Walks and Talks with Unbelievers

WALKS AND TALKS WITH UNBELIEVERS. BY J. H. WARD.

I.

You need not throw down this article carelessly. It will do you no harm. It assumes no dictation. It is simply the honest, home-like talk of a walker on life's road, to be read by the young who need friends— by the middle-aged who have none too many —by all who wish to know and appreciate the truth, but who in the bustle of life have not taken time to gather the pearls scattered along life's wayside. You say you do not understand it. Who of us does? There is something so much beyond, as yet unrevealed to human minds, that one has scarcely time to stop and think about it. Yes, my young friend, we are walking along. The road turns now to the right and then to the left. It is not altogether smooth, yet we can pick our way along, if we heed where we set our feet. There are thorns, thick-set, along the road -their points stand ready to lascerate all who would force their way through, without regard to paths. And there are others on this same road; some are old, some are middle-aged, and some are young with you. There are flowers and beauties along the roadside, but few of us see them. There are hidden beauties which must be sought outthere are countless bowers behind the thorns— there are mossy banks at the foot of many of these old oaks, where friends can sit and be happy. We run from the cradle to the grave, reaching for some hand in the distance— striving to gain a place on some vehicle far ahead, swiftly flying still farther from us. Few of our

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earthly hopes are ever realized. How the 'dreams of our youth there sweep over the soul recede! The song of love dies out, and storms of passion, dark shadows driven by fierce blasts.

It is then that the unbelief, of which we seemed so proud, in all its terrible hideousness. Why, I observe, my shows itself friend, that the unbelief, of which you boasted the other day, you no consolation. seems now, in the hour of perplexity, to afford from the What is this that you are reading in the hope of relief sorrows that oppress you? ^ #

Addison. "The Vision of Mirza, as written by Joseph For am glad you find comfort in this kind of reading. I

though it may be only the dream of the poet, it shows conclusively consolation which religion alone can that your mind needs that It also shows that the author had views on human origin give. to have ignored or forand destiny that so-called Christians seem God's word, will gotten Strange it is that unbelievers, who reject of a vision accept the same truths when presented under the form

or a dream! told that the rock before But let us read: "I had often been and that several had been enter- me was the haunt of a genius; passed by it, but never heard that tained with that music, who had When he had raised the musician had before made himself visible.

airs which he played to taste my thoughts by those transporting as I looked upon him like one the pleasures of his conversation, me, and by the waving of his hand astonished, he beckoned to place where he sat. I drew near directed me to approach to the to a superior nature; and as my with that reverence which is due strains I had heard heart was entirely subdued by the captivating

down at his feet and wept. The genius smiled upon me with I fell affability that familiarized him to my a look of compassion and all the fears and apprehensions imagination, and at once dispelled He lifted me from the ground, and with which I approached him. heard thee in thy said he, 'I have taking me by the hand, 'Mirza,' soliloquies: follow me.' . pinnacle ot the rock, and "He then led me to the highest 'Cast thy eyes eastward sa.d he and placing me on the top of it: '

'I see', said I, 'a huge vdey and a pro- toll me what thon seest.' thou 'The valley that through it.' digious tide of water rolling

188 IMPROVEMENT ERA. seest/ said he, 'is the Vale of Misery, and the tide of water that thou seest is part of the great tide of Eternity.' 'What is the reason/ said I, 'that the tide I see rises out of a thick mist at one end, and again loses itself 'in a thick mist at the other?' 'What thou seest,' said he, 'is that portion of eternity which is called Time, measured out by the sun, and reaching from the beginning of the world to its consummation. Examine now,' said he, 'this sea that is bounded with darkness at both ends, and tell me what thou discoverest in it.' 'I see a bridge,' said I, 'standing in the midst of the tide.' 'The bridge thou seest is human life; consider it attentively.'

"Upon a more leisurely survey of it, I found that it consisted of three score and ten entire arches with several broken arches which, added to those that were entire made up the number about an hundred. 'But tell me further,' said he, 'what thou discoverest on it.' 'I see multitudes of people passing over it,' said I, 'and a black cloud hanging on each end of it.' As I looked more attentively I saw several of the passengers dropping through the bridge, into the great tide that flowed underneath it; and upon further examination, perceived there were innumerable trap-doors that lay concealed in the bridge, which the passengers no sooner trod upon, but they fell through them into the tide and immediately disappeared. "I passed some time in the contemplation of this wonderful structure, and the great variety of objects which it presented. My heart was filled with a deep melancholy; to see several dropping unexpectedly in the midst of mirth and jollity, and catching at everything that stood by them to save themselves; some were looking up towards the heavens, some were in a thoughtful posture, and some who were in the midst of a speculation, stumbled and fell out of^ sight; multitudes were busy in the pursuit of bubbles that glittered in their eyes and danced before them, but often when they thought themselves within the reach of them, their footing failed and down they sank. The genius, being moved with compassion towards me, bid me quit so uncomfortable a prospect. 'Cast thine eyes on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several generations of mortality that fell into it.' I directed my sight as I was ordered, and I saw the valley opening at the farther end, and spreading into an immense ocean, planted with innumerable islands

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and interwoven with a that were covered with fruits and flowers, them. I could see perthousand little shining seas that run among garlands upon their heads, sons dressed in glorious habits, with of fountains, or passing among the trees, lying down by the side a confused harmony of resting on beds of flowers, and could hear and musical instruments. singing birds, falling water, human voices grew in me at the discovery of so delightful a scene. I Gladness might fly away to those wished for the wings of an eagle, that I happy seats; but the genius told me there was no passage to them that I saw opening every except through the gates of death moment upon the bridge." gives hints at pre-ex- Well, we have read enough; the above his glorious destiny. It seems to istence; man's present state and me, my friend, that you are not so much of an unbeliever as you profess to be. Perhaps we will talk again.