THE CELESTIAL RAILROAD.




AN EASY ROUTE TO THE CELESTIAL CITY.


THE ease with which the devil makes people believe they can serve him, and still obtain a final entrance into Heaven, is well illustrated by a small tract published at this Office, entitled the "Celestial Railroad." 

It is written in the style of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, and represents a man living in the city of destruction. He became alarmed in regard to his condition as he heard that the city was to be burned by fire and brimstone, as Sodom and Gomorrah had been in the past. He was so affected by this idea that he ran through the streets, crying, " What shall I do to be saved."

Unfortunately at this time, instead of meeting with old Evangelist who had guided Christian, he met the Rev. Mr. Smooth-it-away, a popular minister of the place, who, instead of telling him how he could escape from the wrath to come, tried to persuade him that his fears were groundless, and that there was no danger at present, at least. But circumstances were such that he could not be persuaded to give up going to the Celestial City, and putting his fingers in his ears he ran through the City, crying, "Life, life, eternal life!"

But here he was met by an agent of the Rev. Mr. Smooth-it-away, who told him if he must go to the Celestial City, that there were better facilities offered now than in Mr. Banyan's day, as a fine railroad had been built leading directly from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. The temptation to go to the Celestial City in this way, and thus avoid all the trials and troubles necessary upon going the old way, on foot, was so strong, and as he just then came to the depot where the train was ready to start, he took his seat in the cars. 

The train started, and he was being borne along as he thought to the Celestial City.  He felt many times on the road that this was not the road that self-denying Christians should take, but it was so easy and pleasant to glide along without any exertion or effort on his part, that ho stifled his own conscience, and passed along.

He often feared that the termination of the route would be different from what it had been represented to him. And thus it proved, for Christ has said, "He that would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.

"Dear young friends, let us take warning from this. The general effort of the present day is to find some easy route to Heaven. 

There is but one way to Heaven, and that is the narrow way our Saviour trod before us, of which he says, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."





J. E. WHITE.




How TO OBEY. 


Do it at once. Never wait to be told a second time. Do just what you are told to do. Do not try to have your own way, even in part. Do it cheerfully. Do not go about it in a surly, cross, peevish way. Don't fret, and grumble, and talk back. Only cheerful obedience can be pleasing to God and man.  Speak evil of no man.