Death will certainly not effect the necessary improvement. All are
agreed that the fact of dying makes no change in a man's character. Nor
is there any change usually effected just before death. In many cases
there is no opportunity. "The souls of believers are at their death made
perfect in holiness." So says the Catechism. But there is no evidence of
it in the case of one who is stricken down suddenly. But suppose there
is a preparatory stage beyond; then all difficulty disappears.
THRUST INTO NEW CONDITIONS.
Nor would it be in harmony with divine operations, so far as we know
them, to thrust a frail, human, imperfect spirit into eternal joys so
suddenly. He is not prepared for them. He requires a preliminary stage
of preparation. It is only in harmony with what we know of God's methods
to believe that such is provided. When a child is born into this world,
it is not thrust into new conditions suddenly. For a time it is not even
aware that it has entered on new conditions; but it adapts itself
naturally and easily to its new surroundings. So it is not easy to
believe that a soul accustomed to the darkness of earth is thrust at
once into the blinding glory of heaven. A preliminary stage of
preparation seems to be necessary; and if it is necessary, it
is provided.
I raised this difficulty once to an aged minister.
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