The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-28

on them and ont Of them, the struct-
ure of the future.
Mr.. Beecher has imagined an Es-
quimaux striving to obtain some idea
of the tropics from the missiouary's
description. what has he to form
an idea from, but the moss and
stunted shrubs, that scarcely grow
higher than his foot, and the flowers
that blossom in the midst of northern
glaciers2 Would he form concep-
ton of the brilliant fruits of the trop-
ics9 He has to grub the ground for
berries which are all the frigid zone
knows. And from the creeping vine
of the wintefgreen berry, and from
the huckleberry and such like things.
he has to form his idea of those mag
nificent parasitic plants which fill the
tropical forests. These little berries
are his oranges, and bananas, and
pine-apples. He attempts, shivering
in the midsummer sun under the
iceberg, to form conception of the
everlasting pomp and glory of the
equatorial regions; and when he has
formed his conception of it, he cheers
himself and signs and wishes he
could see it. Oh, it is so beautiful
to his imagination. But what does
he know of it, What is an Esoui-
maux's idea of equatorial pomp and
glory? The reality transcends un.
speakably any conception he can
form of itp
So the imagination whichis not de-
ceptive in the other spheres, let us be
well assured will not deceive us here.
The reality will not fall below that
which is pictured. In the life which
is to come, as in this life, as expert
ence follows with slower pace in the
flying footsteps of the ideal, it finds
the life OF righteousness more blessed
than the brightest colors ever made
it. The peace of God passes all un-
derstanding; the kingdom of God is
JOY and peace. Those who have
crossed the silent sea find, without
doubt, the same life of righteousness
expanding into delights and rapture,
unknown to us here. For here, noble
as it is, we have but the stunted
shrubs and frosted berries of the Els.
quimaux; but there the souls life
will unfold into equatorial pomp and
splendor. Our imagination does not,
will not, deceive US. Bring from all
directions, = whatever we may of
beauty, of grace, of art, of sentiment,
of music-to adorn the mansions in
our Fathers house. Bring every
scriptural image of golden pave
ments, pearly gates, waving forest,
opening blossom. Take all these i'm
ages represented to us. Put into that
life all the treasures of love, the de-
lights of home, the bliss of friend
ship, the ardor of devotion. Let the
wise master builder of the soul, the
imagination, construct from these
rich and glowing materials, the pict-
ure of the future life and state of the
spirit; and we may be we'll assured
that the reality will not disappoint
us, but will be as far in advance of
our picture as the tropics are in adj
vance of the Esquimaux's fancy
There are voices from that unseen
sphere that break through every
tempest of life and send their mess
age of cheer across the crests Of every
storm. When worn and weary with
our burdens and cares, while sitting
solitary at the gates of the sepulcher,
we hear great voice out of heaven,
saying unto us: "Behold the taber-
nacle of God is with men; and he
will dwell with them, and they shall
be his people, and God himself shall
be with them and be their God. And
God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no
more death; neither sorrow nor cry
ing; neither shall there be any more
pain; for the former things are
passed away"