Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-12-21
Johns Christmas Thoughts.

1t is approaching two thousand years
since the angels sang "Peace on earth,
good will to men," The peace hasn't
come. but the good will is there, no
doubt. if the world would believe 1t,
and when believed in all its fitness the
peace would follow, the peace that pass
eth understanding.
Nations arming for possible fight are
not encouraging signs of peace. The
nation that is the more heavily armored
and the better fitted for war has the
greater temptation to break the peace
and become embroiled with weaker
nation. Our own nation has not always
been particular in that regard. Our
Uncle Sam delights in considering him
self world power. In some ways he is
weaker, with all his eng,nery OF war.
Should he place some of his outlying
possessions on a ten cent counter, and
dispose of them in that way, it would
add TO his strength. At least We think
so. They are too far away to defend, if
thew ever are 10 be defended before uni =
versal peace sets in.
By the way, we have been thinking of
late what is to be the destiny of all who
have lived and died since time began,
and all who will live and die till time
shall be no more The thought stag
gers us. Beyond a reasonable doubt
they will live again, but where will be
their dwelling placer There will be room
enough for all, wherever it is, in space
that has no end. Light travels with ex-
ceeding velocity, but We are told that it
takes ray of light three years to reach
the earth from the nearest fixed star.
We do not understand how they found
that out IL it be a fact, and the home
of the soul is up yonder, it does not
lack for room.
Do you ever take the time, or is it of
no Importance to try and solve some OF
the Scriptural problems, and to ascer-
tain, IL you eau, whether they are literal
or figurative, having put fact IN GER
tain form, already accomplished or to be
accomplished? Try this one: "Wben
the Son of Man shall ascend the throne
OF his glory. aud all his holy angels with
him, then shall be gathered before him
all nations" etc IL he has not vet as
ceuded, what has become of him? Is he
fugitive prince, king without king
DOMAIN empty throne for almost two
thousand years?
IT'S figurative fact that the division
is of the past and not of the future, and
that il took place at the beginning and
not at the end of bis reign, for he shall
reign till he has put all enemies under
his feet, and when all things arc subjec.
unto him, then he will deliver his king
dom intact and entire into the hand of
the Father, when "God shall be all and
in ALL
1t is matter of history that one Ma
ton, the Jewish, went to the left, that
the door of the Gospel kingdom has
been shut against it through all the
years since the gathering of the nations
lin figure), and if there has not been
weeping and wsiling aud gnashing OF
teeth, there have been ample reasons for
the same, even in our day.
1t is to be admitted that the individual
members of the nations on the right are
not tumbling over themselves to get in
to the kingdom prepared for them from
the foundation of the world, but there is
the ''opeh door," just the same, but not
for the goats at present.
Should you attempt to prove that the
division of the sheep from the goat ua-
tions will be at the end of His reign, and
is to be in the world TO come, you will
strike a snag that will be hard to re-
move. JOHN.