The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-01

would that you contemplate this all
transcending, infinite mystery, sug-
gested by the word love. What is it
that causes mother and father to
stand over the little form, gently
stroking the fevered brow, possibly
drinking in the germs of disease, yet
faithful to the last? Love, parental
love. What is it that bedims moth
er's eyes today, and causes silent
tear to drop as she places an extra
plate for the son or daughter whom
she knows must dine, if dine at all
away from the old hearthstone; away
from the broken circle; away from
the homestead where the children
first saw the light of day and de-
lighted in their prattlef l answer
tits love, mothers love. What is it
that goes still further, and for the
prodigal child, who, in fit of pas
sion, may have turned his back on
the dear old home, leaves a light
burning in the window, lighted by
hand directed by heart prayer
that her child may see the light and
come to himself, and once again re-
turn to the extended arms of affec-
toni 1t is nothing less than spark
of the Divine love incarnate in the
human soul.
eff ye then, being evil, know how
to give good gifts unto your childre n,
how mu;h more shall your Father
which is in heaven give good things
to them that ask him?"
Our Heavenly Father keeps the
light of recognition burning in the
window of every human soul. And
if there be one here today who lives
prodgal in the sight of man or God,
1 plead with you as lover of human
kind, to open the eyes of your higher
self, behold the penetrating ray of
Gods love that will light you back
home. ask you as friend, to fat e
about and no longer travel the thorny
path of iniquity. There is no real
peace and abiding joy outside the
royal highway of purity, honor and
godliness. The longer you fight
against the inevitable the worse you
are off; the more calloused and lead
ened you become to the finer things
of life; the more you miss of that
which transforms mere existence
into the actual secret of kingly living;
and the longer will be the tedious
journey back to where you began
the road that every prodigal must
travel to get from the husks of an
empty, vicious life, up to the nourish
ing bounty of righteousness.
Bear in mind there is no short cut.
and no one to take the journey for us.
But, thank God, there is the Great
Life Guide, Jesus, who has shown us
the perfect way, and in whose foot
steps we may follow. Again let me
repeat "There is no peace, saith my
God, to the wicked" And why? 1t
is not because the Father is vindic-
tive and heartless, but it is becaut g
heloves his erring children too we'll 10
see them missing the rich nectar of
life; and so his natural law on tie
moral and spiritual plane, gives them
disagreeable harvest for blowing
iniquity and sowing wickedness,"
that they may, without arbitrary ex-
ternal force, seek the better way and
thus partake of his holiness. The
great hope of mankind lies in these
twinly related facts. No one can get
away from himself; neither can we
escape the constant searching judg
ment of the Infinite Soul " 40 is
closer to us all than our most secret
thoughts.
Though they dig into hell, (Sheol)
thence shall my hand take them"
Yes, the Infinite Voice with its
endless tones, is back OF it all. 1t is
only matter of time when all will
learn what a few know already
"That the doer of the work shall be
blessed in his deed"
And here lies one of the great sec
rets to the whole matter in question.
People have not thoroughly be-
lieved and felt that righteous life
meant happy life. Too often they
have said to themselves, l will have a
good time first, and then there will
be time enough afterward, to become
a Christian. They simply fail to
grasp the everlasting truth, "that
holiness and true happiness are in
separately connected"
When once humanity is convinced
of this, there will be mightier strug-
gle for virtue, honor and Christ-lik
ness, than the world has ever known,
For sane people naturally crave and
seek genuine happiness.