintry winds chill, nor care oppress, nor disease infect, nor death destroy; but where the saints shall reign in peace and happiness and glory, forever and ever.