(4) It should solemnize him. — It is not so much that the shortness of life makes us prepare for death as that it spreads the feeling of criticalness all through life, and makes each moment
1 J. H. Goodman, The Lordship of Christ, 236.
i CORINTHIANS vn. 29-31 219
prepare for the next, makes life prepare for life. This is its power. Blessed is he who feels it. Blessed is he in whose experience each day and each hour has all the happiness and all the solemnity of a parent towards the day and the hour to which it gives birth, stands sponsor for it, holds it for baptism at the font of God. Such days are sacred in each other's eyes. The life in which such days succeed each other is as a holy family, with its moments " bound each to each by natural piety."
The bell strikes one. We take no note of Time But from its loss. To give it then a tongue Is wise in man ; as if an angel spoke I feel the solemn sound. If heard aright It is the knell of my departed hours: — Where are they ? With the years beyond the flood.
It is the signal that demands despatch : How much is to be done ! My hopes and fears Stand up alarmed, and o'er life's narrow verge Look down — on what? a fathomless abyss; A dread eternity ! how surely mine ! x
(5) It should make him sympathize. — Two men have lived side by side for years, with business and social life between them, with a multitude of suspicions and concealments; but let them know that they have only an hour more to live together, and, as they look into each other's eyes, do not the suspicions and concealments clear away ? They know each other. They trust each other. They think the best of each other. They are ready to do all that they can do for each other in those few moments that remain.
K A traveller was crossing a mountain path alone. The snow was falling fast and thick, and an overpowering sense of sleep stole over him. Desperately he fought against it, for he knew that sleep was certain death. As he struggled on, dragging his tottering steps with increasing difficulty, his foot struck against an obstruction which lay across his path, and looking down to see what it was he found it was a man half buried in the snow. In a moment he forgot his drowsiness and was wide awake. He took the unconscious man in his arms and chafed his frozen body, and in so doing the effort to help another brought life and energy to himself.
1 Young.
220 SPIRITUAL DETACHMENT
TJ A missionary describes a scene which he saw in South Africa. From the top of a hill he looked down upon a piece of land where a few men were busy sowing peas, and he recognized them to be lepers at work together. Two particularly caught his attention. One had no hands, the other no feet, for their limbs were wasted away by that terrible and loathsome scourge. By themselves they would both alike have been unable to work, but they had overcome their helplessness by mutual help and association. The man who was without hands was bearing on his back the other who had no feet, and he in turn carried the bag of seeds, which he dropped into the ground as they moved along, while his companion pressed each seed into the ground with his feet.1
The time is short; Therefore with all thy might, Labour for God and Eight. Pause not for heats and shadows of the day, Fail not for difficulties of the way: Be true, be pure, be strong ! Eternity is long.
The time is short; Sin, misery, and despair Darken the earth and air; Therefore do thou with Heaven intercede, And for thy brethren, ere they perish, plead: Pray for the prayerless throng! Eternity is long.
The time is short; Therefore, my brother, love! Love always! God above Is one with thee in this; 0 take His crown of thorns, and thine own self forsake! Love, spite of pain and wrong! Eternity is long.2
II.
In Three Relationships.
There are many who have the impression that the tendency of religion, if a man is sincere and deep in it, is to make him less competent and practical in the affairs of the present. But this
1 C. J. Ridgeway, Social Life, 63. * Shirley Wynne.
i CORINTHIANS vn. 29-31 221
cannot be the Apostle's meaning. He was too sane, too wise a man — to claim no more for him — to teach such a way of regarding the business and necessities of the present life. And indeed this was not St. Paul's idea of religion at all. St. Paul's doctrine is the doctrine which is taught all through the Bible, that the family, society, the state, business are of God's ordaining, and that it is of supreme importance that man should fulfil his duties and play his part aright in all these. "Be not slothful in business." "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord." " If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an un- believer." St. Paul does not tell us to withdraw from common relationships or from business. He does not blot out the words " home," " politics," " business." The Christian life always means for him a life of more varied and nobler interests.