The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-31

ing-that which was the expression OF His
humiliation. and by feeling the power of
Ills resurrection-that which was the as
surance OF His exaItatiOn. The apostle
longed to experience in his own soul the
power which Christ's resurrection has 10
enlighten. purify, tranquilize: that inner
and vanquished all our foes; that resurgent
energy which lOosed US from our sins, ana
on the graves broken letters wrote our title
TO Immortality.
The ancients spoke Of their loved dead
as a shattered pillar. a crushed hower-bud.
a ship gone to pieces. a harp With snapped
strings and all its music lost. The Romans
thought of death as an iron slumber an
eternal night. a demon bearing a cup OF
poison, an ineXorable jailer with keys. Not
a ray OF hope lightened the gloom or the
better. John Stuart Mill. living beside his
wifes sepulchre. is the very picture or de-
Spair. The earth held not simply her body.
out herself. His way OF thinking offered no
certainty OF a richer life or nobler destiny;
standing over his dead brother Ingersoll
declared that whether in midsea or among
the breakers OF the further shore, a wreck
at last must mark the end OF us all; that
each life. no matter if its every hour is rich
with love. and every moment jeweled with
a JOY, Will at its close become a tragedy as
sad and deep and dark as can be woven OF
the warp and wool of mystery and death.
When a wreck marked his own end. and his
own sad tragedy was finished. his body was
burned, and the ashes were deposited in an
80 - NAAaN III - AA0l a. AL0A OAAN
comfort his wife sits in dumb and hopeless
sorrow.
Jesus Christ abolished death and brought
life and interruption TO light through the
gospel Instead of an iron slumber is an
awaking In His likeness. Instead of eter-
nal night is heavens radiance. Instead OF
the memorable jailer is the Prince of Life.
carrying at his girdle the keys of death and
hell. We need no longer be agnostic for
He has made ii possible for US TO know
God, and that is life eternal.
fMAn needs. too a transforming mower
a power which will raise him from a death
of sin TO a life of Righteousness. He may
assent TO precepts; yet understanding the
better. he may follow the worse. 1t is not
precept he needs, but power. Such influence
ing power the risen Christ supplies. 1t was
this thought that filled and nodded the
early disciples. To them our Lords resur-
rection was not primarily a proof that He
was divine, or that the soul is immortal,
but rather that He was still alive and &C
tive in the lives OF men. Fellowship with
Him, a living personality, emancipates from
sin.
Having power TO instruct and transform
Christ,s resurrection also has power to con-
sole. If He be not risen our faith is empty
drained of its life's Blood; and powerless
-impotent TO save. But being delivered
for our tresDasses. He was raised for our
Justification; and so we are begotten again
unto a living hope. and are assured that
our bodies shall be raised and shall be fash
Toned like unto the body of His glory. This
will be the browning benedictiOn of the
Christians experience.
Why be afraid of death, as though your
life were breath?
Death but anoints your eyes with clay.
Oh, glad surprised
rs sleep a thing to dread? Yet sleeping
you are dead
Till you awake and rise. here or beyond
the skies.
THE dear ones left behindi Oh. foolish
one and blind.
A day and you will meta night and you
will greet.
''Thi is the death of death, to breathe
away a breath
And know the end of strife. and taste the
deathless life.
land JOY without a fear, and smile with
out "A tear:
And work, nor care to rest, and find the
last is best"