The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-03-17
PICTURES OF LIFE.
MANS JUDGMENT.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

s''l wouldn't give much for his chanc.
of heaven" was the remark Of a mar
whose coarse. well-worn garments contras
ted strongly with the dark, rich broadclott
ofthe person to whom he referred. In tht
tones of the individual who uttered thi.
sentence, was clearly apparent saiisfao
tion at the thought Of the rich neighbor'.
doubtful chance of final salvation It was
ON the Sabbath, and both had Just passed
forth from the sacred sedifice. to which
each had that morning gone up to the
avowed end OF worship. ;laeH q au
.Why do you say that?" asked the
friend to whom the remark was addressed.
l...You know the scriptures!' was the
confident answer. .'ilow hardly shall they
who have riches enter the kingdom oil
heaven."a 8 qUi 5i,tg g 49,.
t..You believe, then, that the mere fact
of possessing riches will keep man out
ofheaven2' i6a II t.ep
"No; | wouldn't just like to say. that.
But,,ric harden the heart, aud make
men unfit for heaven" 3 nst
IL doubt if riches harden the heart more
than poverty" was replied. oln ar,i
a'.How can you say so!" was warmly OBJ
jected. ''ls'nt the promise every where to
the poor? To whom was the Gospel
senti'' IL
s.rhe rich and poor spoken Of in the
word OF God?" said the friend, "do not, it
isplain, mean simply those in the world
who possess natural riches, or who are in
natural poverty. Remember, the Bible is
a revelation of spiritual truth for mans
eternal salvation; and that. its teachings
must have primary regard to what is spirit
ual, and refer to mans internal state rath-
er than to his mere worldly condition.
Remember, that the Lord, while on earth,
said: Blessed are the poor in spirit, (not
the poor in this worlds goods,i for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven And we may,
without violence to even the letter OF the
Word. conclude, that when he speaks of
it's sbeing hard for the rich to enter the
kingdom ofheaven, that only the proud in
spirit; those who rested seli.confdent on
the riches oftheir worldly and natural wis.
dom, were meant. Thatit would be easier
for camel to 60 through the eye of nee.
die than for such rich men to enter heaven,
is plain from our Lords words when he
set child in the midst of fhis diciples, and
told them that unless they became as that
little child they could not enter the king
dom Of heaven. Notexternally and natu-
rally as that child, for that was impossible,
but poor in spirit, teachable and innocent
as child" t
The first speaker, whose name was
Maxwell, tossed bis head and slightly
cnrled his lip as he replied Nh, ,,a,
~ believe just what the Bible says As
f6r your forced meanings. l never 20 to
them. A plain, matter. fact man. 4 un-
derstand what is written, in a plain matter-
offact way. The Bible says, that they
Who have riches, shall hardly enter the
kingdom Of heaven. And | can see how
true the sayingis. Asifor Clinton. Of whom
Ispoke Just now, repeat that wouldn't
give much for his chance! III is we'll that
there is a just God in heaven. and that
there will come 4 day Of fretribation. The
Dives have their good things in this life;
but our turn viii come aiterwards.I We
shan't be always poor. Lazarus went, a.
beRgar, from the rich mans door, and
wis received into Abraham Is bosom."'e I
nssWhat has made you So bitter against
Clinton Just nowl'' enqured the friend.
n moi bitter against him ,ein particu.
I. lat speak Of rich men as aclass, They
ate al teiiish, uhitelInE, and onpfs stive.