The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-31

the city; and how soon, when alone,
you began to think the deeper thoughts2
And when leaving dear ones and going
away upon long journey, or when
alone in a distant land, how tenderly
does one think of those at home; and
how all their beauty and goodness rise
up to rebuke any past unkind word or
deed And how does the soul then wish
that the wrong could be recalled, and
long to be with them once more OF
one warm kiss upon the lips of life is
worth more than all the tears shed
upon the face of the dead.
Let this thought be with us then,
that the body must return to the dust,
and this spirit return to God. The
earth already holds the sacred dust of
many that were once pressed near to
our hearts and it waits to receive our
worn and tired bodies; and soon above
our graves the tall grass will grow and
the mournful wind-harp will play. But
we "shall return to God" This con-
scious life of reason, of memory, of
moral consciousness and volition shall,
when free from this body of sense, be
thrown in upon itself shall be brought
face to face with itself, and with the
higher world of truth and right. All
the unrepented sins of this life must
be met, and all the wrongs done to
others. Alone, in the silent courts of
conscience, and before the judgment
seat of eternal right, the soul must see
itself as it is; and if not right must
pass through the quenchless fires of
conscience till everything is made right.
There is no salvation in this or any
world but character. The penitent
soul in any world may find forgiveness;
but character, development of ones
nature in the great virtues, is a slow
growth.
We know not the day when our bod
les shall return to dust; but we know
that this great change is not far dis
tant; that soon we must leave all these
scenes of earth, and enter upon the life
beyond. Are we getting ready? What
account shall we give of our lives here
what return shall we make for all these
beautiful years on earth Are we
rich in the immortal graces of truth
and justice, and mercy, and love :?
What use are we making of strength
and health, and reason what use of
wealth, or power, or influence? What
are we doing to make others happy and
to make the world better? Can it be
said, 81 was sick and in prison, and ye
visited me; was naked and ye clothed
me; l was hungry, and ye gave me
meat ?"
The great life and love of God came
out to this world in Jesus Christ; ''came
to seek and to save the LOST" and that
is the moral law of the universe; it is
the suffering and the seeking of love
everywhere, to save; it is the Christ
descending into hell to preach to the
lost; it is the Father going out to meet
the lost, but returning son. And o!
l stand to-day down here in all the
travail and pain of our world, where
souls and bodies are parting, and amidst
the breaking ofnhman hearts over new
made graves, and see the dust return
ing to dust aud spirits returning to
God and l see Jesus Christ forever
the same, and the love of God forever
the same, and the love of all the holy
angels and the spirits of the just the
same and through labor and sorrow
and suffering see souls in time and
eternity returning to God And o !
how blessed to die, when one has tried
to live well the years of earth to leave
tired and worn out body and go to the
world of rest. Happy voices are sing
ing there, and glad hearts are waiting
for you and for me in the land where
there is no death.