Year: 1866

BY WINFIELD s.. MCGOWAN.


Immortality, stupendous thought !
Heavens priceless boon to man. Many
gifts has the "Giver of every good and
perfect gift bestowed upon his creatures,
but chief of all and most to be priced, is
the bestowment of eternal life. A hope
fondly cherished in the heart, that rises
above the earthly and catches a faint
glimpse Of the world of the hereafter. A
frail and tender flower, though beaten by
the storms of trial and adversity still
continues to bloom, and will bloom on in
the sunny and celestial cline Of the upper
Eden. A beautiful harp, oft hung upon
the willows through the toilsome journey
of life, but which will eventually be tuned
to the angelic music of the skies. Men
spend their lives in struggling up the
ladder of fame, sparing neither energy or
toll, and then fall like a shooting star
unknown and unsung, but he who builds
for the hereafter, rears for himself a
monument that shall defy the iron tooth
of time, and exist through an eternity
Some labor aud toll out weary lifetime
to gain this worlds riches, expressing the
poor and affecting the widow and the or
phan, even blackening their souls with
the crime of blood, but he who lays up
treasure in Heaven" receives at last a
glittering diadem more precious than the
gold of Ophir or the diamonds of Col
conda. When we look upon this world
of change, desolation and sorrow, our
hearts are saddened and wailing to be-
hold that land of perpetual sunshine, un-
fading flowers and enduring pleasure
Afliction and trial only drive the soul up
from the valley of dispair to the Pisgah
of hope and expectation to catch glimpse
of the Illuminated Celestial City, through
the midnight of time. Immortality,
fadeless crown of glory, Gods ministering
angel sent to comfort the weary pilgrim
through the rough journey of life, with
the blessed hope of an inheritance be-
yond this vale Of tears He who fights
manfully the battle of life, resisting
temptation, overcoming difficulty and
combating evil, shall when he has s.passed
under the rod " of Gods providence, es-
capped the fierce fire of trial, rise from the
gloom and shadows of this life into the
effulgent splendors Of that morning that
shall dawn forever upon the Eternal City.
We launch joyously. upon hfe's troubled
sea, little dreaming of sorrow or care, but
when storms and tempests arise and we
are madly driven by the waves of adver-
sity, heart stricken and sad, we at last
guided through the gloom by the Star of
Bethlehem, outride the storm of life and
safely anchor in the Haven of Rest, life's
voyage safely ended. Immortality, fond
hope, priceless gift, the gold cord that
binds man to his Creator, and exists un-
impaired by the ruin of the fall. Am |
immortal Will my life continue for
ever to run parallel to the existence of
Deity himself? Yea, verify, this is the
reward Of the finally faithful, when the
shifting scenes Of this life are over to en-
Joy an eternity of bliss. Would you
build name that time cannot corrode,
one that shall outlive mortality, then live
and act to-day, for tomorrow the armor
may be laid aside, and you sleepiug the |
long sleep of the grave? Those that are
led away by the glittering allurements of
earth, and erect their lives upon false
foundation shall in the world of the here
after spend that life of endless duration
in lamenting their awful mistake. Grey
haired veteran on the walls Of Zion, you





who have fought many fierce battle for
the right, borne the banner Of the cross
in the hottest Of the contest, and stand
on tho strand of time waiting for deliver
ence, be joyful, day shall soon dawn
that shall usher you into the enjoyment
of the rest, for the finally faithful How
often our plans and projects for the future
are rudely swept away, and the most
cherished hopes are blasted by disappoint
ment till at last forsaken and sad we cling
to the glorious hope Of immortality that
survives them all. There are great and
noble deeds Of philanthropy and benevo-
lence, stern self-denial and unfinching
resolution acted out in q mans life chat
the Creator once in while crowns with
immortality, and finally transplants them
to bloom in the cline Of unfading sun
shine and perpetual summer. Earth's