The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-09-11

teaching OF lnhdellty, or the cheerless
surmise of scepticism. If this conjec.
ture is true. then life is failure-a mis-,
fortune-in many cases calamity. II
there is nothing but matter, it is pity
there ever was any matter. Whether
the happiness or the misery of life ex-
ceeds, philosophy has not been able to
decide. Possibly, in some cases, happi-
ness, and in other cases, misery predom-
mates. One point is pretty certain: few,
if any, persons desire to live over pre-
cisely the lives which they have expe-
rienced. On this subject may bear tes-
timony. I have been more favored in
life than majority of my fellow-beings.
Endowed with vigorous constitution,
enjoying a large share of health, sur
rounded by warm friends, engaged in
congenial employments, having fair
measure of success in my labors, as free
from Affections as most of my friends,
having supply of the necessaries and
comforts of life, with heart to enjoy all
my blessings, / have had great cause to
be content with my lot. Few have en-
joyed life more than have. lean truly
say, however, that 1 have no desire to
live it over just as it has been. If l
could carry back to childhood my expe-
rience, and pass through my days more
wisely nd,usefully, should be pleased
to do it; but to retrace my life, with all
its joys and sorrows, all its follies, mis-
takes and sins, I have no wish. If life
has nothing better than the past, it is
more desirable not to be than to be. This
is the dictate of revelation as we'll as the
testimony of experience. 'sIf in this
life only we have hope in Christ, we are
of all men most miserable" The apostle
assumes that all men are miserable, and
affirms that Christians, but for the hope
of immortality, would be the most mis-
erable of them all.
IF life lis a probation, designed to fit
man for higher and better state of ex-
istence, it rises to sublime Importance.
That it is probationary state, seems
pfobable from the light of nature. That
The universe, with its infinite variety of
wise adaptations, did not spring from
blind chance or unconscious matter, the
unbiased human intellect is forced to ad-
nit. The only alternative is, that it was
created by Being of infinite wisdom,
power and goodness. Human life is a
mystery. For what was man created
Not for misery: his manifold blessings
and enjoyments forbid this supposition.
Not simply for happiness: his various
and unavoidable sufferings are at vari-
ance with this theory. The supposition
that life is a trial, a discipline, prepa-
ration for another state, solves the mys-
tery.. With this theory, mans conscience
and aspirations after Immortality perfect
ly harmonic.
,g What seems probable in the dim light
of nature, is made certain in the clearer
light of revelation. Life is but the in
PRODUCTION to mans permanent existence.
Christ has brought life and Immortality
to light through the gospel. eff we be-
lieyes that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring him." If Jesus did not
rise from,the dead, there is no light in
the world, and no hope for man. If
Jesus rose from the dead, his resurrection
was part of divine scheme, involving
the redemption of his disciples. Did he
rise from the dead? In all the history
of the world, there is no fact so fully au-
thenticated as the resurrection of Jesus.
The most astute and sceptical men be-
ieve and stake their interests on facts
which have not q 1.-THE of the proof in
their support which confirms that event.
1t was testified by competent witnesses,
who could not have been deceived, and
who furnished the most illustrious evil
dences of their sincerity. 1t gained
credence, in spite of all the prejudices
arrayed against it, among Jews aud Gen.
titles, and in defiance of the bitter perse-
cutions of priests and rulers, with intel
ligent people, in the. very land and in the
very age of its occurrence. If Christ
was not raised from the dead, the tri-
umph of Christianity IN the Roman en-
pire was q more wonderful and inexpli-
cable mystery than the resurrection OF
Jesus itself.
I "believe that Jesus died and rose
again." Here rest my hope. This, fact
sheds light upon the condition and des-
tiny of man. It solves thousand ques-
tions otherwise unanswerable. 1t is an
EunfaAing source of consolation, amid all
the tolls, SORROWS and disappointments Of
life. It imparts significance and grand
eur toilife.' Itsheds a lustre on the other
wise dark and dismal tomb. 1t lifts the
curtain that conceals eternity, and give.
US glimpses of its ineffable glory and of
its unmixed and unending felicity. Life
is blessed thing, an inestimable posses
slbn to them that wisely use it. 1t is the
birth of immortality-the dawn of day
which will be. .darkened by no clouds,
disturbed by no storms, and succeeded
by no>night. Surely every Christian
may join in. the apocalyptic doxology
"Unto him that hath loved US, and wash.
.ea.us from ir sins in his own blood, aud
hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his Fathel; to him be glory and do.
minion forever and ever. Amen."-
Rev. j. B. Jeter, D. d., in Religious Her
aid. "