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THE WONDER OF INDIFFERENCE.

"Dead in trespasses and sins."-EPHES. ii. 1.

N this universe, so full of wonders, there are few

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things more wonderful than the indifference of some men to their state after death. I can understand anxiety, perplexity, fear, despair, horror; or hope, peace, joy;-all or any of those emotions, possessing a man when contemplating the future but indifference! That is the wonder!

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For if we only consider the future possible condition of the soul, and all that may be, it is difficult to reconcile any belief whatever with indifference.

Do you believe, for example, that you are to live for ever? If so, only consider quietly for a

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moment what the words mean by which you express this faith: "I am to live for ever; that is, as long as God lives. Thus, after millions of years are over--and these are inappreciable periods of time, which, added to millions more, do not in the least degree diminish the duration of endless ages-you shall live, move, and have your being ! Do you really believe this as possible? And if so, apart from every other consideration, is not the mere fact a very awful one, of your now possessing an existence which cannot be extinguished by any power, save by His who created it, no more than a child can extinguish the sun in the mid-day sky?

Moreover, if you ask such questions as these :Where shall I be? In what world shall I live? What shall I be thinking about, or doing? Among what order of beings shall I dwell? Whom shall I know, and with whom associate? What changes shall I witness, what things experience, during my endless, indestructible life? Then how, I ask, is it possible to think of all this, and be indifferent!

"It is useless thinking about it!" you perhaps exclaim, "for we do not know what is to

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