Who can do his work singing?

Godly Humor Series

the funny side of life

Volume 38

Lucky the one who can do his work singing.

There are papers in hell—obtaining a copy, you will find these the chief items of interest—

New Play. Great success of Mr Esmond’s work—The Folly of Virtue. Police Court News. Arrest of two missionaries as spies and disturbers of the peace. Local Scandal. Financial News. New companies. Racing News. All the starters. New Arrivals in Hell. Full list, together with interviews with prominent visitors.

The only item, which will fill you with surprise is the racing news. How do they manage for horses? you ask. They imagine them. They each think of some famous racehorse they knew of on earth. Then they visualise it as racing along the course and winning. On the day of the race, anyone enters any horse he likes and the names are announced.

Each backer imagines that his horse is going to win.

The more people there are backing a horse, and the stronger their wills, the more likely it is to win. The worst of it is the judge generally declares the horse he favours has won, even when it obviously has not. They see all the horses racing, and they see the one that has the strongest backing gradually pull ahead, but despite this, the judge often declares that it has fouled another. 

I suppose that is often true? It usually is.

You see some of the backers are sure to devise a cunning underhand trick in their minds whereby they can outdistance other horses. In short, every horse will have fouled somewhere, but there is always a fearful row after a race, usually culminating in a free fight.

Indeed from my own experience and from what I have seen in others, I can testify to the awful truth that an evil spirit has power over human souls. How often someone has formed the best of resolutions, he has turned from sin and is anxious to seek the way of life, but the tempter enters his heart and he falls deeper than before.

And then to say there is no devil! Devil? 

Yes, it is no use mincing an awful fact—it is he who drags man to hell. There is a devil and the number of demons is legion. But, say you, how is it that God—the strong, righteous, pitiful God—allows the evil one such terrible power over human souls? Can He be the all-loving, all-merciful Father if He does not snatch them from the destroyer even at the moment of their weakness?

Do you doubt God, my friend?

Was it not He who sent his good angels to watch the door of your heart―Who put all that trouble and anguish into you―Who made you feel and tremble at the burden of your sin?

Ay―it is His Spirit Who is at work in you when you feel you have done wrong―when you long to rise to a better life. It is He who shows you that you can rise if only you will! But your will is at fault—your sincerity. That is it!

What God does for you even at such decisive moments is immeasurably more than what the devil can do. But to God, you listen not, great as His love is, you care not for the riches of grace with which He tries to save you whereas the devil need but pipe and you straightway are ready to do his bidding.

Is it to be marvelled at that there is nothing left for you but to go to hell?

Letters from Hell