Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-27
Ready.

81 am 50 glad that have prepared for
this" said youth who was dying from
accidental injury. Death came unexpect-
eddy, but he was ready. From childhood
he had made Christ his choice Greatsor-
row overwhelmed his family, but all were
consoled with the reflection that he was
ready.
Many youth die unprepared. Life seems
sure to them; satan deceives them with
the thought that religion is uniriendly to
youthful pleasure, and they live on in sin.
We have witnessed their horror, when death
suddenly claimed them. All was dark and
hopeless. They shuddered at the thought
Of eternity. There was not ray of hope
to cheer them. Regrets were on their lips;
they mourned that they had not prepared
for the hour of death. They were not ready,
but 60 they must.
But why is preparation needful? Why
is salvation dependent upon it? 1t is ne
cessity. No blessings can be enjoyed with
out capacity to receive them. Light is
valueless to the eyeless; melody gives no
pleasure to the deaf none can enjoy God
without love; "for God is love" 'Whoso-
ever loveth is born of God" and when
born Of God, we are prepared to enjoy him.
But there is no way to be born of God, ex-
cept by faith in Christ. All who receive
Christ are born to a new life, new capabil-
tiles, new relations, to fitness for heaven.
Christ is the door into the world of love /;
no one can enter by any other way, and
salvation is impossible outside of this love.
The change is great from the world of sell
fshness to the world of love; from the
carnal to the spiritual; the satanic to the
divine. Its full import is not seen nor felt
here, but there is an immense difference
between souls who have passed through
the door into the spiritual world and those
who refuse to enter. The change is as real
and radical as our birth into physical being
Whoever enters this new world, through
Christ, is an heir of God, a member of The
divine family, and sure of eternal felicity
and no others can receive these blessings
because they have not the capacity, ant
are not in the place and relations wher
they are offered.
Yes, preparation is necessary. There
an unseen, but real gulf, an impassabl
wall, an inseparable barrier, between tn
life of sin and the life of love. God ha
opened one passage through, and only one
81 am the door," 81 am the way" thos
who enter in by Christ, have life; all 9th
ers are rejected. This is a solemn fact fc
consideration. Dear reader, you have en-
tered into this new life? Are you ready fc
a glorious entrance into the everlastin
habitation of the saints If not, why not
You do not deny its necessity, or its impOl
lance. Do you approve of this long delay
Have you a right to run such risks to Ell
danger your souls to refuse the mercy {
Christ; to ruin yourselves by this sinfl
procrastination? Do consider the matte
carefully; question yourself as to dut.
best interest and the privilege of grace
"Why will we die?"
Ready Ready for what? For death
Nay, for much more than death; for int
mite glory beyond the grave. The chri
tian goes home, when she dies, not to
strange world and strange people. The
is name" in his heart of divine signii
canoe, which will make him know the Lol
and the gloriGed, and be known of then
he shall "know as he is known" If Il
Spirit of God is in US, we can enjoy hea
en-, and God will surely bring us there
lLnl.uiur .NInl.