The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-14
AFTER DEATH.
BY REV. j. B. SAKE.

1t seems to be a common opinion,
even among Universalis's, that death
does not change the character. Or
thodox Christians say GAS death
leaves us so shall Judgment find u.s."
We do not believe in future judg
msnt in the orthodox sense, but their
brethren think that when we begin
the future life we shall have the same
disposition. wills, loves, hates and
purposes-in word, the same moral
characteristics-that we have here;
death does not fix character, neither
does it change it. l beg leave to dis
sent from this opinion, as unphilo
sophical and absurd.
In this life the soul acts through,
and only through, the material body;
and the special organ of the mind is
the brain. Moreover, the character
and condition of the brain determines
the character of the mentality and
moral emotion. This is simply fact.
An inAamed brain produces insanity,
and a depraved condition of this or
gan, or certain portions of it, causes
moral deprayity, or sin. Drink pro-
duces more crime than any other one
thing. How? Simply by infaming
and depraving the brain, the organ
of the mind or soul. The character
of mans work depends largely upon
the tools he uses, no matter how skill
full he may be. Powers could hardly
have made his exquisite statue of the
Greek slave with crowbar or a wood
en- knife. Neither can the soul pro-
duce pure thoughts or upright inten-
tions, acting through depraved or
lm-soaked brain. Craftsmanship
and government must continue to be
lamentable failures, until we stop
eleoting drunkards to the highest
offices.
knew a man honest as the day
was long, an excellent neighbor and
citizen in every respect, when sober;
but when drunk he would fightwhen-
ever opportunity occurred, and steal
whatever he could lay his hands upon.
When in this condition he stole
horse and went to States Prison.
When he came out he abstained for
awhile, saying, "God knows don't
want to go back there, and therefore,
will not drink again" But he did,
and died i'll prison. A Sunday-school
teacher requested his scholars to
write and give him something they
felt to thank God for. One little boy
thanked God there were no saloons
in heavenp So my friend will not
be pugilist and horsethief in the fu-
ture life. 1t is absurd to infer that
because we are sinners in this life we
shall be in the next. The directly
opposite inference is the true one.
Here the soul acts through defec-
tive, disordered and depraved mater
ial organ, the brain, and must needs
go wrong at least is certain to.
There it is delivered from this connec-
tion-from this moral incubus-and
acts through the spiritual body, the
perfected organization, when it will
needs go right, governed as it will be
by the high moral influence Christ
will bring to bear upon it. Death,
then, is wonderful change. "This
corruptible will put on interruption"
in moral as well as in physical
sense. Indeed, believe that Paul's
figures and illustrations meant the
one as much as the other. The cav
ilers asked, "How are the dead raised
up? and with what body do they
Gomez" The apostle denounced them
as "fools," and referred them to the
sowing of grain. The glorious wheat
plant fourished in green like beauty
above the grave of the dead seed.
The vital principle was transferred
from the dead kernel to the living
plant. God gave it body, as it
pleased him. So is the resurrection,
he declared. Sown a natural or ma
terial body, raised spiritual body.
And as the glory of the sun exceeds
that of the moon and stars, and all
terrestrial things, so does the spirit
ual body transcend the material body.
Sown in corruption, dishonor and
weakness, raised in interruption, glo-
ry and power, when the trumpet
sounds. Acting, then, as it will,
through this glorious body, instead
of the corrupt and depraved cne
which it has laid aside, the soul will
rise as far above the plain of sin, as
the sun is above the fogs of earth.
The cause of sin,-.t least the occa-
sion for twill be destroyed. No
wonder the apostle should quote the
inspired saying, "Death is swallowed