Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-12-26

communication such as will do you any
good You cannot, now, put yourself
in our place, nor can We put ourselves
in yours Between your character and
choices and ours, there is so total dis
tinction, that mutual fellowship and
helpfulness is, in the very nature of
things, impossible.
Observe, ith. the doctrine touyM,
that there is enough in Moses and tie
prophets to she,c any man the may Of
life.
Not only enongh of truth, but the
truth, that is best calculated to carry
conviction, and impress the heart; so
much so that no miracle Of resurrection
or testifying of one from the dead could
do more.
This story suggests variety of
things Jesus the narrator, at home in
the next world, and as familiar with it,
as with this world, talks here, US if
death (of the body) was Of very little
consequence. II does not Gin this sto-
ry) even break the thread Of existence.
There is no cessation of consciousness,
First, then, there is here striking
|
revelation of the reality of life immo-
diately succeeding this
Second, we see here that death lands
US, not in Limbo of vanity but in
a real, substantial riace.
Third, Ilades is here introduced to
us as ciroumsoribed locality. 1t APP
pears, not as the FATHERS House,
where are the "many mansions but as
an intermediate place, where all who
leave this world must await tho rosur-
rcction and the final awards of the
Great Day 80 comforted or tormcntcd ac-
cording to their characters
Fourth, we learn on the authority of
Jesus that at least some who reach that
next world are unhappy, and arc IN
Die to pat themselves IN the conditions
of being happy. Moreover, they are
not able to get any help from those who
are happy. This is to be noted, how
ever; there is no hint that they could
get no help from God. The suffering
wretch did not confess and break his
heart and cry for help to ord. Had
he, who can doubt that he might have
been delivered? The terrible suggcs-
ton is, that he had forgotten God
that lie was too far gone in seltishness
for eYca God to bring him to his right
mind
Fifth, If man with "Moses and the
prophets" is incIcusabIe if he learn
not the way Of life, how much more III
he have Christ aud the apostles too
Sixth, it appears that social position,
in this world is nothing; character is
everything. What ayailed the rich
mans cloth and table, What matter
ed the begsar's poverty and sorcsi
Finally: the rich mans sin was not
his being rich. lie has been called a
glutton and gormandizer. That does
not appear lie has been blamed for
wearing fine linen, That was not wrong
in it8elG We prefer it ourselves aud
ought to. 1T is likely he stood we'll in
his caste. lie dincd aud wined with
his friends, and had them to dine and
wine with him, 1t does not appear
that hc was mi-erly or stingy. lie was
probably a pharisse, aud religious in
their way, paying his tithcs and fasting
twice week As business man, he
was, for all that appears, honest and
not unpopular, When he died, the
mourncrs no doubt eulogizcd him as
truthfuily, as usual On his tomb, it
was doubtless written that he had gone
to the patriarcha and prophets In
deed, there is no fault found with him
even in this story. We gather his
character from few fact4 lie enjoy
ed himself. and lived for that He
neglected Lazarus. lie did not take
him in and bless him He used his
property sclfshIy He did not love, -
His selfshness was. probably, rcspccta-
bic enough here, but it was only the
worse for him,
The grand lesson is twoold Use
what you havc-what you are, as op-
portuni,ics come TO you, in creating
happiness, in .stcrlng to othtr, good.
And, in your poverty and distress, fear
not the angels will he here for You
soon.
fag- 5 w9g, in what he knows Of
/ farming, gives plan 10 remove Wild
cs's weeds, He says a good looking