The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-31

by REV. GEO. L.. Perrin. d, d.
x Pastor OF the Every Day Church, Boston.
If after the manner of men l have
y fought with beasts at Ephesus, what ad-
saxantage it me, If the dead rise not
Iset us eat and drink; for tomorrow we
dte.~-Q. Cor, XIV, 32)
This text by way Of contrast. For my
x present purpose l have no intereSn in
the evidence for immortality. shall
ask, Snot-is It true? But IL IL is true
& or * It is false. what is the belief in i'm
i 11ortal;ty good for? What is Vt prac-
sStieal virtue? Is 1t worth chertshng?
zsOf course, III Ii Is true, we may as
sumo that Il is worth cherishing: but,
y iwaiysng that for n moment. as force
ssiH human life. how IL at all. does II
hslp2
Without going into careful analysis
there seems 20 me to be three things
I whsch q belief in the future l:fe does
Z for men. lit does more than these. but
these three lie on the surface, open TO
! AL who shall reflect for moment. II
{ furnishes:
J. An intellectual tonic,
Nc .. "A moral tonic.
8. Peace for the aged.
4. Think, II you can, OF man in any
4 Held doing business for day. Think
BtTof him doing business for week. Il
4 month or even a yeag, with nothing
a more in view. Even to enter college, II
sayoung man wants a perspective of three
Il or four years in school and an opportu-
unity for practical effort of some years
i ibeyond the day of graduation. Show
4 him with certainty, or even on the testi-
Nnony of good physicians that he must
Il die in a year and leave him without
i hope of another life, and he IS n man OF
Il q million II he does not suffe: practical
nm mar "a n al
3 2ege for the last year OF life.
so In business what captain of com
merce ever did business for single
day2 What railroad was ever built with
@ View TO Its operation for one month p?
esMen do business to-day for tomorrow
as'They do business this year for next year
"a man going out OF business is e!the.
sndolent or reckless. Young men plant
apple trees; old men seldom do They
might do so, there Is nothing external
TO hinder them, but they want the men
Sal stimulus; motive IS lacking. Now
Z II we hook at life in a large way. we shall
see that the same law holds To SLIM
\ udate thought, to stir the energies; tc
y furnish motive. men need more time
~ they must be able ito look ahead. the,
& must anticipate.
Men do not so bravely and cheerful,
3 forward TO walk off fatal pecip.ce
= which they know yawnz to receive them
NiioNleuSe, Ut even DeIet, wOulG
& unnerNe most men. There is menta
tonic In the thought that we are living
to-day for tomorrow, this year fer mex
year. in this life for another life. Thi.
View gives tone and vigor to all one.
= actions ut removes paralysis, Ut inspire.
4 effort, stimulates thought. In short, Il
: DIS an intellectual tonic. You would MT,
q splendid railroad engine, side-trackei
and left standing without steam. ana
u tmpoteGt for the want of motive power,
s How much more should you pity q
4 man with the power of thought, ability
to plan, with the instinct to teach for.
ward, to work, to act. bereft of this
n intellectual motive that comes with be
Il lief that he Is not planning for a dan
4 nor living for day, but that every plar
i and every thought and every action is
Z related, though distantly, yet intimately
8 80 be q continued life?
s z. Belief In immortality is also n
moral tonic We dare not SAY that II
+ as the only moral stimulus, and | woulf
II be sorry even to hint that It is the only
moral basis for right actions but, look.
led at as motive, it is mightler mora
SYdnhuence than most people have even
dreamed Of
s2 Looked at apart from u continued
& and developing life. II is not easy tC
make strong impression upon most
men In behalf of mortality and noble
K living. AS a motive your appeal for
mobility of living, for heyioism, for self.
g2cctflce will be strong in proportion as
syou are able to relate 1t to the indi.
Vidual life of the Individual man. A
s great English preacher puts 1t this WAY
rs ut IS best If man perishes in ths
grave. that during life's brief day each
man should crafty his own particula,
tastes, be they what they NAV. and
pursue his course of conduct. which he
q thinks Will be most conducive To his
own happiness. for life Is not only
sshort, but its duration is so uncertain
4 that It Is impossible to saw whatba,
any one may live TO realize a distant
good"
But when you have thoroughly cor-
WINGED man that there is continuity y,
B life, that to-day is related 10 to-morrorY
that this year is related to next year
and that this life is related to anotha,
life beyond the grave, you have talar
e the first steps to establish in his -,
continuity OF consequences. He sans
sst hen the moral bearing of his ovn 80,
duct. He may see himself defeatad 10,
day. but he knows the possibilities -,
gaining a victory on another dav ~
may see his moral plans fail once b,,,
the defeat is not final. He can try
Y again. There is something to look for
ward TO. There is something to bniid
Sttipon.
n=iIIlji-lIlIltTsat,sazE zssaSss@ul==lum