Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-08-08

Furthermore. the prospect of reformation
in another world is more improbable than
here. Do you not realize the fact that n
man starts in this world with the inno-
ccncc of infancy In the other case, start
ing In the other world. lac starts with the
accumulated had habits OF lifetime. Is
it not 10 b. expected that you could build
n better ship out of new timber than out Of
an old hulk that has been ground up in tho
breakers? II starting with comparative in
noccncy tho man does not become godly, Is
II possible that starting with sin seraph
can be cvolutcly l. there not more pros
pcct that sculptor win make finer statue
out OF block of pure white Parian marble
than out OF q black rock that has been
cracked and twisted and split and Scared
with the storms Of Il half century? Could
YOU not write last will and testament or
write deed, or write nm important docu-
mcnt on pure white sheet of paper easier
than you could write IL upon n sheet scrib-
blcd all over with iufamy and hlottcd and
torn from top TO bottom2 And yet there
are those who are souncommOn scnsical as
to believe that though man starts in this
world with infancy and Its innocence and
turns out badly in the next world he can
start with dead failure and turn out well.
But, - say some people, I'VE ought TO
have another chance in the next world be.
cause our life here Is So very brief We
scarcely have room to turn around between
the cradle and the grave the wood Of tho
one almost striking against the marble n
the other. We ought 10 have another
chance because of the brcyity of this life "
My friends. do you know what made the
ancient dclugc necessity II was the
longevity of the antcliluyians They were
worse In the second century than in the
first, and worse when they got 500 years
old. and worse nj 200, and worse at 500,
and worse nj GOO, and worse at 500, until
the world had TO 70 washed and scou,Nd
and scrubbed and soaked and sunk and
anchored whole month under water be-
fore il was fit for decent people to live In.
! have seen many pictures Of old Time with
his scythc TO cut. but l never saw any pic
turc Of Time with chest Of medicines to
heal. Seneca said that in the first few
years Of his public life Nero was set up as
an example of clcmcncy and kindness but
he got worse and worse, the path descend
Ing, until at 6S years of age he was the
suicide. II 500 years OF lifetime could not
cure the antediluyians Of their iniquity, I
undertake 10 say that all the ages of ctcr-
nifty would he only prolongation of dcprav-
ity.
But " says some one, lin tho next lifc
the evil surroundings will be withdrawn
and good influences will bc substituted,
and hence cxpurgation, sublimaiion, glori-
iication.' But you must remember that
the righteous, all their sins forgiven, pass
right up into "A beatiiic state, and then hay
ing passed up into the hcatiiic state, not
needing any other chance, that will leave
all those who have never been forgiven,
aud who were impcnitcnt. alonc-alonc-
and where arc the salVablc influences to
come froms Can ii bc expected that DR.
Dun, who spent his whole life In pointing
the llindoos to heaven, and DIR Abccl,
who spent his life in cvangclizing China
and that Judson, who spent his life in
preaching the gospel 20 Burma-can II
bc expected that they will be- sent down
from some celestial missionary society to
educate and save those who wasted their
earthly existence No. We are told dis
tinctly that all missionary and cvangclistic
influences will be ended forever, and tho
good, having passed up 10 their bcatiilc
state. all the morally bankrupt will bo to-
gcthcr, and where are the salvablc in
flucnccS to come fromg win spcckcd or
bad apple put in "a barrel 81 diseased apples
make the other apples good? viii ono who
Is down be- able to lift others mp viii
those who have mscrably failed in tho
business Of this life bc able Ia pay the debts
Of other spiritual insolvcntsg viii u mil
lion wrongs make one right poncropolis
was the city where King Rufus Of Thracia
put all bad people of his kingdom, and
whnnevw 'hsre ,yere iniouitous nconlo