The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-09-07

Among the
Many Mansions
BY Rev. James Nudge. D. D.
Montreal. Can.

~Se44A 49,
Too much can hardly be made OF
the fact that heaven. in q very i'm
portant sense. in It's essential ele-
nents. is here and now. Nevertheless,
there Is. OF course, a life hereafter be-
yond this world. life eternal In I'M
manuers land. There is place
where Christ Is" a place which He
told His disciples He would prepare
for their final abode. What should be
our attitude toward It. our feeling
about 1t? What use can we proHtably
make of 1t in the deepening of our
spirituality. the perfecting OF our
character?
1t is a test both OF our faith and our
fatthfulness. In proportion to the
yigor of our faith VIII be the clear.
ness OF our sight of the things un-
seen by mortal eye. our realization OF
the Intangible. We may have faith
SO strong that there will be no more
doubt as to the reality OF that world
than OF this. no hesitation whatever
in accepting the intimations concern
Ing II which are found in the written
Word. no question as to the satisfying
solidity Of It's joys. the permanency
Of the rich possessions to which It
introduces the redeemed. What will
give US this faith! Our faithfulness
to God and duty. our living constant
~ In His presence, our cultivating
those faculties which apprehend the
things Of the spirit. THE doctrine
OF Immortality 1t has been well said,
is an achievement and can be pre-
sent in power only as the issue Of
that spiritual growth whose flower
and fruit ii is to be-" II we would
achieve certainty about 1t we must so
live that 1t alone stands as the inter.
probation and consummation of our
days. We must habitually cherish
such convictions in our soul. must
breathe such high spiritual atmos-
! phere, must walk so closely with the
infinite one. with the Heavenly Fa-
ther. in our daily experience that no
other outcome Of our being than its
blissful continuance beyond death
will seem in any way reasonable or
possible. Such Is the only path to
perfect peace in this matter. How
can man Of evil life really believe
IN the hereafter? How can he who
IS living wholly. or mainly, or even
largely for this passing world obtain
or retain firm hold on the fact that
there Is another world far more i'm
portant = palace to which this is but a
portico! He could not live as he
does II he did so believe. His choos.
ing that kind Of life inevitably dead.
ems or destroys his power OF belief in
anything better by and by. We know
as to the future what We are capable
OF knowing. II we would know more
we must be more. If we would see
further into the future We must live
at higher elevation. This. and not
seances or table mov;ngs or supposed
materializations OF the spirits Of the
departed. is the way to get solid
ground under ones feet as to the 9TH
er world.
Should longings for Heaven FIJI much
of our thought and time? Not to such
an extent as to prevent the devotion
of all our energies to the work assign.
ed US by the Master Surely not to the
breeding of the slightest discomfort
with the duration of our tarryins
here. st. Paul's position about 1t (Phil.
1929 would seem 10 be ideal. He
keenly appreciated the glorious gain
involved in the transition to the
splendor as yet so imperfectly reveal
ed. but he also appreciated fully the
Joy of laboring for Jesus on this earth
and increasing the triumphs Of the
gospel He was sufficiently unselfsh to
put aside his own Joy In favor of the
advantage Of his converts and others
to whom he could do still further
good. 1t is certainly safe to leave the
decision as to the best time and man.
uer Of our death with God, assured
that It shall be exactly Alright and
need not concern US in the least. It is
not natural or possible for those In
perfect health. in the springtime OF
youth. with the inviting. untried ex-
perience Of life in this world all be.
fore them. to feel about another world
as they reasonably may who are
manifestly near It and whose friends
are mostly there. Yet at all ages II is
wholesome to keep in the background
of our thought the solemn fact that
we are pilgrims and strangers on
these shores Of time, and soon to
launch forth for voyage to fairer
climes.
The gospel view OF death, that It is
gain, not loss to the believer; sunrise,
not sunset; transition. not destruc.
ton: birth into a higher state Of be-
ing: something to be hailed with Joy,
not shrunk from with horror. Is far
too rare. Most people. as the apostle
says. are AL their lifetime subject to
bondage through fear of death (Heb.
H:15). not Knowing That Christ hath
abolished death and brought life and
Immortality" on Tim. 1:1o). What a