or the fear of her torment,
weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was
clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and
precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to
naught."(1132)

Such are the judgments that fall upon Babylon in the day of the visitation
of God's wrath. She has filled up the measure of her iniquity; her time
has come; she is ripe for destruction.

When the voice of God turns the captivity of His people, there is a
terrible awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of
life. While probation continued they were blinded by Satan's deceptions,
and they justified their course of sin. The rich prided themselves upon
their superiority to those who were less favored; but they had obtained
their riches by violation of the law of God. They had neglected to feed
the hungry, to clothe the naked, to deal justly, and to love mercy. They
had sought to exalt themselves, and to obtain the homage of their
fellow-creatures. Now they are stripped of all that made them great, and
are left destitute and defenseless. They look with terror upon the
destruction of the idols which they preferred before their Maker. They
have sold their souls for earthly riches and enjoyments, and have not
sought to become rich toward God. The result is, their lives are a
failure; their pleasures are now turned to gall, their treasures to
corruption. The gain of a lifetime is swept away in a moment. The rich
bemoan the destruction of their grand houses, the scattering of their gold
and silver. But their lamentations are silenced by the fear that they
themselves are to perish with their idols.

The wicked are filled with regret, not because of their sinful neglect of
God and their fellow-men, but because God has conquered. They lament that
the result is what it is; but they do not repent of their wickedness. They
would leave no means untried to conquer if they could.

The world see the very class whom they have mocked and derided, and
desired to exterminate, pass unharmed through pestilence, tempest, and
earthquake. He who is to the transgressors of His law a devouring fire, is
to His people a safe pavilion.

The minister who has sacrificed truth to gain the favor of men, now
discerns the character and influence of his teachings. It is apparent that
the omniscient eye was following him as he stood in the desk, as he walked
the streets, as he mingle