The western sentinel., 1895-09-05
Some Thoughts About the Future.

For one star differeth from another star in
g.ory-I Corinthians, XIV, IL.
st. Paul was engaged in proving
that Immortality has for its basis
the common sense of mankind. He
did not declare with apostolic
authority that at death we merely
change our mode of existence, but he
argued the subject as logician and
scholar, and his train of thought is
very interesting.
The agnostic statements of those
days were the prototype of state
ments made in our own time, and
Paul's relutation is just as cogent
now as it was when he uttered it. OF
all the subjects which have ever been
discussed the philosophic treatment
of Immortality has changed the
least. There is only this popularity
about it-namely, that, while the
arguments against it have not been
cumulative, those in its favor have
been. Modern sceptics have very
little more to say than what was
said in ancient Rome or Athens or
Jerusalem, but modern faith has q
great deal more to say than even
Paul was aware of.
most critical and relentless and at
the same time the most honest that
has ever blessed mankind, does pre-
sent some serious puzzles in regard
to this matter, but it may be assert
ed without fear of contradiction that
science, in the persons of large
majority of its strongest thinkers,
has declared that Immortality is not
only a possibility, but also a proba-
biiity SO clear and reasonable that
you can rest your faith on it without
lear or trembling. That is to say,
science aud Immortality are not in
opposition; but, on the other hand,
the knigbtliest defenders of immor-
tality are to be found among the
men who have made the profoundest
and most careful research and who
would not deceive themselves on any
subject, much less on this.
That part of st. PauPs argument
which is suggested by our text has a
special value just now. There is a
general consensus of belief in con-
tinued existence, and we are begin
ming to wonder what kind of a life
the other life will be, how we shall
get ON without these physical bodies
and without the elements of charac
ter which originate with the body,
and what will be our relations to
each other, and what pursuits or
pleasures or work will engage our
attention. While it is not easy to
decide these matters, and while large
differences of opinion must be ad-
mite :, we may at least cOngratu.
late ourselves that we have out
grown some OF the notions inherited
from the past, and have a faith far
more reasonable than that of our
fathers. For this faith we are large
ly indebted to science. 1t has proven
beyond a peradventure that the
change in our mental and moral
condition at death will be very slight
indeed and that our conception of
the next world must be the logical
result of our present enjoyments; or,
to state it in other words, that the
change which Paul tells US will take
place Gin the twinkling of an eye" is
our exit from the material body and
our occupation of the spiritual body.
That change must needs be sharp
and sudden, and possibly somewhat
startling as sharp as it would be
for a cave dweller to walk into q
modern house, with all it's comforts
aud conveniences, and be told that
thereafter he was to live in it. On
the instant he would be man with
a totally different outlook, sur
rounded by new opportunities, and
it would not be strange il he recog-
nized with almost painful sudden
la l. Ii = 4
ness, the superiority of the new over
the old.
But zone star difereth from an
other star-in glory" All are stars,
but even stars shine with unequal
light and give forth unequal heat.
We shall not be all alike in the next
world any more than we are in this.
The laws of development and pro-
gress hold good there as here. The
old picture drawn by our fathers,
the picture in which souls are winged
and find felicity in harps and ever
lasting song, has been turned to the
wall. Our informa tion is wider than
theirs and ie based on certain facts
which they did not fully apprehend.
Heaven is the college of which earth
is the preparatory school. Our
minds are component part of our
souls, and many of the things which
interest us now will interest US then.
The man of science will not forget
his attainments any more than TIE
mother will forget her love for her
children. knowledge will be import
ant and attractive, and Gods uni
verse will furnish abundant material
for our research. Eternity is none
too long to find out the Almighty,
and one of the supremest pleasures
of the other life will be found in dis
coveries of facts hitherto unknown.
But why should there not be
differe noes OF intelligence there? And
why should not different souls find a
different happiness III different ways?
How can it be otherwise, unless
some miracle occurs which we know
nothing about? The loving will
have objects to love, the charitable
will still exercise their sympathy, the
al tist will find the universe a gallery
of beauty, the lover of music will
listen to the rolling spheres, and all
men will have congenial employment
and divine satisfaction in it's pur-
suit. Heaven is simply a better
earth, with nobler duties and quicker
attainment. The same God made
them both
All that takes away the dread of
death. We need not fear to draw
the curtain aside and enter the other
life, for though we leave weeping
friends behind we shall be greeted by