The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-21
FULFILLMENT BEYOND THE GRAVE

ULE lLLMENI BIZ UNI I'LL Una u
IT is a natural sentiment of the
heart, and of all hearts, especially
with those who do not believe that
"death ends all" that looks forward
to a future beyond this life and new
opportunities for those who have SC
signally failed to make good use Of
the present existence,-the myriads
who have gone out of this life baffied
and overcome by the evil that was toe
strong for them to conquer, or which
at least, they did not resist success
fully and to the end.
In such cases we often think, and
sometimes say, that death is emanci-
patton and that in another world, re-
moved from the temptations of the
flesh, such poor souls will find a re-
newed and better opportunity for
their spiritual growth and develop
ment. We turn to the future with
the natural feeling that the mistakes
of time will there be rectified and that
what was here such dismal failure,
will, in accordance with the plan and
purpose of creation, and by the limit
less and all-comprehensive agency of
the Saviour of all souls, be brought to
its final and heaven-desired perfec-
ton.
The lives that are here such sad
failures; that are so often set upon
by temptation; so weak in will; so
tossed and buffeted by the waves of
circumstance, rising today only to
sink down tomorrow; now getting a
hold on better things and then by
blow of adverse fortune having the
grasp broken-that we cannot help
feeling that death is kindly relief
and that in another world we may
hope that with circumstances chang
ed and bettered, all these evil entice-
ments removed, and with only up
ward paths to walk in, lost lives may
be found, and the enslaved soul may
be redeemed, and the uncrowned
manhood here may be helped to win
better crown.
This hope is natural to all Chris
tian sentiment. That the doctrinal
teachings of the past forbids it, and
that theologians now look upon it
with disfavor, is no bar TO its entrance
into the kindly heart. 1t is always
with those who trust in the majesty
of the Eternal Love, and who do not
set metes and bounds to the limitless
love of Christ.
And this feeling, so natural, and
rising up so spontaneously, is con-
nected with, and partly, at least
grows out of a consciousness, only
dim and half glimmering often, that
there is world beyond where life
shall have a new beginning, and a
shore where the soul, wrecked on
this human sea, will find friendly
harbor.
We could not be comforted, we
could see only awfulness in this mys'
terry of evil, only an absence of God
in the affairs of the universe, only an
eternal night envelopipg in its black
shadows oil of human destiny, did
we not believe, or was there not with
in us this consciousness never wholly
extinguished, that these unfulflled
and baffled lives that have had so little
chance here, so little room to grow
in, so burdened by inherited infrmi
ties, and so beaten upon by stormy
troubles, shall have better chance
and opportunities for improving theil
condition when the great loads which
they have carried shall be laid of
forever, and the path that opens be
fore them is one that shines bright
err and brighter unto the perfect day
May we not argue the certainty o.
another sphere of existence, where
are new chances and opportunities
for all souls, from the fact that here
none of us more than begin to live
that with so many life is only g
mournful failure. There is no mean
ing in life, it is a monstrous fraud, a
most wretched gift, if there be nc
hereafter for it, where its hopes may
be fulfilled, and its errors rectifed
and its weaknesses be laid aside,
and its impurities be washed away,