Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-08-04
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Among the
Many Mansions
BY Rev. James Nudge, D. D.
Montreal, Can.
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sions"-John IA
Too much can hardly be made OF
the fact that heaven. in very I'm
portant sense. in its essential ele-
ments, is here and now. Nevertheless.
there IL. OF course. life hereafter be
You'd this world. life eternal in I'm
manuel's land There is a place
where Christ is" place which He
told His disciples He would prepare
for their final abode. What should be
our attitude toward II, our feeling
about TT What use can we profitably
make Of II in the deepening OF our
spirituality. the perfecting of our
character7
II is a test both OF our faith and our
faithfulness In proportion to the
vigor OF our faith will 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 limitations 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 II
introduces the redeemed. What will
give us this faith, Our faithfulness
to God and duty. our living constant
ly in His presence. our cultivating
those faculties which apprehend the
things OF the spirit The doctrine
Of Immortality II has been well said.
rs 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 IL we must so
live that II alone stands as the inter
probation and consummation OF our
days. We must habitually cherish
such convictions IN our soul, must
breathe such a high spiritual atmos-
phere. must walk so closely with the
Infinite one. with the Heavenly Fa-
Their, in our daily experience that no
other outcome OF our being than its
biissful 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 n firm hold on the fact that
there 10 another world far more i'm
portant palace TO which this is but
porticof 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. II we would see
further into the future we must live
at n higher elevation. This. and not
seances or table movings 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 ill much
OF our thought and timer 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 tarrying
here. St paufs position about IL (Phn
1881 would seem TO 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 II is certainly safe to leave the
decision as to the best time and man.
ner OF our death with God, assured
that 1t shall be exactly Alright and
need not concern us in the least. II Is
not natural or possible for those in
perfect health. In the springtime NJ
youth. with the inviting, untried ex.
- AAN III AAic huTl0 all he
fore them. to feel about another world
as they reasonably may who are
manifestiy near II and whose friends
are mostly there. Yet at all ages II is
wholesome to keep in the background
OF our thought the solemn feet tina,
We are pilgrims and strangers on
these shores OF time. and soon IN
launch forth for a voyage TO fa,rer
climes.
The gospel view of death, that n ia
gain. not loss to the believer: sunrise
not sunset; - nsition, not des,ruc.
tion; birth into higher state of be-
ing; something to be hailed with iov
not shrunk from with horror. is far
too rare. Most people. as the APOSTLE
says. are "all their lifetime subject m
bondage through fear OF death" cHeb
l1:15). not knowing that Christ ba,h
abolished death and brought life and
immortality" I'll Tim. 1:IO). What a
pity that they should thus miss
through lack Of faith, one of theft
chief joys. the deliverance assured -
them In Jesus. II is our privilege al
Browning says. to greet the unsaan
with cheer to feel that It wei. ac-
cords with the nom day, the bustIe
OF mans work time" to think OF ano
prepare for and pass to the higher
word which waits US there. What. in.
oeed, Is there to fear In death, the foe
that the mighty Prince Of Life So AZ.
lectualiy conquered. binding him to
His triumphant chariot wheels?
AAaef HIIIAI.H.