The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-14

A MeasureIess spiritual Existence Gods
Einai GINS.

A NeasureIess spiritual Existence Gods
kinai Gifts.
II We could accustom ourselves to think
ing oil the lie beyond TINS as we nave
a right 10 think OF il. 81 10 Is rational
and proper for US as believing Christians
10 think OF IL. such thinking would be
OF imutense helpfuiness 10 u- under all
conditions and circums tances OF life, and
especially in times of loss and grief, OF
disappointment. defeat. and sorrow. For
after all. now can any defeat or disup-
pOintmont in any matter o. purely eatlh-
~ and material concern anert IN any
degree the real current Oh our spiritual
life. hinder us IN the attainment or any
JOY or satisfaction belonging to our I'M
mortal state. eclipse from MS uy so much
as the faintest shade" any glory when
may fall upon US in The land OF eternal
day2 In spite OF all our Christian teach
INK. in spite Of all our prOiessed beliefs.
we have A way Of thinking and of acting
as IL this life was the end OF al for us.
as n all our privileges, opportunities, ana
capacities for growth and attainment be-
gan and ended here. as ~ what We lost
here. what We missed nero, even OF inc
highest ana nOblest things, We had losl.
had missed forever. Thus one VINO mas
huugered and thilsted Tor larger kho"l-
| edge. larger intellectual attdlnucnia' Tot
wider and loitleT visions Of iiic, but VINO
/ has been prevented by poverty or other
! circumstances from satisfying such hum
/ ger and thirst. acts as if what had thus
I been lost or unattaintl We're forever AFTER
| lost and Unattalnable. Another VINO mas
| cherished hopes Of gaining greater heights
| Of spiritual power of finding wider held
| for the exercise OF spiritual gifts. FOR
/ philanthropic or humanitarian service
/ but whose lines Of lfo have been go cas-.
as 10 dash his hopes and narrow his
| range OF activities, proceeds henceioTth
as II such high hopes once overthrown
gero ovorthrown forever. as II this lfe
concluded the possibilities Of even such
noble ambitions a. these. surely this is
not the right way OF thinking about this
| life or of tho life hereafter. IL what the
! Bible teaches US and what we profess
10 believe concerning our Immortal state
Of existence is true. then We must be-
ueye that in tho directions whereof We
have spoken the other life Will open be-
| fore us opportunities Infinitely greater
than any We could possibly have here
that We shall haVe another chance not
only 70 gain what we have lost or missed
here. but 20 rise TO heights of knowledge
and spiritual power wholly unreachable
unlf,r any earthly conditions. Instead
cf this life ending all for any achievement
rightly belonging 20 our immortal souls
II can only at the very best mark q ieeolt
beginning for any such achievement.
Even AZ the best and under the most
favouring conditions. what IS the deNel-
opmcnt Of any faculty or The soul possiDl'
in the brief space of human life meas
,rred against the possible devclopni nj
IN the endless fight Of i.mo? n the OPP
portunity of the human life IS lost, wha'
does il signify as long as the opportunity
Of the eternal life remains? What Is th'
wisdom of a Kepler or Newton sainet
i'm a little round OF years 90 be though
Of as against the wisdom possible 10 Do
gained in the clearer light ana nap
conditions Of measurclcss spiritual oX
istcnceg n God has conferred such giIt
Of wisdom and power upon some OF Hl
rchlldren. what may lie not have In stor
for those who love and serve Him IN th
life 10 come?