Randolph County journal., 1861-02-28


grew almost impatient to put off the poor, torn
yestments of mortality, and rise into life
eternal.
You understand Mrs. Fleetwood now, and are
not surprised At the curious look and falling brow
with which she regarded her niece, whose
countenance did not answer TO her warmly ut
tered "Thank God for the life to come" As
the ewes of Grace fell away from those of her
aunt, and thought shadows crept about her lips
and brow, Mrs Fleetwood said, with slight
tremor of impotence in her t)iei--
"Maybe YOU don't believe in another life'
Instantly the eyes of Grace flashed up into
those of Mrs. Fleetwood not with any fire OF
indignation in them, but with light as pure as
that which dew drops gather from sunbeams--a
light full of hope and sweet anticipation.
al have been taught to thank God for the life
to come, aunt, and TO seek for it in duty and
self-denal," replied Grace, a smile playing softly
around her lips.
change was apparent in Ms. Fleetwood's
face. Its expression was slightly puzzled. The
brief answer was not satisfactory TO her state,
/ for it involved things admitted by common per
ception, yet not clearly seen.
al mean life in another world-lfe in heaven,
Grace" Mrs. Fleetwood's manner was sub
dued.
"There is no life in another world that is not
born in this. aunt. So have been taught"
Mrs. Fleetwood gazed at her niece with look
of half pcrplexed inquiry.
/ "The life to come must come here, or it can
/ ,oVar oor,o N, oil aIIad Craoo
"Chld, you talk in riddles" said Mrs Fleet
wood, moving impatienty 81 can't get at your
meaning. Life in this world is the present life,
and life in the next world the life to come Isn't
that So ,"
"Thcre is natural life and there is spiritual
life, aunt"
"Well, child"
Natural life is the earthly life. and spiritual
life the heavenly life"
"Yes. Every Christian knows that"
Natural life, that into which we are born, and
spiritual life, the life to come," said Grace,
speaking slowly, and with significant emphasis.
Mrs Fleetwood, with lips slightly apart, sat
looking into the earnest face of her niece, which
seemed all at once to become instinct with
thought.
"The beginning in each of us OF this life to
come'-this heavenly life, aunt have been
taught TO regard as the new. birth, without
which, our Lord has expressly said, cannot
enter the Kingdom of Heaven. That which IL
born of the flesh flesh, and that which is born
of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that | said
unto you, We must be born again. This is the
/ q. IL tI,o rtS iptn
another state of existence. Death can make no
change in the quality Of our lives, aunt-so |
have been taught, and so DO believe. As our
life is at death, so will it remain to eternity.
We shall only pass from the world of material
to the world Of spiritual things; and these
spiritual things; will he such rs agree
with eur states and qualities of soul
such as we have loved and delighted in
here. If we have passed, by regeneration, new
birth and a new growth, into the full stature of a
spiritual man, then, our lives having been in
heaven, whie our bodies were yet upon the
earth, we shall simply rise, by death, out of the
material into the spiritual plane of existence, and
live consciously, lived before actually =,
among tho angels. But, if our lives have been
selfish and worldly, shall pass by death into a
conscious association with spirits of like
character, who have been our souls companions,
while our bodies and our thoughts have been in
this outward world"
"You hewider me, Grace" said Mrs. Fleet
wood, with a troubled look. al can't see clear.
BY Gods mercy, ! hope TO pas. into heaven,
when leave this world. Ny Saviour died for
me. trust in Him. He is able to save to the
uttermost."
"Dear aunt said Grace, 1--WE must be like
minded with the Saviour if We would dwell with
him forever. His infinite mercy has redeemed
Us from the power of Hell. He bowed the
heavens, and came down, that he might raise Us
out of our sad condition; aud as he bowed the
heavens once for all mankind so he bows il now
and forever for each individual Of the human
race. and thus makes redemption perpetual. But
we must be born again-natural life, which is
selfish must die in through self denial, in
order that spiritual life may be born in our souls.
As He loved Us, and gave himself for us, so
must we love others, and give ourselves for
them. This life of love is the life to come and
without its birth in our heart. here, We cannot
enter heaven
The shadow fell deeper on Mrs. Fleetwood's
countenance. This same doctrine may have been
preached in her again and again, many times
over, but, certainly, never before had it gone
down TO the regign of conviction. Loving
others. and giving her life for others, had been
no part of Mrs, Flcetxood's creed. Self bounded
her warld. And as her thought went forward to
that 'life to come" of which she had spoken, it
was pictured as life in which all delight was
selfish instead of reciprocal or bencfcent. Blu,
that common perception of truth. which, wheE =
truth is first stated, gives il a real embodiment,
now struck her mind with conviction, aud
sobcrod her feelings. Grace had mo,c cd the
foundation. Of her hope in hoaven.
From that hour there was a change in Mr..
Fleetwood In the walk and conversation of her
niece, she saw beautiful illustration Of her
more interior doctrine. Grace never ssemed TO
think of herself, nor TO feel that in serving
another she was robbing her own spirit. Alwavs
cheerful, always ready 10 communicate, always
reaching forth the willing hand, she 50 embodied
for Mrs. Fleetwood the true life Of heaven, that
she grew. at last, TO comprehend and to desire
il.
"Thank God for the life TO comet II was
many years afterws-d that Mrs. Fleetwood said
this acain, but with what a new and higher
rneaninp in her thou~ht,