The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-05

Soii1y anu OCoCINOO MS puHlouucuI,
crucifxion. Second the grandeur of
innocence and virtue that he beheld
in Jesus. And third the beginning
of repentance and consequent aspira-
ton. These brought him relief from
upbraidings for his course of wrong.
They gave him the joy of new pros
pect. And the glory of the prospect
shut out, for time, the sorrow of re-
Prospect.
There is the joy of Paradise in re-
pentance, in submission to punish
ment due. True repentance clears
off the whole score and permits us to
start fresh again. What is grander
than confession and repentance,
which shuts tie gate on the past and
opens the door of the future7 With
one bound the soul leaps from hades
to Paradise. The soul can never
have its full measure of enjoyment
while it has some guilty secret locked
up in its bosom. The door must be
opened and the guilt expelled by
confession, and the face set in the
right direction again. That is the
key to the confessions that are made
by criminals that voluntarily give
themselves up and invite the punish
ment that is due them for their
crimes. For the first time they feel
a release and a JOY, and the burden
of their hayward life seems to fall
from their shoulders and melt away.
Submission, confession, repentance,
aspiration, can make heaven cut of
prison cell and Paradise out of cruel
fixion.
This was the Paradise to the thief
on the cross; he perceived the un-
stained, unsullied soul of the Master
and he desired it. He beheld the
satisfaction of IA true and manly soul
braced and buttressed bya life Of vir-
tue and he wished for it. He aspired
to something better than his bruised
and broken life of crime and shame.
In moment, in his mind, he cast it
all away. He laid hold of the cross
of Jesus. He clutched at the Rock
that was higher than himself. He
was done with his old life. He flung
it away from him as worn out cloak
or garment. A grandeur spread out
before him of which he had never
dreamed. There lay pathway
that led to different life. The
gates OF the New Kingdom swung
wide open before him. His wings
had been clipped. He had never
scared in this life. He had always
trailed his heavy course behind him.
But now he saw for the first time the
possibility of greater glory. He de-
sired to enter into his newly discov-
cred birthright He was the guilty
one. He was receiving the due re-
ward of his deeds. He was immeas-
urably below Christ. And yet he was
the solitary one in all that throng
that beheld in Jesus the charm, the
grace and the power of his superior
character. He was the only one to
make request of the dying Saviour.
And in language that shall never be
forgotten, turning his face to Jesus,
and speaking in subdued accents, he
said, "Remember me when thou
contest in thy kingdom"
And Jesus, knowing the secrets of
the heart, not unmindful of the sin
burdened and heavy-laden soul that
yearns for rest, conscious of the up
lifts of the soul of man in seasons of
physical torture, and perceiving the
vision of the spirit when once its old
sensual life has been broken and
crushed, made answer to the peni-
tent, To-day shalt thou be with me
in Paradise"
80 Paradise, o Paradise,
Who doth not crave for rest?
Who would not seek the happy land
Where they that loved are bleSt9
30 Paradise, o Paradise,
The world is growing old;
Who would not be at rest and free
Where love is never cold?
80 Paradise, o Paradise,
greatly long to see.
The special place my dearest Lord
In love prepared for me.
Lord Jesus, King of Paradise.
Oh keep me in thy love.
And guide me to that happy land
OF perfect rest above;
''Where loyal hearts and true
Stand ever in the light
All rapture through and through.
In Gods most holy sight"
ORANGE, MASS.
Y. p. G. u.