The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-31

us than would be its bestowment. 1t
is certain that if we can trust the
wisdom and munificence of heaven,
we must be convinced that all our
spiritual and temporal wants are full
ly supplied, 30 far as our own good
requires. The equality OF divine ia
vors does not consist in the proper
tionate measuring out of few arti-
Giles of food and clothing, or few
similar items that go to make up
what the world calls wealth. It con-
sists in the promotion of happiness
by the wisest and surest means, &C
cording to the condition and circum-
stances of each individual. In this
respect the rich and the poor do
truly meet together; and who will say
that the poor mans bliss is not
equal to that of his more wealthy and
lordly neighbors. 1t will not answer
to Judge solely from external appear
ance; for such mode leaves too
much room for egregious and fatal
mistakes.
In regard also to spiritual hopes
and favors, they are certainly be-
slowed on earth with great richness
and great equality. 1t will be adj
mitted by all classes of Christians,
that there are rich spiritual influences
exerted upon all mankind, be they
high or low, rich or poor, great or
small. The Son of God is the true
light enlightening every man that
cometh into the world. Every man,
therefore, is blessed with the high
and the equal privilege of looking up
to heaven in pure devotion according
to the dictates of his own conscience.
In respect to these spiritual interests
there are no special imm unities con-
ferred upon one class to the exclu-
sion of another. All mankind are
equally the recipients of the same
great favors of heaven.
3. They must all meet together
also in respect to death and eter-
nifty. 1t is everywhere acknowl-
edged to be a sober and SOL
emn truth that death is the great
leveler of all the race of men.
Though it is sometimes the case that
the living attempt to preserve the
distinctions that have been created
among them to foster pride and van
ity, by pompous ceremonies at the
funeral of departed greatness; yet
everyone must submit to the humili-
ating decree which brings down the
high and low to the common bosom
of their mother earth. The rich and
the poor, as well as the good and the
bad, are compelled by an irresistible
mandate from heaven, to lie down in
one common bed-the cold and
cheerless grave. No power of wealth
nor excellence of mind and of heart,
nor imposing array of artificial dis
tinctions can arrest the ravages of
death or save them from this COM
mon and humiliating fate. As "the
Lord is the Maker of them ALL" he
has appointed them bounds by which
they cannot pass, and in his own due
time, calls them all away to the un-
seen world of departed spirits. Here
all the facticious distinctions that ex-
ist among men on earth are entirely
swallowed up and lost forever.
Beauty, and worth, and youth, and
age, and honor, greatness, all meet in
one common abode of dreamless
slumber. "The dust shall return to
dust as it was, and the spirit shall
return to God who gave it,"
We are assured, however, that there
shall be a resurrection of the dead,
both of the just and of the unjust
And it may be proper to inquire
whether the great principles of equal
ity shall continue in this renovated
state? 1t has long been supposed
that distinctions will be made among
the revivifed spirits of a future
world; but has not this opinion in
some measure grown out of the fic-
ticious distinctions that are found
among men on earths
1t is certain that the Gospel dis
pensation holds out equal promises
and equal privileges to all the race
of men. The spiritual blessing of
eternal life through Jesus Christ is
promised to all nations, kindreds and
families of the earth. 1t is certain
also that the Son of God became the
Precipitation for the sins of the whole
world, and gave himself a ransom for
all men to be testified in due time.
And it is equally true that the asser-
ton of the apostle stands out undis-
puted and undisputable, that "as in
Adam all die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive" And the apos
tolic declaration indicates a univer-
sal quality of purity and happi-
ness which completely annihilates
all the nroud and nettv distinc