The End of Time by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 1, 1865

The End of Time.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

[The following description of the last days by Pollok seems quite prophetic of the present time. D. M. C.]

“The race of men, perplexed, but not reformed, Flocking together, stood in earnest crowds, Conversing of the awful state of things. Some, curious explanations gave, unlearned: Some tried affectedly to laugh; and some Gazed stupidly; but all were sad and pale, And wished the comment of the wise. Nor less, These prodigies, occurring night and day, Perplexed philosophy: the magi tried, Magi, a name not seldom given to fools, In the vocabulary of earthly speech, They tried to trace them still to second cause; But scarcely satisfied themselves: tho' round Their deep deliberations crowding came, And wondering at their wisdom, went away, Much quieted, and very much deceived, The people, always glad to be deceived.

“These warnings passed—they unregarded passed: And all in wonted order calmly moved. The pulse of nature regularly beat, And on her cheek the bloom of perfect health Again appeared. Deceitful pulse! and bloom Deceitful! and deceitful calm! The earth Was old and worn within; but like the man, Who noticed not his mid-day strength decline, Sliding so gently round the curvature Of life, from youth to age—she knew it not. The calm was like the calm, which oft the man Dying, experienced before his death: The bloom was but a hectic flush, before The eternal paleness: but all these were taken By this last race of men, for tokens of good. And blustering public News aloud proclaimed, News always gabbling, ere they well had thought, Prosperity, and joy, and peace; and mocked *The man who kneeling prayed, and trembled still; And all in earnest to their sins returned.*

Meanwhile the earth increased in wickedness; And hasted daily to fill up her cup. Satan raged loose; Sin had her will; and Death Enough; blood trod upon the heels of blood; Revenge, in desperate mood, at midnight met Revenge; war brayed to war; deceit deceived Deceit; lie cheated lie; and treachery Mined under treachery; and perjury Swore back on perjury; and blasphemy Arose with hideous blasphemy; and curse Loud answered curse; and drunkard stumbling fell O'er drunkard fallen; and husband, husband met Returning each from other's bed defiled; Thief stole from thief; and robber on the way Knocked robber down; and lewdness, violence, And hate, met lewdness, violence, and hate. O Earth! thy hour was come; the last elect Was born; complete, the number of the good; And the last sand fell from the glass of time. The cup of guilt was full up to the brim; And Mercy, weary with beseeching, had Retired behind the sword of Justice, red With ultimate and unrepenting wrath; But man knew not: he o'er his bowl laughed loud; And prophesying, said: To-morrow shall As this day be, and more abundant still.”