Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-01

Being We should adore, worship and
obey. The second is: We are i'm
mortal conscious greatness would
seem to teach us this. It seems a
thing impossible that the allwise Crea-
tor should form such being to last
but for day. Can it be that we are
but bubbles floating moment On the
troubled ocean of life and then sinking
into nonentity? The greatest and
best are only imperfectly developed
here. The wisest know but little.
We scarcely learn the alphabet in
this short life. Let me refer to Sir
Isaac Newton, perhaps the greatest
human mind God ever created, who
saw at glance what ordinary great
minds must needs ponder for days and
weeks in order to comprehend. At
the close of life he said, 81 have
been as child playing upon the sea-
shore; | have picked up pebble here
and there and the vast ocean of truth
lies out beyond me still" | will men
ton the apostle Paul. He possessed
great and finely cultured intellect,
the greatest theologian that ever lived,
and had better opportunities for gain
ing knowledge than any who has ever
spoken in regard to these things. He
was caught up to the third heaven
and heard things unutterable. Let us
hear him speak. "Now we see
through glass darkly, but then face
to face. Now [ know but in part, but
then [ shall know even as also [ am
known" There must be a hereafter
existence. Then what aspirations,
longings for Immortality and dread of
humiliation fill the human breast.
Universal longing and faith are power
ful arguments. God is not so unkind
as to create an appetite without pro-
viding that which will satisfy it. Every
natural longing has It's satisfaction,
If I hunger, as [ look fer food | shall
not seek in vain IF [ thirst there is
that which will assuage that thirst.
Have I Susceptibility of attachment ?
[ shall find beings to crafty my love.
If we long for life and love eternal,
no doubt there is eternal life and love
to satisfy our cravings.
Even the heather had faith in the
doctrine of the SOULS Immortality
They expressed it by the ever ascend
ing flames they carved on their tombs,
by the lamp they lighted amid the
gloom of their sepulchres, and by the
evergreen garlands they hung upon
their monuments.
Why did the weeping Greek put the
obolus into the mouth of his deceased
relation? He believed that the de.
parted one would need it to pay the
ferryman for his passage across
death river to the unknown country
Why do the Indians as they bury
their chief put into the grave with
him, his tomahawk, canoe, bow and
arrows? They think we needs them
in the blessed hunting fields beyond.
The doctrine that death does not end
all, is no mere child of superstition !;
the greater the mind the deeper the
root it takes. Another truth, intui-
lively known, is, we are guilty and
may expect retribution-we have not
done as we ought, and so should suffer.
Hence we find the heather writhing
under the wheels of the car of Jueer-
naut, or swinging in the air by hooks
that enter the quivering flesh, in the
hope of appeasing the wrath of their
offended deities. This, too, is q truth
universally apprehended irrespective
of rank, age or cline.
These intuitions disturb men, put
ing them in fear and unrest. They
look around for light. Nature gives
none that relieves. 1t teaches the
existence Of God but does not reveal
his character, nor make known his
attitude toward US. What with ma
lures smiles and frowns we cannot tell
whether God is a benevolent or maley-
client being, or how he is disposed to
deal with us.
Men hunger and thirst for informa-
ton upon these points. God alone
can give it, and in the greatness of
his compassion he does so in the bible.
Here, as man reads his worst fears are
confirmed man is lost; bound to
eternity unprepared; but as he reads
on, light shines in athwart the gloom
Man may be saved, for ''God so loved
the world that he gave his only be-
gotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish but have
eternal life"