Читать книгу The Spirit of God as Fire; the Globe Within the Sun Our Heaven - D. Mortimore - Страница 4

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The theme we are now about to contemplate is one of deepest interest to the human mind. If we can fathom and unfold the mystery—as we believe we shall—by analogy, founded in the light of reason, Divine revelations, and the lights afforded us by the science of Astronomy, and give tangibility to the—hitherto—chaos of the mind upon the subject, we may lay the foundation for a more comprehensive and intimate knowledge of God, the great Creator of all things, and this knowledge should lead to more speedily Christianizing the world.

God has made himself manifest in everything, and to every individual. Nature yields to this manifestation, yet does not comprehend it. Even man, the human family—the only creatures of a high order of intelligence placed by Him upon this earth—seem not to have risen to that comprehension of knowledge to which they should attain from his lessons of the Past, as well as those of the Present, and which lessons are renewed unto us day by day.

Our principal theme is that of the place of our future existence—especially Heaven.

We approach the subject with fear and trembling, asking wisdom and Divine aid of Him who hath said, "Seek and ye shall find," and of whom it is written, "If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, and it shall be given him."

We know that we cannot throw that flood-tide of light upon the subject that the theme demands, yet we may be the humble instrument, under direction of Divine Providence, to mark out a path through the wilderness of doubt, along which may shine, or through which the "eye of faith" may catch, a ray of light from the bright "celestial throne," which may induce others—more able minds and giant intellects—to step forth, wielding mightily "the sword of the spirit," and open out to the mind a plainer path, as the "king's highway," leading up to that celestial world, to glory and to God.

We believe that if a reasonable, tangible idea of the constant presence of God with us prevailed, as also of the heavenly world, and the glories that shall be revealed; the nature of the soul of man; from whence derived; the certainty that it must endure forever; the requirements of the law of God; the certainty of the judgment; who is to be the judge; the certainty that no error can be committed in His judgment; no influences can be brought to bear to defeat the ends of justice; that the righteous shall be adjudged to the enjoyment of happiness and eternal life; the wicked be "banished from the presence of God, and from the glory of His power," "to dwell in everlasting flame, and languish in eternal fire," and that this righteous judgment will never be revoked, but stand immutable as God Himself—on and on through all eternity—we say we believe if this could be fully comprehended by finite minds, the time would not be distant "when all would come to a knowledge of the truth, and know the Lord, whom to know aright is eternal life." This knowledge should not be sought through fear alone, but mainly through love to God, and faith in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and from the delights we feel in our consciousness of the constant presence of God—by His Spirit—with us; stimulated by love to our fellow-men; love of all Nature around us; love of the wonderful works of the creative power of the Omnipotent—even the vast wonders of His creations throughout His own native Empire.

May we not? Can we not know more of all this? We are not forbidden to investigate, to found reason on His revelations. Nay, He hath said, "search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Me."

We do not propose the building of a "Tower" like unto that of Babel, for He hath said, "not by might, but by my Spirit." Therefore, by the manifestations of His Spirit, which becomes sufficiently enlightening, when properly comprehended, we will endeavor to throw a faint—if not a flood-light from that eternal world into the eye of faith. And, if we cannot, like the martyr Stephen, "see Heaven opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God," or ascend to it with "Elijah in a chariot of flaming fire," we may, by the mind's eye of faith, "see through the vail darkly," yet with sufficient light to direct us, and guide our wandering footsteps in the path that leads to that "bright clime," where the "glory of God" is the light of that heavenly world.

Our theme necessarily leads us forth through trackless realms of boundless space, where, with the mind's eye, we shall behold with wonder and amazement some of the vast creations of the Omnipotent power of God; such as will inspire the mind, and fill it with awe and reverence for the Great Jehovah. We shall have a panoramic view of millions of Suns—Heavens—planets, and worlds, standing out, or careering through ethereal regions; peopling the realms of illimitable space. We shall comprehend more fully the diminutiveness of this earth; on which we dwell, as compared to the vast creations brought forth by the "Word of His power," and of our own nothingness before Him, while all must inspire us, not only with awe, but with gratitude and love for His merciful provision for our redemption, and for regaining "an inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away."