The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-11

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lance than the one in the flesh.
While he lived in his earthly body
he could use its powers for the good of
the church. This he had long done,
which he saw a needful duty to his
fellow men. All the churches he had
formed were DESTROYS of his laboIs,
and were in great need of him to advise
and encourage them. The apostle saw
this, and hence he says, Ito abide in
the flesh is more needful for you"
A retrospect of his life revealed the
good work he had done for the spread
of the religion of Christ, and he saw
all around him the need of many
thousands of just such laborers as he
was. He was thoroughly impressed
with the benevolent work of the Chris
tian religion in the world. But he
knew his earthly work was nearly
finished; but for the truths sake he
was willing to abide little longer in
the flesh, and do what he could for the
brethren; nevertheless he was ready,
and even anxious to die, as there was
nothing in death to make him afraid to
die. He had bright and glorious
future, and at any time he was willing
to depart, and be with Christ, which
was far better than to "abide in the
flesh" And can we not individually
adopt his language and say, "For me to
live is Christ, and to die is gain" Is
there not truth in this expression for
each of the human family? Did not
Paul utter a universal truth when he
said, "for me to die is gain" We all
gain our resurrected body when we die,
which is spiritual and incorruptible. Is
not this great gain? While we live here
we "abide in the flesh" which often
lusts against the spirit, and we are
tempted to sin, which makes us I'M
happy and impure. But when we are
made alive in Christ, as all who die in
Adam will be, we gain our spiritual
immortal bodies which are the real
temples of our souls, fitting US for
more exhalted comprehensive and
better knowledge of ourselves, and our
abilityto improve in divine and heavenly
culture. The apostle knowing of this
incorruptible inheritance he was ready
to depart and be with Christ, that he
might enjoy the real life for which he
was created. If in this life only we
have hope in Christ, we are very much
circumscribed in our thoughts of our
selves, and the scope Of our God given
powers.
tits generally considered a great gain
for all Christians to die. The same is
true of all infants, and why may we
not say this Of all menu No adult is in
a state of entire perfection when he
dies, either in his faith or practice,
into which perfection we must grow in
the spirit world. And as death checks
all further departure from righteous
ness, and as this corruption = this
mortal body puts on interruption, all
men must gain in their improved con-
situations in the spirit land. Their
bodies will be spiritual, which will add
greatly to their opportunities for i'm
provement. The lusts Of the flesh die
with the body, and they gain an i'm
mortal body, and an incorruptible in
heritance. All gain this who are
raised from the dead, which occurs
when this frail mortal body dies, as we
have clearly shown. We are all con-
stituted alike in this world, with minds
and mortal bodies, and yet, in intellect
and culture we all differ. This variety
is the same in the resurrected life,
with an endless future before us to i'm
prove in everything which will expand
and glorify the soul. This is the
grandest thought we can have of the
great family of our Heavenly Father,
and of him as the Ruler Of all worlds.
We would praise him for this hope of a
fadeless inheritance revealed in the
gospel, and cheerfully wait till this
mortal puts on Immortality.
o, that all the children of the Father
were fully impressed with the "good
tidings of great joy which shall be to
all people," and were obedient unto
the two great commandments of the
law, which teach love to God as our
Father, and to all men as our brethren.
We shall then realize what it is to be
born anew, or from above, which would
fill us with the sweet peace of Chris
tian life and faith. This is a gospel
which will comfort those who mourn,
and check the falling tears from all
weeping eyes. Let us be submissive
to the will Of the loving Father, who
has made us for such glorious honors,
always being impres sed, that there is
nothing in this, or the life to come
which will separate his love from any
of his children.
UNIVERSALISM In PENNSYLVANIA
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