Appeal
203
unless you arouse and with penitence and deep humiliation return unto
the Lord.
Again and again has the voice from heaven addressed you. Will
you obey this voice? Will you heed the counsel of the True Witness
to seek the gold tried in the fire, the white raiment, and the eyesalve?
The gold is faith and love, the white raiment is the righteousness of
Christ, the eyesalve is that spiritual discernment which will enable you
to see the wiles of Satan and shun them, to detect sin and abhor it, to
see truth and obey it.
The deadly lethargy of the world is paralyzing your senses. Sin
no longer appears repulsive because you are blinded by Satan. The
judgments of God are soon to be poured out upon the earth. “Escape
for thy life” is the warning from the angels of God. Other voices
are heard saying: “Do not become excited; there is no cause for
special alarm.” Those who are at ease in Zion cry “Peace and safety,”
while heaven declares that swift destruction is about to come upon the
transgressor. The young, the frivolous, the pleasure loving, consider
these warnings as idle tales and turn from them with a jest. Parents
are inclined to think their children about right in the matter, and all
sleep on at ease. Thus it was at the destruction of the old world and
when Sodom and Gomorrah were consumed by fire. On the night
prior to their destruction the cities of the plain rioted in pleasure. Lot
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was derided for his fears and warnings. But it was these scoffers that
perished in the flames. That very night the door of mercy was forever
closed to the wicked, careless inhabitants of Sodom.
It is God who holds in His hands the destiny of souls. He will not
always be mocked; He will not always be trifled with. Already His
judgments are in the land. Fierce and awful tempests leave destruction
and death in their wake. The devouring fire lays low the desolate forest
and the crowded city. Storm and shipwreck await those who journey
upon the deep. Accident and calamity threaten all who travel upon
the land. Hurricanes, earthquakes, sword and famine, follow in quick
succession. Yet the hearts of men are hardened. They recognize not
the warning voice of God. They will not flee to the only refuge from
the gathering storm.
Many who have been placed upon the walls of Zion, to watch with
eagle eye for the approach of danger and lift the voice of warning,
are themselves asleep. The very ones who should be most active and