The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-26
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Il 49, -, b. Il Z 3
Saints to each other and their Lord;
nothing Of the pleasures which flow
from contemplating the matchless
beauty of Christ's character and Of
tuning the ear to sing his praise.
Suppose an unrenewed man could
be admitted into heaven It would not,
and in the very nature Of things 1t
could not be q heaven to him. Bring a
rude, untutored savage from the for
ests Of South America, introduce him
to the society Of the most refined, po-
lite and highly cultured, admit him to
the company Of the great, noble and
learned; will he, do you think, de-
rive enjoyment from the literate and
graceful amid whom he moves. Quite
the opposite. He is utterly unacquaint-
ed with their language, manners, Gus
toms, and modes Of thought. He is a
stranger to every one and to every
thing he sees. He longs to return to
his native countrywide and bar
barious though it be and to squat
down amid his old associates. Before
he can enjoy the society Of the re-
fined he must first OF all be carefully
educated and trained. He must ac-'
quire q certain amount of knowledge
and literary culture. b III
In the same way with the >unregen-
Grated. He would be 'ill-fitted to enjoy
the fellowship Of the bloodwashed. He
Is ignorant of the very alphabet Of
true godliness; how could be under
stand the deep mysteries of redemp-
ton which are revealed the saints
in light. His thoughts, tastes, habits
and pursuits are moulded after the
fashion Of the present. His hopes and
aspirations are directed towards the
things Of time and sense. Now could
he expect enjoyment in that place
where no trace Of the earthly is to he
found, and where the former things
are passed away for ever.
How could he who feels 1t to be a
burden to sing the praises of God, to
whom prayer and communion with
God is an irksome duty; to whom con-
yersation on heavenly things is dry
and embarrassing exercise; how could
he feel happy in that place where day
and night its inhabitants sing the
praises Of him who washed them Of
their sins in his own blood.
. Every tree and plant require soil
and climate adapted to its peculiar
nature. The soil and climate in which
the fig, vine and olive are most lux
uriant and productive would not DE
very suitable to the growth of the oak
and pine. Tho mighty palm tree of the
tropics would not be anything but
worthless dwarf in these cold regions
Of the north. Be assured that heaven
is not the soil nor cline for-fhe cult
walton 6f sinful pleasures and ,pur-
suits. No plants grow there but those
which the Lords right hand has
planted. The heavenly life begun Ia
the believers heart on earth, will ex-
spand there; grow and bloom ever:
more. Nothing that is impure or. .un-
holy can grow and flourish there-ths'
carhally minded, the unbelieving If nd. .
mitted to heaven would find4t no ba :
ter, than hell itself.
You not born again, listen: Your
body is just as frail and perishing as
the believers. 1t, as well as his, will
be dissolved by death and laid pros
trate IA the dust. What will then be-
come Of your soul?, Contemplate the
worm that lieth not; the fire that is
not quenched. It is your madness to
live at ease without any hope beyond.
II you wish this hope, there is but one
way Of attaining it: believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ. In HIM Is redemption for
ailwho seek his face "This is q faith
full saying and worthy of all accepta-
ton that Jesus Christ came into, the
world to save sinners, even the sick"
You who are begotten again; yol4
enjoy, the same hope that cheered the
Apostle amid all his trials. AS every
tie that binds you to this world is
snapped asnnder by the hand of death
you will take no random step; no leap
in the dark Into the world Of spirits,
You will ascend to. mansions above
prepared for you. You will enjoy the
earnest. In you dwells the Holy
Spirit; you will attain by and bye into
the fullness. Now you say with the
Apostle ::"For we know that If our
earthly house of this tabernacle were
dissolved. we have building Of God, am
house not made with hands eternal In
the heavens" Your path to the grave
may be through sunshine or shadow;
earthly prosperity may brighten your
pilgrimage. or adversely may frown
upon you; you need not, however, be
discouraged. That friend who sticks
closer than brother will be with you
always. He will guide you in safety to
the happy home above. Amen.
,Mfseinnovv Cnoso<v Mnnfa<