THE PATH OF JOY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1000, 3 June 1911, Page 4

THE PATH OF JOY.

V. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

(Contributed.)

When the disciple has traversed the path of joy in this world, there awaits for him a wonderful revelation of glory In which he himself is to be a partaker—it is the coronation of those who have been faithful even unto death. In a vision Esdras saw on Mount Sinai a great multitude that no one could number, and they all praised the Lord with songs—in the midst of this vast crowd was a young man taller than all the rest and on every one of their heads be set crowns. Esdras filled with awe, turned to the Angel Uriel and asked, ‘‘Who are these?” and the Angel answered him. ‘‘These be they th t have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal; and have confessed the name of God : now are they crowned, and receive the palms.” The scribe then goes on to ask, “What young man is he that setteth crowns upon them and giveththem palms in their hands ?” The answergiven is, “It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world.” A similar vision was granted to St, John the Divine. He beheld an innumerable multitude arrayed in white robes and palms in their hands, and he too was told who they were, “These are they which came out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” In both cases they are the followers of Jesus, who have trodden the path of joy and have overcome the world. They have been faithful all through their earthy pilgrimage, subduing all that was material in them, feeding all th. t was spiritual, keeping always before them ’he p....nise of the Master, “I will . .ee the Crown of Life.” Now, the material is over a,.d they enter into that which is solely Spiritual and their joy is “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun strike upon ihem or any heat ; for the Lamb wbrnh is in the midst of the Throne shall be their Shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of Life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Perhaps these visions point to the extended path of joy, where the disciples after conquering in this world shall walk as crowned saints towards the Throne of the Eternal. “They shall walk with Me in white for they are worthy.” This walking witn the Master in the Spiritual world is the reward for the overcoming of the material world, “He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot bis name out of the Book of Life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before his angels,” Here the Master tells this servant what He wiu. do when He sees him arrayed in the white garments, the symbol ot purity. St. Paul after a life of unusual hardships could look back upon it with feelings of unutterable joy, for in old age he already caught the glow of the jewelled crown, which was to be his, “The time of my departure is come, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” He had walked on the path of joy, he hrd indeed felt the thorns that had been strewn across it, but those difficulties had made him what he was. As he toiled he said, “One thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on towards the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ.’ What was that prize but ihe crown ol righteousness. “Hencelorth there is laid up for me the crown ot righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give to me at that day: and not only to me, but also to them that have loved His appearing,” The crown of righteousness is the crown of Life, and it tells the disciple that there is no Spiritual death for him. For those who have followed the Master the reward is the crown, “therefore shall they receive the crown of royal dignity, and the diadem of beauty from the Lord’s hand.” This crown of righteousness is jewelled with the virtues the pilgrim has won, and the highest of all is purity. Without the striving after purity no man can see the King, or wear the spotless robe of white, making him worthy to walk with the Master —only those who are pure can look upon Absolute Purity—“ Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

“There hangs a radiant coronet, All gemn’d with pure and living light, Too dazling for a sinner’s sight, Prepared for virgin souls, and them Who seek the martyr’s diadem. Nor deem who to that bliss aspire Must win their way through blood and fire.” Inclosing these five short addresses let the disciple of the Lord Jesus ever keep before him, that the steps which he is taking are the footprints of the Son ot Man. On this path through the world there is much tribulation and much sorrow, but the anguish is little compared to the joy. The Christian life is indeed a path of joy, and always revealing greater and greater joy. The Master knows the path well and so great was the joy set before Him that he endured the Cross, despising shame. The follower ot the same Jesus must come through the great tribulation, for always before him is the j o y—to walk with Him in white, being made worthy. Physical death is but the Gate of Life, the taking ol the new steps in the extended path through the intex-

mediate slate, still leading onward to the Throne of God. After death there is progress, and, therefore. consciousness the soul awakening to fuller light. In His death throes the Master pointed out this Extended Path when he heard the request of the penitent thief: “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom,” and said, ‘‘To-day shall thou be with Me in Paradise.” He was to meet this penitent that very day in a state beyond this world, and this betoie His Resurrection and the forty days which preceded His Ascension. When after His Resurrection He spoke to Mary Magdeleue, He had already met the penitent thief in Paradise, and yet He said to the Magdalene, “ Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended unto the Father, but go unto My brethren and say to them, I ascend unto My Father and your father, and My God and your God.” From this we plainly see that Christ tells us of a conscious life in an intermediate stale alter death, and a place that has been made for ever sacred y His Own Presence. From it He came forth radiant in Majesty, and showed us by His Ascension the living Way to the Father.

Thus it is quite plain there is a path of joy tnat runs through this world, and when once found it leads the traveller ever onward to greater and greater joy. Unlike any other road, it is uninterrupted by physical death. Death is simply a gate across its path which opens into fuller joy and fullerglory. The most amazing truth that comes to ihe disciple as he journeys up the Sacred Way is that there is always an increasing joy, always a new revelation ot God’s love. The soul mounts up, as it were, step by step to the Great White Throne of tie Almighty, and every step brings the soul into closer communion with the Deity. The first joy of the traveller as he walks on this path is the desire to get to God. This soon gives place to a greater joy, the determination to reach Him, and after a while both desire and determination give place to the all-consuming passion to be tor ever with him. A passion for God ! That is the first sign of Sainthood, that is the realisation ot the joy of creation —made for God and for His glory. As we stand —it may be for the first time —looking upon this thin white line—the path of joy—we are struck with its continuity through the visible and invisible. Here and there we see the finger of God pointing the traveller ever onward, telling him he is on the King’s high road, and in front is the Goal, and the Goal is God. To attain God, there must be intention and the passion to see Him. The first step on the path of joy will give the estatic and inward joy that the soul has started on its journey to God, never to rest until (it may bel through myriads ot worlds and ages and ages, it stands spotless before Him who is a Trinity of Love, the One Eternal God.

“ For I intend to get to God, It is to God I speed so fast, And on God’s breast, my own abode, Those shoals of dazzling glory past, I’ll lay my spirit down at last.” ( Concluded.)