Lincoln telegraph., 1841-09-02
1f1oraI m0 RcltQtou5.
LIFE REVIEWED IN ETERNITY.
FOR THE TELEGRAPH.

When the Christian shall find himself seated in
glory. on the right hand of God, what source of
joy and pleasure ndescribabe will it be to him, to
reflect, that while in this world, instead Of giving
loose reins the sinful desires and passions of his
carna mind, abstaning only from the grosser vio-
lations of the divine law, he strove 10 bring them
into subsection TO the soul-regenerating influence Of
that Gospel, one of whose primary principles is,
that we must mortify the deeds of the flesh, with
the lusts hereof' that he sacrificed the world with
it's trihing vanities and pleasures for heavenly
rlches-for a seat in the kingdom of heaven; tha,
instead of seeking the honor and praise which CONES
from men, he sought above all things to gIorify lis
Creator, that he not ashamed of Christ before
men, but acknowledged Him in all his ways, and
manifested his attachment to II i'm and His cause
by denying himself daily and taking up his cross
and following HIM. even though by so doing, he
rendered himself obnoxious to the SCOTS and sneer
of an ungody world, TO prosecutions and affections
yea even to death All these various trials and
troubles, though greyons to the flesh, will serve 10
.mPar new -elish 10 the cup ofhis joy when his short
pilgrimage over the way of life shall have
terminated in endless felicity.
On the other hand what a source of grief unutter-
able-nsupportable will it he to the finally mpen-
tent sinner 10 remember that he surrendered him
self to the control of his ungodIy lusts that he pre-
ferred the pleasures the riches, the vanies of earth
TO the pearl of great price-that he denied Christ
before men-was ashamed Of that Saviour who died
to redeem him from the impending curse of a broh-
en- law that life and death set before him. and
that he oolishIy choose the latter, while The eternal
and infinite bessedness connected with the possession
of the former rashy- madly sacrificed on
the altar Of his carra lusts and propensities
In view of these considerations, who is not ready
TO exclaim. "Let die the death Of the righteous,
and let my last end be like his In view of these
facts well may we inquire why do so few walk in the
strat and narrow way that leads to life, while the
multitude choose the broad and downward road that
leads to death. The most satisfactory answer TO
this inquiry is found in the instructions of Christ
Strive, said He, to enter in at the strait gae for
many, | say unto you, shall seek to enter in and
shall not be able In Matthew we are informed.
that many walk in the road that leads to destruction
Because strait is the gate and is the way that
leadeth unto life and few there be tina, find it,
Many will seek to enter in at the strait gate, but few
will strire, Or it is more forcIby expressed in
the original, agoniSe 10 do this.
When we look around upon ou- fellow men,
and see how much their hands are busted with, and
their affections set upon, the things of this world,
need we wonder that Christ said Strait is the gate
and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few
there be that find it'' With but comparatively few
exceptions, seIlshness reigns triumphant in the
hearts of men. In most men is verified the words
of fScrpture .--'All seek their own, not the things
which are Jesus Christ's.' Bent on the qualification
ofthe- selfish DESIRES men, with earnest and
mitted ardor, pursue the world in some of its
varied forms-i,s riches, its honors, its pleasures
With eyes shut, by of their unbeIief, to
things and eternal, and fully open to things
'seen and temporal, men seek their happiness in its
transtory enjoyments, apparently alike regardless
of the claims of Christ and the interests of their souls
for time and for Eternity Considering the natural
disposition of men, we need not wonder that strait
is the gate and is the way that eadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it, God calls upon
men to renounce selfshness, to love Him supremely
and to seek in all things TO please Him. But man
hestates; it is so hard deny beloved self the
gate is strait that thousands choose the broad way,
walking in which, they can refrain all their sins,
rather than to deny themselves and take up their
cross and follow Christ. How unwise their choice,
how unhappy their end How few are wise for
Eternity. Such is the astonishing folly of men,
How true are the words ofthe poet
''Broad is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there,
But wisdom shows n narrow way
With here and there n traveller -,