The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-16

The one remarkable narrative contain ed therein, bearing upon our state af- ter death, Is found In the first DOCK of Samuel. You recall the story. Sam lating war is waged between Saul. Israeps king, and the Philistines. Saul seeks counsel at the hands of Samuel, who returns from the unseen lire at the summons of the woman of Endor He declares to Saul: "The Lord will deliver Israel into the hands of the PhiIistines and tomorrow shall thou and thy sons be with me-" Then the prophet returns to the unseen world.
 Now study the incident of Jesus and the dying thief, related in the New Testament. He assures the thief: To day shaft thou be with Me Tn. Para- dise." Note the tremendous meaning of this promise. It teaches social es that death at once introduces the freed soul to q new existence. IL teaches that this existence will be real. personal, social; Christ dld no' thy etheral soul. thy impalpahle . shade
 shalt be with Me-" He said: Thou
 myself, the whole man, shalt be with Me-" This Is real and personal. Christ into some State of lonely and isolated With Me- This is social. This is com panionship. Now put His statement and that of Samuel together, and the similarity is truly remarkable. Christ said to the thief: To-day shalt thou be with Me" Samuel said to Saul Tomorrow shalt thou be with me-. one IS rom the Old Dispensation., the otner rom the New, and both declare in most pos,ss itive terms cotinuity of life. Then, II you add to this the fact that both speakers died and were buried, buried; and Msa both returned TTeeornize6 Te ane form why, nersonai identity in the future life could not be taught, more plainly. Thus Scripture teaches, you opserve, that we shall be ourselves (that Is, the whole man, not not merely a shade), in the future world which Is assured by the Resurrection of Christ Who thereby brought life ana lmmortaisy ty something about the place itself, for doth not the Master say; T go to pre-. pare a place for you? Doth He not many mansions?" In other words. He is telling us of Heaven. the eternal Home of the Redeemed in Christ. the nlace whither He Himself went forty days after Ills Resurrection, Heaven. the place where we shall go after our Holy Spirits aid, and with fear and vation, thus making our calling and election sure. In speaking for knowl- edge of this place which the Risen Christ has gone 10 prepape TOT US tS We
 
 Word of God reveals to us all we need to know. As long as the rations sat in darkness and the shadow of death,' a cloud hid Heaven from mortal gaze. It was not pierced until Christ brought to light through His Res urrection. Then did He unyeil to us- subject only to the limitations of our finite understanding-the glories and the beauties of the Heavenly Country. When he broke from the tomb on the first Easter morning. radiant with Res urrection glory, Heaven was opened and a great light shone on the world.
 Now, may we lift our eyes upward and gaze upon the place which He has gone to prepare for us, and hear his Voice which bids us: Come up hither and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter" He has rolled back the everlasting gates of Heaven. Within, we behold the great throne of God. on which sitteth One who "dwelleth in the light that no man can approach unto,
 Lamb of God arrayed in the splendor of His majesty. There are seen also'