LECTURE 7
ON LOOKING UNTO THE FUTURE WHOSE CONTEMPLATIONS WILL ADVANCE THE SOUL
I did insinuate in an earlier lecture that there is a great deal of foolishness in counting on the future and I don’t mind saying that again. In fact, going after prophets and priests to inquire about the future is no wisdom at all. For some who heard prophets say, “the future is bright and you shall someday become this and that”, did scarcely live to even witness a new dawn. Why then do you inquire about such an uncertain future; one that only brings disappointment and heartache? Can’t you see that it only seduces you into inactivity and slothfulness, and it advances you not?
Nonetheless, should you still be curious about the future, then I exhort you to only consider and contemplate this kind of future: ‘THE FUTURE PAINS OF HELL’. If you should seriously meditate upon that eternal pains and immeasurable sorrows of hell, it will advance you unto good works, excellent virtues and holiness. It will also empower you to willingly endure the pain and suffering that dogs your journey here below. There is salvation in such holy meditations and contemplations, and the man who looks into such a future will be in earnest to fulfill all righteousness. He will be zealous to secure salvation for his soul.
“For they that look into Hell here,” says Thomas Traherne, “may avoid it hereafter.”
“But they that refuse to look into Hell upon earth,” says Thomas again “to consider the manner of the torments of the damned shall be forced in Hell, to see all the earth, and remember the felicities which they had when they were living.”
These words of Thomas Trahene are in perfect harmony with those of St. Francis of Sales. For he also tells us to “Consider how insupportable the pains of Hell will be by reason of their eternal duration.”
He concludes with this – “If the irritating bite of an insect, or the restlessness of fever, makes an ordinary night seem so long and tedious, how terrible will the endless night of eternity be, where nought will be found save despair, blasphemy and fury!”
And yours truly, if we all will faithfully look into Hell via the Holy Scriptures and the holy testimonies vouchsafed to us by both the church militant and triumphant, and thereby prepare ourselves to escape its torment, we, in our last days may also declare as St. Paul: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
WITH MEN IMPOSSIBLE!
By James Montgomery
With men impossible!
What hope remains for me?
A sinner on the verge of hell,
How? whither? shall I flee?
"Flee from the wrath to come,"
I hear Jehovah say;
What can I do--let doubt be dumb,--
What can I--but obey?
His sceptre or His rod,
Who shall control them?--None:
All things are possible with God,
He speaks, and it is done.
'Tis but to know His will,
And in His power confide,
Then faith may bid the sun stand still,
Or walk upon the tide.
The Lord can make a worm
Almighty if He please,
And at His single word perform
Impossibilities.
When to the blind man's eyes
He saith "Behold!" 'tis so:
And when He calls the dead, they rise,
Though the grave's mouth cries "No!"
Then, my Redeemer, then,
From wrath to love I flee,
The things impossible to men,
Are possible with Thee.
I, at Thy feet, in dust,
My unbelief resign,
In Thee alone is all my trust,
Lord, save me, I am thine.