LIGHT AT EVENING How calm the evening! see the falling day In gentle sighs the softly whisp'ring breeze Salutes the flowers, and waves the trembling trees. At evening time it shall be light. Millions of people have found it so, although throughout life's day they have dreaded. the shadows at its close. When a leaf is new and green it clings to the stem, but when it becomes brown and sere it easily drops away. In the morning of life man dreads to die, but as age abates his strength he usually cares less about the inevitable end. Bishop Horne uses this figure: "When we rise fresh and vigorous in the morning, the world seems fresh, too, and we think we shall never be tired of business or pleasure; but by the time the evening is come, we find ourselves heartily so; we quit all our enjoyments readily and gladly; we retire willingly into a little cell; we lie down in darkness, and resign ourselves to the arms of sleep, with perfect satisfaction and complacency. Apply this to youth and old age—life and death." There are exceptions, however, to this rule. The longer some people live, the more they want to live, especially while they can be active, comfortable, and happy. And surely it is a legitimate wish that after a long life of hard work there should be an evening time of serenity and sweetness, and such enjoyments as are suitable to waning vitality and ripening emotions. A great many aged men and women have better times than pitying youth may surmise. THE LIFE IMMORTAL The idea of immortality meets the cravings of all rational minds. There is no sweeter thought than that of living forever. There are three aspects of immortality, any one of which is a striking feature. 1. There is the idea of undying existence. How beautiful to think that "there shall be no more death!" 2. The undying existence is to be continuous. There will be no break in it. The body dies, but the soul lives on. 3. This continuous, deathless existence will be incorruptible. "This corruption must put on incorruption.” Connected with every phase of the doctrine of a future life there are difficulties; but faith overcomes them. The believer has no more difficulties to contend with than the unbeliever, nor as many. It is now held that materialism is an impossible interpretation of the mental life, and the idea of it seems to be vanishing from solid rational thought. On the other hand, it seems to be conceded that the doctrine of a future life is not contrary to established facts of science and philosophy. Nothing is known which forbids the hope of surviving death in permanent and glorious life. The human mind instinctively protests against annihilation, while New Testament hope fills the soul with joy and peace. Man is constituted with an aspiration for life in the presence of the great Life-giver. "My soul thirsteth for God." Immortality alone explains and justifies the existence of man and the universe. "We are the people of His pasture." Rev. Edward Judson once said, "The soul is the enigma; God and immortality are the solution." Hence the familiar words of Young: 'T is immortality-'t is that alone Amid life's pains, abasements, emptiness, THE WORLD NOT SEEN They tell me of a fadeless world, Where life's bright emblem ne'er is furled They tell me of its river clear Of ever-flowing life, Where beauteous, blooming trees appear With leaves of healing rife. No sickness there-they tell me so; They tell me of its glad new songs; The present world I know and see, Its life and love appeal to me, And can it be that, hid from view, I want to know, for grasp is light I soon must leave each fond delight, |