Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/109

 would make  this  bargain  with  them? Th6 answer is  plain  enough;  they  would  say: "Keep Thy  heaven  for  Thyself  as  far  as  we are  concerned,  if  only  we  may  remain  always young,  and  live  forever  upon  earth  in  the gratification  of  all  our  senses  and  natural inclinations." Listen to  this  bit  of  wisdom from that  smart  journalist,  to  whom  I  referred in the  preceding  chapter. He writes:  "The earth  was  assigned  to  us  as  our  abode  in order  that  we  might  enjoy  it  to  our  heart's content,  seek  for  pleasure,  and  find  our  satisfaction  in  it.  Those  who  in  exchange  for  our tears  and  lamentations  offer  us  nothing  but the  sight  of  a  dim  and  distant  heaven,  only point  to  a  future  life,  are  either  not  the  true friends  of  the  poor  man  and  of  the  human race  in  general,  or  they  are  the  victims  of  a morbid  self-delusion."

A self-delusion! Pray, where  did  this scribbler discover  this? Certainly not  in the  pages  of  Holy  Scripture,  but  in  his  own brain, and  he  himself  is  undoubtedly  the  victim of  a  delusion.

One who  is  certainly  far  above  this  newspaper editor  has  spoken  in  a  very  different strain, in  that  He  said:  "In  my  Father's house  there  are  many  mansions:  I  go  to  prepare a  place  for  you"  (John  xiv.  2).

And the  great  apostle  St.  Paul  tells  us: "We have  not  here  a  lasting  city,  but  we seek  one  that  is  to  come"  (Heb.  xiii.  14).

"Therefore, if  you  be  risen  with  Christ,