shall fall off, and man shall mount aloft a glorious creature like unto the Redeemer. It will be a powerful body. How weak here in infancy, even at our best state, and how weak in death. But then, it will go from strength to strength unwearied-flashing its way across shoreless spaces, and serving God day and night in his temple.

III. There will be an undoubted personality of character. God hath given to every seed his own body. The body of Paul shall be different from that of Peter. Each shall preserve his own peculiarity and individuality. Each shall be known from his fellow, and each shall tell with transporting joy of his former trials and triumphs and of the glories that they are made alike to share. We have borne the image of the earthly, but we shall bear the image of the heavenly. The wicked too, must rise again from the dead. Their bodies will became like abestos stone, which lies in the flame and yet is never consumed. It will have power-to imagine-suffer, dic and yet to live. Identity will be preserved-personality will be undoubted. "Whosoever believeth shall be saved."

THE FUTURE LIFE.

HENRY M. SCUDDER, D. D.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. ECCLESIASTES Xii: 7.

THE subject is not chosen to edify by its novelty, but

rather to confirm faith in the fundamental principle of Christianity. The belief in the survival of the soul, however, was not confined to Christianity. The old religions which flourished before the time of authentic history began by affirming an existence after this life. This idea in various forms entered into the composition of every system of religion. The grand

mythologies of the more immediate progenitors of our later civilization assumed an hereafter in which a system of rewards and punishments was to be meted out. Even the barbaric races are not an exception. The grim Norseman had his Valhalla, the American Indian his happy hunting-ground, and the more modern explorations into the heart of the "dark continent " has failed to discover a tribe or nomadic race that did not hold to this primal, essential principle of immortality.

In another and perhaps more philosophical view of the case, no adequate, logical reason could be given for human existence, if this life ended all. Man stood at the apex of a pyramid. Below him were the various forms of life, animal and vegetable, and the inanimate kingdom. Everything in the world had an object, an end. There was a reason in its existence, and it subserved some end. The inanimate world-the dull, cold rock and metal-served a purpose in furnishing the essentials for animal and vegetable life. The vegetable. world supported the animal world, and each higher form of life subsisted on a lower form, the end of whose existence was thus attained, until man was reached. But what was the end of man's life if it ended here? was a philosophical failure, a cosmic anti-climax. If this life, however, was but a state of preparation for a future existence, no violence was done to this grand law which seemed to pervade all forms of matter, animate and inanimate.

He

Moreover, there is no necessary connection between the soul and the body, and the death of the latter is no evidence that the former ceased to exist. With death the vital principle, the soul left the body, but who should say that it did not continue its existence in a different realm? Man, too, has a conscience which told him what was right and what was wrong. Right always,

in the eternal fitness of things, must be rewarded, and wrong must just as surely be visited with punishment. In this world no one will say that the reward for rightdoing and the punishment for wrong-doing is meted out, and a future existence is required to properly adjust these important relations. The doctrine of the survival of the soul was in favor of all good and opposed to all bad. Men who do not believe in a future life are more disposed to swear, drink, lie, and swindle than the believers in a future existence. If these bad habits consort with a denial of a hereafter, then the doctrine is presumably false and meretricious. If, on the contrary, the belief in immortality characterizes the good man, it is prima facie evidence of the verity of that doctrine.

God in his writings has assured mankind that the soul will live: "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" Man lives under an inexorable law, which requires the body to return to dust, and the spirit to return to the Creator who gave it. There was no evasion or escape from the operation of these laws. One of these laws condemned man to an eternal, hopeless death, but the other gave him eternal life. Here then was the answer to the ancient query: "If a man die shall he live again ?" "The spirit shall return to God who gave it."

These laws were calculated to fill sinful men and women with terror. They were afraid to die, and stand at the Divine tribunal. They could not change the laws or escape from their operation. But Christ was the supreme law-giver. If they secured Him, He would expiate their sins here and answer for them in Heaven, and reclothe the disembodied spirit.

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THE UNAVOIDABLE JOURNEY.

REV. JOHN H. MACDONNA.

When a few years are come, then shall I go the way whence I shail not return.-JOB Xvi: 22.

HIS is solemn truth to which every human being

THIS

must concede an unhesitating assent. And it is also true that the sable stamp of death is engraven in indelible characters all over the world. This is a subject which generally fills us with feelings of horror and trembling, but there are some who look upon death as Paul, and "desire to depart." Of these Job was one. He had been made a partaker of affliction, suffered many a bereavement, and he contemplated the time of his departure with such satisfaction as none but a Christian could feel, one who reposed all his confidence in his Redeemer. He rejoiced in the contemplation that his life was so short-that its shortness would place a period to his affliction, and reveal to him the glorious freedom from sin and pain which he through Christ would gain in the unseen world. Hence we hear him in holy joy, exclaim, "When a few years are come," etc.

The words suggest two things for consideration.
I. The momentous journey here anticipated.

How momentous the journey to the tomb! The soul setting out from the perishing body to explore the mysteries of the unknown eternity! This mysterious, this momentous, awful journey has four characteristics :

1. It is solemn in its nature. Death implies a separation of soul and body; the one to mingle with the clods of the valley-the other to bound into eternity either as a glorified saint to shine as a star for ever in the presence of Christ or as a lost soul to dwell in the regions of dark

ness forever. It is separation too from all we loved on earth and an entrance into the dark valley alone.

2. It is indisputable in its certainty.

"Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?" Where are those well remembered faces and your dear ones that live in your memory? All gone. All have traveled the journey and gone through the dark valley.

3. Death is unknown as to the time of its occurrence. The moment is wisely hidden from our view. It may be at any time or under any circumstances. When the dimple of mirth is upon the cheek, when buying or selling occupies the attention or when old age has made the grasshopper a burden.

4. Death is important in its consequences.

If we close the journey to the dark valley unsaved, we are lost for ever. There is no more opportunity for spiritual improvement. The door of mercy is shut for

ever.

II. The effect the anticipation of death ought to produce.

1. It should cause us seriously to examine ourselves to see if we are prepared to undergo it. No one can enter the country beyond the river without a passport furnished by Jesus. Now is the time obtain it-this is the day of salvation. With this, when the journey is over, Jesus will welcome and embrace us and the cross will be exchanged for the crown.

2. The consideration of this final journey ought to stimulate the righteous to constant watchfulness. "Watch," therefore says Jesus. Have your iamps well trimmed-your armor all on and burnished and be as men waiting for their Lord.