Page:The World Beyond.djvu/96

92 his formation on earth to his home in heaven; and back again as God's messenger to man. I return to the first thought. Hearts make heavens. Earth is the nursery whence they spring. This is a charming world; it is filled with the Lord's good gifts, with not a taint of evil naturally clinging to any one of them. Its grass is green; its flowers are fair; its fruits are luscious; its sun-lit trees are canopies of joyous life. It was built to be the nursery of heaven; it was made to mould young hearts into angels of light. How have we changed all this, and made it the nursery of hosts of fiends!

Yet the influence of heavenly hopes and hearts surrounds it still. The Lord is increasing these continually day by day. He is ever adding thousands of angels to his fold. The world is still beautiful, and man may restore the ruin he has wrought. It is not abandoned pleasure, mad ambition, greed of gold, or silly vanity, that shall restore its pristine innocence. No: it is contentment, purity of heart, righteousness of life. It is love of the neighbor, love of right, love of use, that finds its chief joy in serving rather than in being served; a love that emulates the Saviour's own self-sacrificing life when on earth. Laboring and striving for these, we do our part to restore this earth to its sublime destiny of rearing souls for heaven. Gaining these, earth's homes will be lit with love once more, its beauties be but the reflection of each heart's best joy; and so near to heaven is it, that this mortal body is but the veil which, drawn aside at death, leaves us in open and blissful fellowship with the angels.