* G. Mathcson, MoTuents on (lie Mount, 251. ' Francis Quarles.
ST. JOHN VIII. 12 365
^ That was a true and beautiful word uttered by Mrs. Booth when she was passing home : " The waters are rising, but I am not sinking ! " Death was her minister, floating her forward to glory. " All things are yours . . . death." And my Lord further softens the night by the gracious light of fellowship. " I will be with thee." When we are in fine and congenial company how the time passes ! The hours slip away and we marvel when the moment for separation comes. And so it will be in death ! Our company will be so rich and welcome that the season will pass before we know it. I think the Christian's first wondering question on the other side will be : " Am I really through ? Eeally?" "Even the night shall be light about thee." It matters not how stormy the night may be, the Light of Life shall never be blown out. " At eventide it shall be light." ^
^ Whence are we — and whither ? Especially, whither ? How that question has pressed upon the heart of man. Do you remember the first living glimpse that we get of our old Saxon forefathers, as they stood facing Christianity, not yet converted to it, but wondering if perhaps it might be true? They are facing it with this mystery of the unknown beyond pressing on their hearts. I know few more beautiful episodes in old-world thought. It was a few years after Augustine had come as a missionary to England, and in the rude North, King Edwin of Northumbria had gathered his chiefs and thanes together in " Witenagemot," or "Wise men's meeting," that they might consider this new faith. One by one they told their faith about it, but the best word spoken was this. Said one of the thanes : "Truly the life of man in this world is on this wise. It is as when thou, 0 King, art feasting with thy thanes in winter-time, when the hearth is lighted and the hall is warm ; but without, the rains and the snows are falling, and the winds howl. Then Cometh a sparrow and flieth through the hall ; it cometh in by one door and goeth out at the other. When a little moment brief and pleasant is passed, it disappears, and from winter returns to winter again. So is it with the life of man, 0 King. It is but for a moment ; what goeth before it, and what cometh after it, wot we not at all. Wherefore, if these strangers can tell us aught, let us hearken to them and follow their law." ^
5. And, finally, Christ guides His followers to another and a better life. Through the opened doors of that immortality which He has brought to light by means of His gospel, there has
^ J. H. Jowett, T?ie Silver Lining, 73. ' B. Herford, Courage and Cheer, 145.
366 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
streamed ever since a steady radiance, towards which the hearts of all men have turned with thankfulness and hope. Christ has done for immortality what He had done for theism. He has not demonstrated it to the reason, but He has verified it as a fact. He has not superseded the necessity of searching and scrutinizing its possibility or probability on grounds of reason, but He has enforced these demonstrations by the best attested events of human history ; and He stands before the rational faith of men declaring afresh to all the generations, " I am he that liveth and was dead," and " Behold, I am alive for evermore," and " Because I live, ye shall live also."
^ What about the morrow ? When the river is crossed, is there any light upon the regions beyond ? Am I to gaze into blackness, impenetrable, inscrutable ? ** I am the light." What kind of light does He give me here ? " In my Father's house ! " Is there not a softening gleam in the very phrase ? Look here for a sheaf of rays of welcome light. "In my Father's house," there is our habitation ! " I go to prepare a place for you," there is the preparation for us ! "I will receive you unto myself," there is a welcome for us ! Does not this throw the soft light of the morning on the Beyond ? The same light which has been given to me along the way of time will shine upon me in the realms of the new day. "The Lord God is the light thereof." So you see it is Jesus all the way; my light to-day, to-night, to-morrow 1 ^
^ There is an ancient prayer for the departed which runs : Grant them, 0 Lord, eternal rest, and let light perpetual shine upon them.
* J. H. Jowett, The Silver Linitig, 74.
Truth and Freedom.
Literature.
Arnot (W.), The Lesser Parables, 62. Banks (L. A.), Christ and His Friends, 265. Brooks (P.), Addresses, 1. Burrell (D. J.), Christ and Men, 258.
„ The Spirit of the Age, 362.
Caird (E.), Lay Sermons and Addresses, 21.
„ (J.), University Sermons, 196. Carter (W.), The Church of the People, 200. Chad wick (W. E.), Christ and Everyday Life, 154, Dresser (H. W.), The Greatest Truth, 221. Eaton (T. T.), The Southern Baptist Pulpit, 67. Farquhar (J. W.), The Gospel of Divine Humanity, 60. Fothergill (H.), The Hiding of His Power, 151. Hopkins (E. H.), The Law of Liberty in the Spiritual Life^ 77, Home (C. S.), The Doctrine of the Trinity, iii. Hutton (W. H.), A Disciple's Religion, 186. Mayor (J. E. B.), Twelve Cambridge Sermons, 53. Mills (B. K. v.), The Maries of the Church, 189. Moore (A. L.), in Keble College Sermons, 211. Robertson (F. W.), Sermons, 1. 265.