PARADISE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 May 1912, Page 3

PARADISE.

Paradise was the theme of an address delivored by Mr. Horace W. Milner at the Church of Christ on Sunday last. " There is much vagueness in the use of this word, but in spite of this the yery sound of the word iias a charm for the masses and a soothing power for the weary and heavy laden. The meaning of the word is definite and instructive, being of Persian origin and signifying a garden or park or any enclosed space specially fitted to ■ regale the senses. Then because of the meaning of the word, of the charm which clusters around it, and of the place it occupies in the bible, it behoves us to thoughtfully and prayerfully try and obtain a clear conception of its relation to God's allwise, loving and eternal purposes as revealed in His word. We find it first used to designate the garden the Lord God planted in Eden, and .in which Adam and Eva were placed. The location of this spot is immaterial, it is the characteristics that are important and significant. There wo find everything that a loving heart coiild devise for the well being of the object of the love, trees pleasant to the sight and good food, man a free willed agent in the midst of the most 1 blo.ssed of environment with access to ! Uie source of life "eternal.- and- above | all we find perfect harmony between man the creature, and God the creator. But ere long man became disobedient and theresby destroyed the harmony and because of this ho was shut off from the tiee of life lest he eat and live for ever (Gen. 3, 22---2-2-23). Since that day mans senses, instead of being developed and enoblcd, have boon deadened and degraded by sin and he has lost the conception of Paradise. It is only when Christ Jesus comes bearing the thorns upon ■ His brow, and humbling himself to ; the death of the cross, thus reconciling j man to God when we gazo upon such I love and cry with the pomtant thief | "Lord remember me when thou com-j est into the Kingdom," then we have j restored to us the grand hope o. c a re- j gained paradise in tho words. Verily i I soy unto the this day, thou shalt be ; with me in. Paradise." Yes there U'■ a time coming when God shall purge ■ His garden of iniquity and restore °it ! to its former beauty, and all who prove themselves worthy of eternal : life by the acceptance of Christ Jesus ; .shall dwell there-in. Paul identifies Paradiso with the third heavens (2 ■■ Cor. 12, 2-11) while Peter makes it '■ plain what and where it is and when it will be established. "The heaven and earth which wore of old, the heavens and earth which are now But \ we according to his promise look Jor a ! new heavens and oarth wherein dwolieth rightoousuess, John had a i wondrous vision of this restored par- ' adiso, (5 Pot, 3, 5-i3) says " Behold 1 ; saw a now heavens and now earth, ~ j tabornaclo of God is with men and ho j himself is with them, Ho shall wipe ! every tear i'vom their eyos. and death i shall be no inoro, neither shall there bo any mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for tho former tilings aie j passed away (iiov. 21; "Blessed are! they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to tho treo of life," (Rev. 22-1-i) •' which | is in the midst uf tho Paiadiso of God," (Per, 2. 8-22). Por nothing that defileth shall enter thero in," j