The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-04-06

experiences, n III the aCVerSltles
that were to follow, the young man
was being prepared for the crown
that was being prepared for him.
So God is always making ready for
the tasks that He has in store for us
GETTING READY TO BEGIN TO
LIVE.
Terse Comments On The Uniform
Prayer Meeting Topic of The Young
Peoples SOcieties--Christian En-
deavor. etc.-for April 11-"Get-
ting Ready for The Next LIFE
Col. 3:1-4.
(By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
Life holds very few c~ertaintieS. One
Of these is death. With the first
breath Of life hat the newborn in
ant inhales it enters upon a journey
which ends inevitably i'll death. No
body is exempt from this common
fate. What is more reasonable. then,
than that we should prepare for the
experience which day must be
met-and probably met without op-
pOrtunity for special and immediate
preparation? Moreover, when a per-
son is ready for DEATH. he is ready for
anything else this side Of the grave.
They best know how to live who are
not afraid to die.
Our view of death largely deter
mines our manner Of life. One who
believes that man dies as the dog
dies, with no future after the vital
spark has left the body, must crowd
all his hopes and purposes into his
present uncertain hour. But the
| Christian looks upon death as only
the portal to life. When he speaks
Of being ready for death he really
means preparation for the fuller.
freeT. finer life beyond the portals Of
the tomb. The hope Of immortality
underfies n colors his earthly exist
ence. Basing his expectation not only
on h reasoning Of the PHILOSOPHERS,
and upon the limitations of immortal
ity which he experiences in his own
breast, but, most Of all, upon the sure
word Of inspired Scriptures, he looks
forward to a glorious resurrection,
when, redeemed. purified and en-
powered, he shall stand in all the un-
speakable effulgence Of the eternal life
with his risen loved ones and his risen
Lord.
Eternity. may be a present experi-
ence as well as 3 prospective ex-
pectation.
Some persons may fairly be de
scribed as Easter Christians. The
i6AL OI i I 1ld1 morning seems
to shine continually from their faces
Ihey know 1.-THE glory of the Lord
Ihelr souls wear raiments Of rejoic.
ing. They are the best advertise.
ments of h life that is designed 70,
two worlds.
What a gathering Of timetable:
and railway and steamship circular:
II guidebOOks is now beginning. il
anticipation Of summer holidays. Hal,
the pleasure Of q vacation is in tn.
anticipation and preparation. Nov
we are all travellers bound for tn,
} far home Of eternity. Shall we no
: let u i~maginations project them
selves forward into that immeasurabl,
I experience to bring back to us for GU,
present pleasure the knowledge there
! of? The thought Of the future lii,
: should not be a morbid or melanchol,
9 one, but a joyous, heartening one. TIL,
future may be made to rally to tn,
aid OF the present. And, most Of al
n as the tourist c%onsults his guidebooks
v SO hould we study the only volum,
: which speaks with gertrude and au
thorIty upon the theme Of the here
after. A profitable Easter experienc
would be to follow through the Ne7
all its teachings upon lf
after death. None of the ESSAYS eve
written can lmpart anything like tn
assurance and glow and hope tina
comes from a reading Qf the inspire
word upon this subject.
-
IS These lines are being write
: aboard ship, and, as we are nearir
'e port. An unusual excitement and in
d terest pervades passengers and crew
ID Everybody is making ready for tn
landing. The voyage has been dc
IN lightful, but, all, the joy of reachin
lg the home port. My fellow passer
or ger beside me at the table has gatI
h cred all his forward-Iooking inferes
n into one beautiful fact: his believe
or VIII meet him at the dock when tn
at snip lands. What cares he for til
or great city and its onder ri
n sharer Of his heart-life is there. s
me most glorious fact about eterni,
to the Christian is that he shan -,
id go as an affrighted stranger in
TT an land. but as one WI
approaches fha T orar - ~: ~- =,