Two Inheritances.


SOME  years  ago,  there  appeared  in  our 

newspapers  a  paragraph advertising for  the 

heirs  to  the estate  of  a  wealthy  gentleman 

who had recently died  in England,  and  calling 

upon  them  to  come forward  and  prove 

their  claim  to  the  property.  Certain    

professional  gentlemen,  both  in  this  and  the 

other country, were referred to, whose names 

were  a  sufficient  guarantee  of  good  faith, 

and  who  were  also  prepared  to  prosecute 

the  claims  of any who might wish to  consult 

them.  At  once,  those  in  this  country who 

bore the family name  of the deceased owner 

became greatly interested;  and not only these, 

but  all who  could  trace  out  even  a  distant 

relationship, or connection by marriage, were 

eager to  establish  it.

Of  course,  among  so  great a  number  of 

applicants  on the score of name  and 

relationships, many were disappointed.  Some, 

though  they bore the name,  did  not really 

belong to  the family of the deceased  owner, 

and others,  for want of  evidence,  could  not 

substantiate their claims;  yet there were many

 who, after  much pains  and  earnest endeavor,

  at  length  obtained  the  inheritance,  enjoyed

  it,  some for  a  longer  time, some  for  a 

 shorter,  then left it to  others.

There  is  another  inheritance, far  superior 

to  any we  can  possess  here.  No  language 

of  earth  can  describe  it.  Golden  streets, 

and gates of pearl, and foundations of sparkling 

gems, but faintly  portray its  splendors. 

This inheritance  has  been  left by will  to  all 

who can  prove themselves the rightful  heirs. 

He who bequeathed it had  an  entire right to 

bestow it on whom he would, for he purchased 

it with the sacrifice of his own life, and sealed 

the  will  with  his  own  blood.  This will  has 

become  unchangeable  by the  death  of  the 

testator,  and  in  it he  provided  that  its  con- 

tents shall be published throughout the whole 

world, and  also that special messengers shall 

constantly  make  proclamation  of this  good 

news,  and  call  upon  all  persons  to  prove

their  heirship  without  delay.  But  though 

this inheritance is so  glorious and excellent a 

possession, not liable to pass into other hands, 

or be lost through failure or misfortune, or be 

destroyed by fire  or water, like the estates of 

this world;  though it  is  "incorruptible, un- 

defiled,  and  fadeth  not  away,"  there  exists 

with regard to it a strange  and fatal apathy. 

Many hear of it, not with  eagerness  and earnest 

questions  as to  how they may obtain it, 

or  whether  it  is  possible  that they may  be 

among  the  number  of heirs,  but  with  utter 

indifference.  One would  suppose  they  did 

not believe the report at all.  Yet ask them,, 

and  you  may probably hear  them  say 

carelessly that they suppose the  tidings  are

 true, and  that  they  expect  to  find  

themselves among the heirs  at  last,  and  to

 fare  quite  as well as those who take so much 

trouble about the  matter.  They forget  that 

 they  are   admonished  to  " make  their  calling

  and    election  sure"  and  to  "examine"  and 

 "prove their own  selves."

But  the  true  heirs, those  who  can  prove 

their high birth,  and their relationship to the

Lord  of the inheritance, will  surely one  day 

receive  it  with  unspeakable  satisfaction. 

Though the  principal  is  as  yet  reserved for 

them, they are constantly receiving  the    

earnest of it,  and constantly looking forward to 

it.  Though  the  inheritance  itself is  a  perfectly 

free  gift, many of  them  have suffered 

the  loss of  all  things to win it,  and  counted 

the  cost  none  too  great.  And  not  one  of 

them  will  even  for  one  moment regret  the 

self-denials, the  sacrifices,  the  expenditures, 

through  which  they  have  entered  upon  it. 

"For the sufferings  of  this present  time  are 

not worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory 

that shall be revealed in us." 





American Messenger.