Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-18

briefly. ~ Liberty is q priceless blessing Of
this kingdom. Where, and only where the
| spirit Of the Lord. the Head of this kindgdom
is, there is true liberty. OF its subjects it ii
said, "Ye have not received the spirit OF
bondage again to fear, but ye have received the
spirit OF adoption, whereby ye cry, Abba,
Father" And again, IF the Son make you
and entire liberty from all on earth and in hell,
all within and without that degrades and en-
| slaves Is offered to every member OF Christ g
| Kingdom. Perfect love casts out fear" all
| fear. God does not wish the followers of His
Son to go bowed down, cringeing, groaning,
| terrified by foes. He engages to take away
| that spirit Of oppression and servitude which
| sin hath engendered and give instead the spirit
OF happy, loving, loyal children.
THE FREEDOM GOD OFFERS.
The freedom of the city in . gold box is the
highest honor which London can confer upon
Englands greatest statesman. God offers the
| freedom Of the universe. II we are His children
| and know it nothing can harm us. We can
| fearlessly defy men and devils. He whom we
wrath Of the one to praise Him and hath ut
| terly yanquished the other. He is far mightier
| than all that be against us. Between us and
every foe He interposes the broad shield of
| His omnipotence. They can only reach US when
| they have pierced that shield and conquered
come. There can be no condemnation here
| and no hell hereafter for those who have been
| washed in Christ's blood and clothed with His
righteousness. Earth, air. nature. fire, the be-
lever defes them all. The rooted hills shall
| fee before the fiery glance of the Almighty
Judge; the pillars of the universe shall tremble
| and be dissolved at His rebuke; but face to
face and unconsumed the band of i'm
mortals shall stand in the presence of their
God. Every element of destruction shall
ha rv,r xho,-
lives. We do not fear Sinai; its lightnlngs can
not harm, its thunders cannot terrify us. We
are not under the law, but under grace; we
serve the Lord Christ. no. from an iron sense
Of duty, but We breathe the air. joyously,
willingly, Just as you love your child or wife.
We defy death. 1t Is only the key to paradise.
messenger from the Great Father calling his
! children home. The wondrous miracle wrought,
according to the old heather myth, on Achilles
has been truly, perfectly performed on every
member OF this kingdom. There is no spot on
the Christians soul or body that is not invul-
nerable. This is true liberty, freedom. not a
single link Of the accursed chain clinging to our
limbs.
let Let earth Ss111 against his soul engage
Then he smile Satan's rage
And lace a frowning world"
And this perfect liberty is the priceless privi-
lege of every member Of the spiritual kingdom
Of the Son Of God.
THE IMMORTAL LIFE.
Second. Immortality is a blessing Of this
kingdom. All OF its subjects are made par
takers Of an endless life, q life which
shall never wither or decay. Here they
are but in the infancy OF their being,
but when their souls shall have been
freed from their frail and corruptible bodies,
when their mortal shall have put on immortal
ity, then shall they enter upon the full maturity
of their powers, the complete enjoyments Of
all their possessions and dignities; upon per-
fected existence that snail heighten and en-
large forevermore. HE that beiieveth on the
Son. saith Christ the ruler OF this kingdom.
''shall never die" ard again, 'whosoever be-
lieveth on Me. though he We're dead. yet shall
he live again." The leath here mentioned in
cludes that separation from God. which, begin
ming in spiritual, is completed Ill eternal death.
This believers shall never experience. They
receive in themselves the germ of eternal life.
Over them death hath no power, and because
Christ, who is their life, liveth always they
also shall live with Him in the world OF glory.
Their existence runs parallel with that of their
divine king and whatever may happen to their
frail bodies, nothing can ever separate them from
His wondrous love. Who among us, my
brethren, can realize the happiness and glory
which pertain in this one particular to the sub
jects of Christ's kingdom? What being less
than God can conceive the infnitude of the
value of life eternal and resurrection from the
death? What that the soul of man can desire
and hope for is not included in these terms.
Everlasting felicity in the presence of God,
an eternal basking in the radiance of his super
nal glory, and ever increasing enjoyment OF the
splendors and beatitudes of heaven" These
are the blessings embraced in that life eternal
which the subjects Of Emmanuel's kingdom
! enjoy.
HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE.
You remember the beautiful picture drawn
by Edwin Arnold of the Impassioned address of
the bereaved young husband over the dead
body Of his bride. Having described the fair
young body prepared for its burial he speaks
OF her friends leaving the room with a shudder,
glancing at its chillness and gloom, and says:
But he who loved her too well.
He lit ais lamp and turned the key
He aud she,but she did not speak,
He and she-but she did not smile.
IhouEh he called the names she loved ere~ while.
de aud she-but she did nut move,
To any one passionate WHISPER of love.
Then he said cod lips and breasts without breath.
ne b so s s TO To, St ssa.'
sa' O ae1Fs iPf listen nos
What was the secret of dying. deari
You could ever let life's flower fall.
Did life roll back its records, dear,
in Inc @ sHs heart the 0h.s '''.
pefas sa out s was death
hold the breath b. Of my s9pl to S hear
As high as to heaven. but You do not tell
/ would tell you. darling. if 1 was dead.
And 10 was hot tears my brow she'd
XSu s1 ne Ro ask yaP with streaming
The very .tIsnssst and snddsnst thing.
of all the surprises that dying doth bring"
o! foolish world. U! most kin dead,
Though be told me, who will believe, she said.
Vine will believe; that pc heard her say.
The greatest wonder is this, see
And love and kiss you dead
And own your angel v no FOUR bride.
And know that though dead
have never died"
1t is ours, beloved, to know as to all the MEM
bers OF this kingdom and IS to ourselves that
though dead we shall never die.
CoNQUEsrs OF The CHURCH.
Once more and finally, the glory Of the
church is most wildly and impressively ex-
hibited in the conquests which it has achieved
and the destiny which awaits it. 1t was or
ganized and established for the one great pur-
pose OF making real, effective and universal
the reign Of Christ upon this earth. The
human instrumentalities employed for it's
preservation and extension were not only weak,
but seemingly despicshle and mean. The
enemies against whom from its birth it was
called upon to contend, not alone for conquest,
but for life Itself, were active, mighty malignant
and numerous. All the powers on-earth and in
hell were leagued together to destroy it. Glance
for moment at the two opposing forces, as
during the early ages they are drawn up in bat
| tie array for a worldwide and time-enduring
conflict.