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the Holy Mount and of the veiled and throbbing Glory that broods thereon。 A vain fancy of the striving heart； the reader will perhaps declare； and it may be so； though I pray that it is not。
There would seem also to be some external evidence which goes to support the doctrine of the continuance of the personality beyond the changes of death。 Spiritualism I do not include； since although many people； some of them of great intellect and high character； believe in it； and I know well that whatever it may be it is not all fraud； however much it may be mixed with fraud； I am by no means satisfied as to the real origin of its phenomena。 Without expressing any definite opinion； at times I incline to the view that it also is but a device of the Devil； by specious apparitions and the exhibition of an uncanny knowledge which may be one of his attributes； to lead heart…sick mortals into regions they were not meant to travel and there infect them with the microbe of some alien； unknown sin。
On one point； however； I am clear。 Whether or no it is lawful for trained and scientific minds to enter on these dangerous investigations in the interests of a search for some truth which it may be intended； in the fulness of time shall be revealed for the guidance and benefit of the world； the majority of men and women； especially if they be young； will do well to leave them quite alone。 The risks are too many； and the fruits of such research； however golden they may seem； are apt to be unsatisfying； if not deadly。 The parable of Eve and the forbidden apple of the Tree of Knowledge； from the eating of which came death and sorrow； still has applications in these latter days。 Once I tried to point this moral in a tale I wrote which is named “Stella Fregelius。”
Nor can we rely too much upon the revelations of such seers as Swedenborg； for these may be and doubtless often are self…deceived or the victims of hallucinations。 In short； of all such matters and dogmas； if so they may be called； including that of theosophy which its interesting and gigantic dreams reported to emanate from the teaching of “Masters” whose address it seems impossible to discover； it may be said that； like that of reincarnation； they are superfluous。 The Christian can afford to wait to learn the truth of them — or perhaps their fallacy。
We tread on firmer ground when we consider that as far back as history shows her light； and beyond it as the graves of primitive peoples prove； the almost universal instinct of mankind was to believe that death is but a gate of other forms of continued and individual Life。 I know of no instinct which haunts breathing creatures that is uselessly given without purpose； and does not serve some necessary or protective object or reflect some existent truth。 Why； then； among them all should this rooted conviction that physical decease is not the end of man be but a vain thing fondly imagined？ Such a conclusion seems inconsistent； even unnatural and absurd。 But if our faith is strong enough to enable us to accept Christ’s teaching； again what need is there for us to seek support in instincts which it is possible we do not understand aright？
To one fact； corroborative in its nature； I think； however； weight should be given； that of the fatherhood of God； displayed towards those of His children who seek； or who in His foresight He knows； in some other day or place； will seek the fort and protection of His love。 How any reflecting man who has led a full and adventurous life can doubt the present； living power of that fatherhood passes my understanding！ Certainly I cannot。 When we rode the wild horses of our youthful sins； the red blood coursing through our veins like wine； who was it that seized the reins and again and yet again delivered us from the last disaster？ Who was it that has so often protected us from the results of our own self…willed folly and even turned it to our advantage？ Who that by His gift of a higher hope has stilled the raging agony of our griefs？ Who that by the unexpected answers springing at us from the Bible’s written page or with some word spoken； apparently at hazard； by one of His servants upon earth； has removed our doubts； enlightened our darkness and strengthened our wavering soul？ Who that has shown us a way of escape from sharp temptation？ Or； amongst a thousand other examples； who that has borne with our presumptuous profanities and ingratitude and at last in His own good hour has set our erring feet upon the paths of peace？ Or； to take one more example； who was it that by a dream and a vision of the night taught me that His humbler creatures are my kin and not called to life to be slaughtered for my pleasure； even though some of them must die to serve my necessities？ Yet again； who twice has snatched me by the hair from the murderer’s spears and bullets； twice from death in the deep； and from a score of other perils； perchance that I might live on to bear this witness； unworthy though it be？
I have spoken of this fatherhood as a fact corroborative in its nature of the truth of the arguments which I have so feebly attempted to advance with reference to the immortality of our souls。 For this reason。 Even among the lowest of us fatherhood implies love。 The fathers are few who desire that even their erring and unthankful children should die and vanish from their sight for ever； and much less that these should live on in suffering for all uncounted time。 Can we then for one instance imagine that the Architect and Author of the universe； the Supreme； the Absolute； He who was and is and shall be； He whose Holy Name is Love； the Begetter of Spirits and of men； desires that His children should be tormented； or die and not endure； redeemed and purified； to adore and serve Him？ Not so！ Not for this does He count the sparrows that fall and number the very hairs upon our heads。 In His cup is the wine of life — if we will but drink — not the henbane of death eternal。 He is the God of the living； not of the dead。 Did not the Saviour say it that we might know and believe？
And if your reasonings are sound； if what you say is true； the reader may ask； if the righteous are redeemed and live to look upon the Presence to all infinities； still what hope is there for you who are not righteous； who are but a mon flesh…stained sinner？ As I shall not then be here to answer I will strive to answer now； praying for grace that I may do so aright。 With utter humility； in true unfeigned abasement of heart and spirit I will answer。 Was there not one Mary Magdalene out of whom Christ cast seven devils？ Was there not a woman taken in adultery whom He refused to judge？ Did He not declare that there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth？ Did He not bid those that were heavy…laden to e to Him and taste of rest？ Therefore it is that millions such as I； men who in the course of life have erred deeply in some things and fallen short in many； may still dare to hope。 Also who are the righteous？ Even St。 Paul speaks of the war within him。 Is it not written that there are no righteous on this side of the grave — none nearly perfect？ They would not be human if they were。 All； even deans and bishops； or some of them； have need of grace。 Surely it is the attitude and strivings of the caged spirit that will be considered； not the shortings of the gaoler body； the desire not the deeds； for if it prove otherwise who can escape when the heart is weighed in the balance？ To my mind the great sin is not to seek forgiveness for sins — not to try to avoid them in the future。 All stumble into the mire； but of those who elect to wallow there and of those who deliberately refuse the saving hand that is stretched out to them； what can be said？ Well； perhaps they may be given other opportunities elsewhere。 As a believer in the infinite mercy of God I dare to trust that this will be so。
I desire to urge； however； upon any who care to listen these three things which I myself have learned in the course of years。 First； the enormous importance of all this matter。 Secondly； the folly of sin。 Thirdly； since it needs must be that offences will e； the urgent need of repentance before in some other life or lives we are called upon to reap the harvest of that unrepented folly。
What is life as we know it； even if that life be not a single volume but a series of chapters which will ultimately be bound into a pleted book？ A few breaths melting into the immensity of this bitter air； a few dewdrops sparkling on a single thorn in the great dim forest — no more。 And what is Eternity？ Ah！ I cannot answer。 Yet I do believe that our fate in the second depends not so much upon our doings； perhaps； as on our struggles in the first。 Surely； then； it behoves us to be up and stirring while there is still time。 For if we neglect the opportunity who knows； as age sweeps on to endless age； with what agonies of grief we may repent that which can no more be remedied； because as we have chosen so we must go； as the tree falls so must it lie。 Even in this world the might…have…been is a thing terrible to contemplate； what； then； may it be in a world that will neither suffer us to die nor die itself？ To be cast out to the murk while others serve in honour within the glowing gates； to be told to chew the cud of our unbelief or to eat of the husks and drink of the sour wine of our desires till we loathe the taste and stench of them； while others — among them； perchance； our most adored — feed on the manna of the blest； to endure the reproaches and the heaped…up hate of the panions of our woe； to be separated from those we loved and who loved us； those who have chosen the better part — oh！ surely we need fly to no obscene phantasies of mediaeval torture to paint the picture of a blacker hell。 Even if mercy finds us at the last； as for my part I think it must and will； what sufferings must we first endure！ — for of this we may be certain； that if in such conditions we should cease to suffer； then we shall be lost and draw near to the Second Death whence we can scarcely hope to rise again。 For the soul； as for the body； pain is a healthy symptom。 When it passes we are apt to mortify and — cease。
Now； like a Scotch preacher； I go to my second head： the folly of sin whereof even here the heritage is of sackcloth and of ashes。 Never was there a truer saying than that the Devil is the worst of paymasters。 If we go against the rules of the game as they are laid down for us by the creed we serve in that part of the world in which we have been born； even when those rules seem not natural to us； we err； and what is more we injure others； which is surely the essence of sin。 For； as I have said； the laws of Nature differ from the laws of God as these are revealed to us （and we must follow the higher Light） — a fact from which I am sometimes tempted to argue that Nature； “red in tooth and claw；” is not begotten of God alone。 Surely the powers called Satan and Death have had a hand in its makings。 Thus Nature says to Everyman who is a man：
“See where She stands with longing arms and lips that murmur love。 Hark to what She says who would be the mother of your child： ‘Seek！ Seek for heaven hid in these dark eyes of mine and find all Earth’s desire。 Drink！ Drink of the Mysteries from the cup of this rich heart o