THE WARNING VOICE by Uriah Smith

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Apr 28, 1853

THE WARNING VOICE

By Uriah Smith

— OF —

TIME AND PROPHECY.

BY URIAH SMITH. [Continued.]

Now clearer still, the effects of Satan's plans, Themselves develop, and the symptoms sure, Of ultimate success, accumulate. Now Popularity herself arrays In open opposition, and draws forth Her votaries all against; now turns adverse, The sweeping tide of public sentiment: A world all unprepared to welcome Christ, Unwilling, all its pleasures to resign, Its fabled dreams too readily resume, And side away with Satan's mustering host; Whom to arrange, he, crafty, now begins, With art consummate, and well-practiced skill.

Many there are who hear the notes of truth, "Start up alarmed," and fain would well regard; But when their fellow-men they see oppose— Whom more they fear, than fear to incense Heaven— Their moral courage fails, and back they fall, An easy prey to Satan's wily schemes. Others there are, for whom earth's treasures shine With attributes of deity; who gold, That glittering dust, and lands, more value, than, They value truth with all its promised joys; All such with golden chains, Satan binds down, To his infernal purpose. But behold Yet others, who of themselves no root possess, Nor yet belief, on principle well based; Fickle; who, ere they for themselves reflect, In matters new, trust to the word of man; So, when some high-ranked one, respectable, Upon the truth "delusion" brands, they straight, With insolence unutterable, give vent To jeering mockeries; o'er all such dupes, And many such there are, foolish and proud, Satan hangs fond, and with triumphant leer, Leads them away among his company. Another class there is, the very dregs Of all humanity—unfit for Heaven, A gross disgrace to earth, who of the low, Are lowest; of the vile, the vilest; these— As most congenial to their nature is— Of their own will the hosts of Satan join.

Thus, some in one way, in another some, Innumerable and various as mankind— Unto the subject suiting well the means— The Arch-Deceiver lures along his prey. With this promiscuous host, where, well defined, Reigned every trait of human character, Where sins, the grossest and most glaring sins, That ever planted in the heart of man Their putrid nests, brooded and multiplied— Where black corruption, 'neath exteriors fair, Rowed and rankled—even as sepulchres,

Whitened without, contain but dead men's bones.— With such a mass the Church, at last, chimed in, T' oppose the message of her coming King. A mass of men against the truth of God. Thus with the Church, thus, but too fearfully, Had Satan his designs accomplished now— Too fearfully fulfilled his fiendish threats; And in a fatal moment had he cast, Too strong a snare, around her careless step.

Wandered from God! Deep, ay, too deep had struck, And rank, the growth of pride and worldliness; Even as some gnarled oak, its massy roots, Far in the bosom of the solid earth Strikes down, deriving strength invincible.— Wandered from God! Their gaudy dress this proved, And this, their love of show, and rich display, And this, the gilded ornaments that hung, Costly, but useless, in her synagogues. And all the loves, ambitions, and desires, And fears, and passions, base-born, of the earth, With stealthy pace, into her midst had crept, And sown their poisonous seeds, which wide around Had shot pernicious root, innumerable, Innumerable in size, and form, and strength, And in the course they took, innumerable; Each crossing each, and crossing others still, Wove out their web, most complicate and thick, Most strong, and most entangling, o'er the Church, And thus was she close matted down to earth.

But long continue thus, the Church of God Cannot; for Truth slacks not her onward pace— Truth is not bound by earthly fetters down, And he who follows Truth, must break them too; So came the crisis—so the message came; A cleaver by the Angel brought, direct From God, her fettering hands to cut apart, And her set free again; a medicine, From Heaven sent down, which, if received, would Free from her veins, the stagnate influence Of Satan's opiates, and give new life, New strength and vigor to her system give; An incense, which, if offered in her midst, The dead, corrupted air would purify, Which now she breathed to suffocation near. Such was the message, and its office such, Would they the proffered gift but humbly take; But ah! with one consent, they all began Excuse to make, and pass the subject by; The overwhelming flood of worldly cares, No time or place for weightier subjects left; Thus, soon they, as a body, closed their ears, And shut their doors, and barred the message out.

At this denial of their faith, this Unchristian act, Truth turned away and wept— A long, low, chuckle did the Devil give, Of satisfied success; this was the act, The trait'rous act, that sealed her destiny; This rose to Heaven, and incensed Heaven, full soon, With speediest messenger pronounced her doom; He, following the first, wide through mid heaven, This second message to the world proclaimed; "Babylon is fallen, is fallen!" dread words, With solemn import full, and terrible In meaning; message fearful, to proclaim A fearful end; a sad description of A sadder state: but forth the accents rolled, Swelling in tone, and farther echoing,

They penetrated all her temples fair, And from the gilded galleries where rose, In worldly pomp, the measured anthem, deep, Now beating back in mournful notes, and slow— To which the vaulted ceiling, high, returned, In corresponding tones, the notes again— These startling words fell heavy on the ear: Babylon is fallen, is fallen! At once, With simultaneous impulse, thousands rose, And broke, with her, their bonds of intercourse; Left the dull place where they no food received, No spiritual benefit, no life, no light, Left and unshackled, free, themselves declared; Free from her sects, unfettered by her creeds; And they were free; for Truth had made them so; She led them forth into the liberty; To life, and light, on higher, holier ground; And then they saw the moral wastes from which, Their timely 'scape, they happily had made. There stood her fanes of formal worship grand, Her towers of wealth, her monuments of pride, 'Gainst which as fell the deep, portentous sounds, The message of her fall, they trembling rocked— As though some slumbering earthquake, far beneath, Had sudden waked, to fierce convulsions given— Would it had shook more mighty, till each soul Was shaken from the lethargy that bound, To see its true condition; but not so, In Satan steps, with artifice most sly, Advantage takes, and rocks them all asleep. Lo! now on all her shrines there settled down The speedy gath'ring death-mould, thick and fast; A death-damp issued forth in all her aisles, And all her lamps of piety and love, Of godliness and truth, for ever quenched. Behold, through all her courts, now reigned alone, The blackest, moral darkness, deep and dead; By one most fit described, as thus he sings, "Silence how dead! and darkness how profound!"

As erst the Jewish Church, when they refused The true Messiah to own, on earth had come, At his first Advent, were rejected all— So for denying that plain message now, That he the second time would soon return, God from the Gentile Churches turned away; Withdrew his Spirit and forsook their midst. Him they refused to own, he, therefore, them. A moral change came o'er them, which, the most Perceptive of their numbers soon perceived, And in desponding accents thus deplored: "On every breeze are borne the dolorous sounds, As chilling as the northern iceburg's blast, And like an incubus fast settling on The timid, and the weak depriving of Their energy, that lukewarmness wide-spread, Division, desolation, anarchy, The borders now distress of Zion's hill. Nor long ago, and all the whole extent Of our broad land, rang with triumphant peals Of joy and victory, from christian hearts. And is the scene so wholly changed become? It is a fact, lamentable, from which, Our eyes we cannot shut, that moral dearth, And spiritual barrenness, alarming broods O'er all the Church; such coldness as prevails, Was never known, such lack of piety; As worldly prospects, bright'ning, fast arise,

And manufactures grow, and commerce spreads, So worldly-mindedness makes even strides, Through all denominations equally." Such is the testimony of themselves They give; such the impression that was made On some of her own members; thus were some, At her sad destitution, well alarmed; But conquered soon their fears, and, with the rest, Fell in perpetual sleep—so Satan aimed. Ah! when their state they saw, and thus bewailed, Why fled they not themselves to join the band, Of God's true worshippers, with whom was life, And Christ's true Church? for such, indeed, he had— To whom we now delight to turn again.

Thus, separate from the world, with all its charms, And false allurements, spread but to deceive— Thus having sundered all the cords that bound, Within the precincts of a fallen Church, The Advent Band still held its onward course, Straight in the path of Truth: a glorious band, Humble, devoted, true, their God, alone, Striving to please, and trusting in his word, That what he promises he will fulfill.— That zealous band, to whom the Saviour speaks: "Ye of the world are not, but from the world I've chosen, ye therefore will they hate.—" And who from those who have of godliness The form alone, while they the power thereof Deny, obeying the divine behest, Had turned away; of this full well assured, That all who in Christ Jesus godly live, Shall persecution suffer, willing, then, If aught they might endure for him their King. But not from worldly malice, wrath and hate, And open persecution, fiercely waged, Are they, alone, sharp trials to receive; Others there are, of sorts more fiery still, Experience must prove; which e'en will make Of their belief the firmest pillars shake, And to their faith a test more searching prove, Than simply to withstand the world's vain scorn. Nor long for such will their experience wait, Whose shadows now begin to dim the way.

Based on prophetic times, interpreted As best they then perceived, firm trust had they, That ere Time registered that year entire— Then swiftly passing, they their fondest hopes Should see fulfilled, and heaven would then reveal, Throned on a golden cloud, the King of kings. But Time passed not, to realize to them Their expectations; which unanswered stood; Hence, Doubt, fell canker-worm of Truth, crept in, And striking boldly at the inmost roots Of their belief, there gnawed assiduous. Now in their path, with thorns already set, This other thorn, blank disappointment, sprung. And many who the world's assaults had borne With strength heroic, this could ill sustain, And, well nigh falling, staggered on the way. And many, gazing vacant, wavering stood, As some ship's canvas, idly fluttering, hangs, When two opposing winds strive opposite. Nor were there wanting some, who, quite aside, Turned from the path, to join the world again. And darkly lowering, o'er them settled now, A chilling mist, uncertainty, which left Them all at loss, unsettled, undefined; Checked their bold ardor, and damped their ardor quite, And dimm'd their vision, dubious with gloom: While, multiplied an hundred fold, and strong, The bland allurements, artful heaped around, Betokened, sure, the ceaseless vigilance Of their grand Foe, to turn them from their course. Such, now, was their position; and while, thus, Time swept along, a heaviness crept on And weighed their spirits, till they all began To droop and slumber—such as oft is wont Upon the phys'cal frame to hold its sway.

Weary with watching, when the midnight hours Stilly approach;—but destined now not long T' assert dominion; for the hour draws on, Which shall dispel all doubt, all heaviness, Uncertainty and fear.

The hour came on, And with it came, as on the whirlwind borne, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out To meet him!" Then, swift as the lightning shoots From cloud to cloud, quick as the thunder bursts, Deaf'ning through all the air—so quickly ran The spirit of that cry throughout the land, So quickly utterance found in one great shout, That, rising, shook, throughout, heaven's lofty dome, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out To meet him;" nor could a shock, electric, Sooner have roused to life a faltering band, Who now immediate from slumber sprung, And with full many a cheer, rallied again, With ten-fold vigor 'round their standard bright, Now brighter, far, than ever, gleaming forth, The Lord is coming, while all doubts and fears, And ghostly shadows gath'ring fast around, Scattered precipitate, with headlong route. And Prophecy raised high her gilded page, From which blazed forth, at once, redoubled light, Clear as the sun, and unmistakable; But most conspicuous, this, 'bove all the rest; "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; And cleansed shall then the Sanctuary be." Then, waving her bright wand, time definite, She pointed to, and said, "On the tenth day, The seventh month, of eighteen forty-four, This period shall end."

Now once again List to the voice of Time, while he confirms This statement, and her words establishes: "The vision ye have heard, wherein was given The time determined, and th' appointed days— Two thousand and three hundred, at whose end Cleansed should the Sanctuary be—unto The Hebrew Prophet, Daniel, well-beloved: To whom, while yet he understood it not, Gabriel came swiftly flying, and thus said: 'These understanding have I come to give, And skill, O Daniel, that thou may'st perceive The vision, and the matter understand. Lo! seventy weeks upon thy people, and Upon thy holy city, are cut off; To finish full transgression, and to make Of sin an end, and for iniquity A reconciliation bring, and seal The vision and the prophecy make sure. This, therefore, know, that from the time wherein The going forth commandment dates its birth, Jerusalem to build, and to restore, From that time shall there be unto the Prince Messiah, seven weeks, and three-score weeks, And two; and one week he, with many, shall The covenant confirm; but soon shall cause, In midst of this, the sacrifice to cease.'"

Thus on the track are we directly set— The track of Prophecy—with no false guide. Thus to our hand is given, a giant-hold Of the great chain, prophetic, whence we know Where it begins, where, therefore, it must end. While Artaxerxes, reigning, now had passed Six times the measured space that spans, entire, The four revolving seasons, and was yet Within the seventh, then the decree went forth, Jerusalem to build, and to restore. Here, then, the point is, well defined and clear; Here is the starting-post, deep-set and firm, Whence to pursue our reckoning. Following down, Along my course, the chain of Prophecy, Through seven weeks, and three-score weeks, and two, (Which my all demonstrating march has proved

Clearly to be prophetic weeks, of years; Hence argues how the whole to understand,) Behold, concurrent with the Angel's words, The Prince Messiah, who the covenant, Now to confirm, begins accordingly: But farther on, three circling years and half, (Of this last week the midst,) the sacrifice, Behold, he makes to cease, himself for sin Offering a sacrifice upon the cross. Henceforth, an equal space, the week to end, As from beginning to the middle reached, Th' apostles still the covenant confirm; 'Till by the Jews rejected formally, Lo! to the Gentiles, then the gospel turned, And ended now the seventy weeks their course. Here pause, and of our journey back, thus far, Taking a retrospect, mark how we stand. Lo! at th' appointed time, from the decree, In order as foretold, see all fulfilled; The Prince revealed, the sacrifice annulled, The covenant its given time confirmed, The Jews rejected, and the gospel turned Unto the Gentiles; and of Prophecy, At th' appointed time, ne'er can occur A false fulfillment. Thus, then, may we know; Rightly, at first, is fixed the starting point; Since this, alone, will the conditions serve, And satisfy the terms revealed therein. This, then, the vision seals, and makes it sure; This is the scale Eternal Wisdom gives— That we fail not to understand the times That God designs his purpose to fulfill— By this fixed rule, to this established point, What now remains, adding, conclusive gives, When the appointed days shall terminate, And cleansed shall then the Sanctuary be. What further learned would be, from this now learn. From the atonement type, where shadowed forth, The cleansing of the Sanctuary stands, The tenth day of the seventh month, heed well; For this, that day, its antitype shall meet, As at their times, others have done before. True, then, we've found the voice of Prophecy, When waving her bright wand, time definite, As definite she spoke; this much is given, For every honest heart enough to know; For if men this reject, despise, and scorn, And say that none can understand, then know, Though from the dead one rose, they would not hear." [To be continued.]