The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-02

There Is wonderful order and ntness
In the fixing and recurring OF the festival
OF Easter in the midst OF spring. In the
history OF the Church It was preordained.
The exodus OF the chosen people from
the land OF Egypt, and the sacrifice Of
the Paschal Lamb. was fixed 5000 years
ago by divine wisdom. That occasion
and fact are kept in mind and established
by the regular celebration OF the Jewish
Passover. That sacrifice was typical and
pathetic OF the offering OF the Lamp OF
God. The resurrection from the dead
following the crucifxion, was accordingly
appointed TO take place In the midst OF
spring. And spring is the season OF ma
lures resurrection. The day Of the week
on which It occurred was marked by the
heather world as Sun-day-in their igno-
rance wisely distinguishing the day on
which light was created. on which God
said Let there be light. and there was
light"
II the heavens declare the glory OF
God. and the armament showeth His
III
in their course. and the returning seasons
tell OF His constant and never-failing
mercy; surely. in the midst OF all, the
season OF spring, the season OF reviving
life, OF renewed health. of rising hope
and promise. OF light and Joy. when all
nature seems to be lit with the smile OF
the present God; in the midst OF this
season Of brightness, there comes well
the day and hour for the queen Of feasts-
the grand consummation. Far beyond and
far above every thought that could enter
into the heart OF man, is the great truth
proclaimed by the triumphant rejoicings
of Easter day:
1.-The Lord is risen. The Lord Is risen,
indeed" Life and Immortality are brought
to light by the Gospel!
Humanity is content with that for a
season: is full of the light OF that an
nouncement. All sorrows OF the past are
forgotten; all bereavements lose their
pangs; all separations are lightened, all
tears are wiped away. Death is swal-
lowed up In victory. We almost recognize
the smiles Of the dear ones. just within
the veil. And they. barely hid. sept nebu-
Ia" =eem eager TO break forth and reveal
themselves and embrace us. Who asks
for reason 10 prove the immortality OF the
soul, the reality Of the lives that have
passed from our presence, when all ma
ture testifes, proclaims and realizes the
resurrection from the dead? When the
earth, in which we have laid 10 rest for
awhile the dearest treasures OF our heart
Is all swelling and breaking out with life.
and everything is full of the glorious
idea of new and beautiful restored life.
shall immortal souls alone sleep forever?
Is nature practicing a deception, and with
such honest frankness trifing with our
souls?
The fool may have said in his heart
there is no God, though he never believed
it. But what phase or shape OF humanity
can, in the midst OF spring, on Easter day,
doubt the resurrection from the dead?
And what fact in history is so full Of joy,
so acceptable as that miracle Of all mira
CleS, that miracle WHICH pOSSeSStu the
souls Of the apostles to the forgetting Of
everything else On the third day He
arose from the dead? Who asks for rea-
son or philosophy in the face Of over
whelming and all-pervading testimony?
The deepest conviction-the immediate
jewel Of the human souls It's immor-
tally. That is it's being, its life; indeed,
the lamp that forever burns in the sanct-
uary Of the soul. Man, In the full dig
nifty and sight Of his being. say 10 the
universe: / know that my Redeemer
liveth and that he shall stand at the lat
ter day upon the earth; and though after
my skin-worms shall destroy this body,
yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom
shall see and mine eyes shall behold,
and not another. And in the solemnest
hour of his existence he dihes the powers
Of earth and hell.
To quench his immortality,
Or shake his trust in God.