The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-16
REV. DIR. HEPWORTH'S
SERMON ON EASTER.


mon In the New York Herald OF last sun
day had "Easuer Morning. for ~ spb-
jsct Ths ssrmon follows;
He 10 not here. for He ID yieen, - He
said. Matthew xviii. q.
There has never been another morning
like that In all the history Of human
experience it stands alone conspicuous
and awful In its mystery, A startled
world looked into the empty tomb. and
whilo locking wonder changed to hore.
and hope became oertain;y. From that
time 60 this the sky hes been brighter.
ths clouds havs bccn radisns vita re-
fi.cted sunshine and the heart Of man
has been cheersd BY Visions OF . glorious
future.
The most difficult thing In tbis lower
life 10 to thoroughly appreciate the fact
of . higher life. and 10 act With constant
reference to 1t. We are so saturated with
the spirit Of today, SO entanslei Ia tue
fascinating meshes OF the present 30 con-
tent with the pleasures and ambitions Of
time that the future seems ltbrs like q
romancs than a reality. In . vague sort
Of way We believe In coutinned exist
encs, but We are 90 concerned about the
apparent impossibillties connected with
1t that our faith is mors or less blurred
and marred. We allow ourselves to dwell
SO continuously on the method by which
Immortality IL to be achieved that We
sometimes doubt Gods ability to kesr
His promise. and feel that He should
have told us moro ABOUT 1t. So we waik
In dense fog, once In while catching .
glimpse of the landscape when the fog
lifts and then again cropping about, not
knowing which way to turn.
The action of Christ under circum-
stances more trying than my We can ex.
perience Is . rsbuke to N. he faced life
with less cslinnsss than He faced death.
He grew In spiritual stature afer enter
ing Gsthsemane. He was nsver mors se-
rene than when the shadow Of tie cross
fell upon Him. He was like star at all
other times. but when the nails were be-
ing driven into the cruel wood He was q
blazing sun. Oae cry OF human suffer-
ing escaped Him. but 10 was the cry Of
the body. not of the soul. marvel at
this 1he picture attracts and awes me.
In the most solemn Of oil hours He was
as peaceful at heart 40 an unrufflsd soc,
and as mighty. he welcomed the snock
Of dSath, which terrifiss you and me. glad
that His earthly mission had been 40.
oomplished and buoysd by the actual
sight-a privilege often Rranted to US also
of the home to which He was hasten
ing.
Yes 1t not infrequently happens that
mortals II their last extremity, just as
kindly death is loosening the bonds
which unite soul and body. have visions
OF those Who will meet them whom their
farswells to earth have been said. Al.
most every family can reclts an .ircident
of that kind. and tell you how. under It's
influence, some dear one has passed away
with q smile on his lips. And why should
not these thugs be true II God is really
our Father and We are really His chill.
drenf Why should He not send His min
istsring angels to US at such time.
when timid souls touch . strange shore,
to bid them welcome into the world
OF which they have dreamed In their lor
tier moodsP
And II the eyes Of the dying ney te
thus open I'd, why may not the time cone
whsn the eyes of the living shall be
equally blesssdf II heaven is clos, to US,
and only thin PARTITION divides the two
homes 1t must be possible when we be-
come pure In heart to hear and see even
as the Lord did. 1t will rot be too much
to ask when We shall 80 live as to meri
the privilege. This world presses too
heavily on our hearts just now, but by
ano by, when we comprehend the sig
nificance OF the other. world, it will bs
very different.
Your immortal life began before your
Graded infancy. You are In the midst
of " at the present moment Mortality
and Immortality 60 baud In hand for q
while up many a steep bill and into many
a deep valley. 1t 10 Gods will that they
shall keep company. that which dies and
that which cannot die. They are strange
comrades but they get on very well to-
gsther. When the right moment arrives
they take tender farewell OF each otner,
and then We discover their several pecul-
iarities and the curious difference be-
tween the two. The mortal Is weary and
wurn. 1t has come up from hs.dust.
and longs to get back to IL. IL has nc-
compllshed its task, its work is done, and
It has ceserved the rest 1t seeks l have
no doubt that the body is Glad to get
lack to the sod again, that it may help
the violets to blosscin and the grass to
grow. hut tre soul is not tired. 1t has
just begun to recognize itself 1t has
plumed its wings for many short flight,
and Is ready to soar. IL has learned TIE
alphabet Of life nothing more. ana ID
prepared to study its principles and Its
mysteries.
A tired body, fresh ana vigorous soul !
Why should they not part company Let
them clasp hands In . tender farewell.
the ore to go back whence IL cane, the
other to 60 forward 20 achieve Its great
destiny. I do not know whv they ever
c-me together, this mortal and this i'm