The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-10-28
THE PULPIT.
A SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON BY
DR.. j. M. HUB6ERT
Theme; Life Here and Hereafter.

Brooklyn, n. Y.-Surdav the Rey.
DR. J. NJ. Hubert, of PHILADELPHIA.
preached in the Central PRESBYTERIAN
Church. His subject was Life Here
aud Hereafter. Tho text was from
Philippians 1:22-24. What I shall
choose / wot not. For / am in a
strait betwiXt two. having n desire to
depart, and to be with Christ. which
Is far better; nevertheless, to abide
in the flesh is more needful for YOU, ="
DR.. Hubert said
The words of the text remind us of
good Isaac Watts, who said: THANK
God, | can lie down at night with no
concern whether | wake in this world
or the next" Some people arc world-
~, chiefly concerned for things here
below Some are other worldly. hav-
ing thoughts and affections set on
things above; and such a man was
Paul This thinking about the future
is bv some called "impracticabIe star
gazing" But Dr.. Samuel Johnson
correctly remarked. that "those who
think most about the next lifa are the
pconle who best perform the duties
Of this life"
First Of all, the text speaks of our
m0rality. In saying he has a desire to
"deNart," Paul is not thinking of 60
Ing from one place to another on the
earth, but Of gCing back TO mother
earth-"oarth TO earth, dusl TO dust.
ashes to ashes" This is the way we
must all 90 very soon. King philip
or Na'sdol had a servant whose duty
lt was 10 wake the King each morning
by saying, Phillip. remember thou
are mortal" Surely, we need no such
reminder. We have enough all
around us to impress us that "all
flesh Is as grass" Passing through a
street OF very healthful mountain
town, and seeing a man with a hose
washing mud from the wheels of
hearse, | said. do you use such
things up here?" "Oh, yes" said he.
we carried out three Yesterday" "
And that is just what Is going on
everywhere. The cemeteries are fast
receiving the teeminC poDulations of
cities, towns, villages and country
places. Well may it be said
Death floats upon every passing
breeze.
And turks in every flower;
Each season has its own disease.
It's peril every hour"
Again, the text speaks of our i'm
mortality Paul has a desire to de-
part. and to be-" He has no thought
Of ceasing to be, when death comes.
Death does not end all When the
earthly tent is taken down, its oc-
cupant Will still exist as a conscious.
thinking, alert being. The body is
eorruptible, it perishes, it dissolves:
put there is that within the body
which is incorruptible, imperishable
end indissoluble; that which no
Hoods can drown, no waters can
quench, no fires consume; which is
uestlhed TO outlive mountains, firma-
ments, suns and stars. A prominent
city social club has for it's motto:
While we live, we live in clover;
When we die, we die all over"
oh, no, we shall none of us die "alI
over. We die in part only And
even though the body only is TO die.
even 1t Is to be raised again, and by
ana by soul and body shall be re-
Joined, and then man in his complete
personality shall live on and forever.
Have you heard, have you heard Of
that sun-bright cline,
Indimnled by sorrow, unhurt by time.
Where age hath no power DER the
fadeless frame,
Where the eye is fire and the heart
is fame?
Have you heard. have you heard of
that sun-bright clime?"
Further, the text speaks OF orr
ehief felicity hereafter Paul's desire
Is TO depart, and to be with Christ"
The Bible gives different conceptions
or Heaven, such as a place OF rest
from toll, release from prosecutions.
freedom from sin and reunion with
friends. But Pnul's favorlte idea of
u Is as place OF campanionship with
Jesus. True Christ is with His disci-
pies here and now, b. His Spirit, but
IN the hereafter they are to see Him
In His glorilied humanity, Just as He
was seen after His resurrection and
when He went up from the slopes of
Mount Oliyet. We say mo home
without mother" and what a
mother is to home, and infinitely
more, is Christ to His redeemed ones
In Heaven.
when death these mortal eyes shall
seal.
-, And still this thTobbing heart
The rendins veil shall Thee reveal.
All-Glorious. as Thou art"
Next, the text speaks OF the i'm
mcdlateness CT this heavenly felicity.
atter death. Paul's expectation is to
depart, and then at once to be with
Christ. The language will admit OF
no other Interpretation He gives
no intimatlon of q midway station, a
halfway house, between the deathbed
and Heaven. Some people carry very
vague notions of what is called the
intermediate state" As there Is an
intermediate time, between the body's
death and its resurrection, so there Is
nm intermediate degree of blessedness
Tor Christ's saints, who are not TO
receive their full and final recommends
or reward until after the general
Judgment; but there is no gloomy
abode for the righteous, after this
death, where they wait to see Christ.
To-day thou shalt be with Me I'm
PARADISE" were Jesus words to the
dying thief, and such is the glorious
privilege awaiting every saint that
passes down into the valley of the
shadow of death.
once more, the text speaks of a
certain haltinG at the very threshold
or Heaven. Paul is in a ouandarv.
saying he knows not which to choose.
DR.. Muhlonburg, who wrote the
hymn, Il Would Not Live Alway."
SAID long afterward that the hymn
old not properly represent the best
feelings OF the human heart, and that
ne would be glad TO live on In order
TO save sinners and do the Nfo.,o.,