The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-09


ual house that he had here. And
there is this consoling thought: 1t is
through these earthly conditions, if we
may be allowed to change the figure,
that this "candle of the Lord" is
smothered and made to burn with a
feeble and sickly blaze; and we must
believe that in the clearer atmosphere
and among the diviner breezes of
heaven, however low it may have burn
ed, it will be speedily famed into a
larger flame. However, the fact re-
mains, that just as we add to our
spiritual nature by living well, we take
from it and stain it by living ill. This
spiritual house enters upon its eternal
career in the heavens just as it leaves
here. Therefore, he who ''labors mere
ly for tie meat that perisheth" leaves
the blessing of his labor behind him
when he passes out of life; and he who
has lived sinfully, must not only leave
the world poor in sheaves, but alas, is
compelled to carry many tares. In
stead of being largely better for his
life in this world, as he might have
been, he is really the worse for having
had it. But he who labors for that
meat which endures into everlasting
life, he who lives generously, nobly,
not only is surrounded with the most
valuable blessings here, but he bears
those blessings with him to the heaven
ly home. He not only has the greatest
good of to-day, but at the same time he
is laying up future joy. 1t is easy to
see that there is very forcible exhor-
tation from all this. Lay up spiritual
riches. Increase the flame of this
''candle of the Lord" Do good.
OF course right living comprehends a
great many duties. 1t means great
deal to make the most of life. But
does not our text suggest one or two
especially important ways of doing
good. 1.-THE spirit Of man is the can
die of the Lord" Is it not using a very
felicitous figure, to speak of the human
mind as light AS the sun in the
physical world, so in the intellectual
world, this has fulfilled the mandate
''Let there be light" The great men
of history have been very properly call
ed Lights" Jesus called himself
''The Light of the world" Edwin
Arnold calls Prince Gautama, the
founder Of Buddhism, "The Light of
Asia" In all departments the race
has had the darkness which enveloped
it, gradually dispelIed by these scan
dies of the Lord" There are only COM
paratively few in any age that are large
lights and to large number, but we
may all be lights to some and in some
degree. You may be no wiser or better
on the whole than those about you, and
yet you may have light where some of
them are in darkness. There comes
frequent opportunity to be a guiding
light. The clouds of doubt may be
about your neighDor. Perhaps the
cloud of sorrow has come between him
and the Fathers face, and he is strain
ing his vision painfully for a glimpse
of the unseen. You may have faith
and manifestation of it, an expression
of your confding hope, may rift the
clouds and let in the sunshine. Do we
not often have the opportunity to set
the feet of child in the right way and
perhaps greatly influence for good his
whole life? Are we mindful of this,
and as opportunity offers, let our light
shine
But there is a way in which, and con-
stantly, we can be much more precious
light to every one around us. We very
properly speak of happiness as light.
The sun may be set in sky of untarnish-
ed blue and the world flooded with light,
but if there be clouds about the heart,
there is darkness. But though all the
outward world be wrapt in the shadows
of night, if we be happy, there is light.
Now there are many ways in which we
can brighten the lives of those about
US; but there is a light in our hearts,
and nothing we can do, will shed so
much brightness on others as to let this
light shine. 1t is the light of cheerful
ness which we can let shine through
the face and words and ways. Cheer
fulness What light it is The home
may have few comforts in it, but if it
be full of cheerfulness, it is full of
light. Your heart may be heavy; you
may be under the cloud and the shad-
ows may lie thick and dark about you;
but that face that comes into your
presence, beaming with cheerfulness,
is like the rising sun to the shadow
mantled landscape. 1t dissolves your
burden and drives your shadows away.
How much happiness we might confer
upon each other, if we would but raise
the curtains and open the windows and
let this sun shine that is in our hearts.
L suppose it is possible for us to make
almost every person we meet a little
happier.
And do not know how we can do
ourselves more good than to let this
light shine. You know there are per-
sons whose mere presence makes every