The Newtown bee., 1905-12-29
TOWN TOPICS.
ALSO

THINGS TO COME,''-BY 0. O. WRIGHT.
We know in part, and we prophesy in
We live by the spirit of prophecy.
Though we may be guided by the wis
dom Of experience in the practical az
fairs Of this life, still we find inspira-
tion and motive of all our best endeav-
ors in the anticipation of the things
to come. 1t is not so much what we
have as that which we want, which
keeps us alive in all our powers. 1t is
not what we have attained that shapes
our conduct and character, so much as
the things we aspire to know and to
do. 1t is not the temporal things seen
and understood so much as the things
unseen and eternal which appeal to
our spiritual nature and feed the affec-
tions of the divine life of the soul. 1t
is not what we are, but what we hope
to become, which fills our hearts and
minds with the highest satisfac ton.
1t is not this world, but the world be-
yOnd this, towards which we are look
ing, which furnishes US with tine ideal
which lives and grows In us, so that
even though the outward man may
fall into decay and begin to perish, the
inward man of the spirit may be in
creasing, and rejoicing, more and more,
in the sweet anticipatiOnS of the in
heritance of the saints in light.
Life itself, in all its stages and
phases, is prophecy Of its own most
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The child is happy in the simple, child
ish life; but it's chief desires soon bios
som into the dreams of youth, with
the power of larger liberty, and the
charm of higher privileges. The per-
iod of youth has it's own sources of joy;
but soon becomes restless and eager to
taste the pleasures of the coming sea-
son of young manhood, and young
and wOndrOuS posi- bilitieS of veal and
woe. And then the young man and
maiden begin to read the prophecies of
the full matured life and power of seri-
Gus responsibilities. And when we
have reached the summit of our earth
ly powers, and the summer solstice of
this life is passed, the joys of the har-
vest-home, the happiness of the serene
and thoughtful days tighten and cheer
nature; and we look up, and find our |
blessedness in the hope of our treas |
ureS which await us in the mansions |
above.
Not what already is, but that which
is coming to be, is the secret of the |
life eternal within us. The divine |
word is always an appeal to our faith.
1t is not that which we see, but that
which we hope to see. ''Faith is the
assurance Of things hoped for, the con-
viction Of things not seen" The Lord
many abiding places; and that He will |
prepare a place for us; and that He
will come for us, and that we shall be |
with Him, where He is This is an
appeal to our highest spiritual powers;
and as sure as we take Him at His |
word we shall be filled with the loving,
abiding hope Of the things to come, in |
the gloritied life of the heavenly man
SiOnS.
things we shall be led to love them su-
premely, event. here, and now. For
what can we conceive that more freely |
meets our wants than the divine ideal |
of the perfect life in the spiritual |
world? Does it rot completely ill our |
hearts and minds with that blessed as |
surance which we most deeply crave? |
And this hope is no mere visionary |
thing, for as st John says, if we have |
meet the conditions of His love. And |
therefore, as St Paul declares, "We |
are saved by hope; but hope that is |
seen is not hope; for what man seeth |
why doth he yet hope for? But if we
hope for that we see not, then do we
with patience wait for it,"
The Lord calls us to look into the |
face of the future with trusting, hope
full hearts, and to go forward. Onward
and ever onward is our course; and not
backward. Our promised land is be-
fore us; not behind us. We live, and |
must live, always in expectation of
something more to follow in the life to |
come, and in the world beyond. Our
hope is ever in the things to come.