And why? You think salvation means being saved from
hell, and going to heaven, when you die. And so it does: but I
trust in God and in God's holy scripture, that it means a great deal
more; for I think it means being unfit for hell, and fit for heaven,
before we die. At least, so says the Church Catechism, which teaches
every little child to thank his Heavenly Father for having brought
him into such a state of salvation in this life, even while he is
young. Thanks be to The Spirit of God which taught our fore-fathers
to put these precious words into the Church Catechism, to guard us
against falling into the very same mistake as the Pharisees of old
fell into, when they asked our Lord when the kingdom of God was to
come. And, believe me, it is easy enough and common enough to fall
into the same mistake.
For what was their mistake? They fancied that the kingdom of God was
not yet come. And do not most of you think the same? They did not
deny, of course, that God was almighty, and could rule and govern all
mankind if He chose so to do. But they did not believe that He was
ruling and governing all mankind then, because they did not know what
His rule and government were like. Now, St. Paul tells us what God's
kingdom is like.
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