Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-05-27
@:nral arln &eiigions.
APPROACHES TO HEAVEN.

APPROACHES TO HEAVEN.
Can the weary traveller. after he hath me asuret
many tedious miles, and passed many daogers boil
by sea and land, and felt the harsh entertainments
of stranger fail TO rejoice on drawing near, in hi
return, to n rich and pleasant home Can the ward
after hard pupiage fail to rejoice that the day Is
coming wherein he shall freely enjoy all his lord,
revenues and royalties Can jose phi fail TO find
himself nwardly rejoicing, when, out Of the dungeon
he shall be called up. not 10 liberty only bnt Il
honor; and shall be arrayed with yesture Of tint
linen, and graced with Pharaohs ling and chain
and set in his second chariot, and in the next chat
10 the throne of Egypt And canst thou apprehent
myself now approaching to the glory of The HEAVIER
of heavens, place and state of such infinite con
tentment and happiness, and not be ecstased with
joy There, there shalt thou, o my soul, enjoy /
perfect from all thy tolls, cares, and fears; there
shalt thou find true vital live, free from all the
encumbrances of thy miserable pilgrimage free
from the dangers o. either sins temptations !; free
from all anxiety and distraction free from all sor-
row, pain, and perturbation free from all the pos
sb ility OF change or death life wherein there
is nothing Blu, pure and perfect pleasure; nothing
but. perpetual melody of angels and saints. singing
sweet hallelujahs to their God life, which the
most glorious Deity both gives, md is life,
wherein thou hast the full fruillon of the eyer-bles-
sed Godhead, the continual society Of the celestial
apnts, the hssful presence of the g'oriied human
ity of thy dear Saviour: life, wherein thou hast
ever consort with the glorious company Of the apos-
ties the goodly fellowship of the patrarchs and
prophets, the noble army Of martyrs and confessors
the celestial synod Of all the holy fathers and u-
minated doctors of the church. In short, the bles-
sed assembly of all the faithful professors Of the
name of the Lord Jesus, that having finished their
course, sit now shining in their promised glory.
See there that yet unapproachable light, that divine
.nagnifcence Of the heavenly King: see that re-
splendent crown of righteousness, which decks the
heads of every one of those saints, and ready to
be set on thine, when thou hast happily overcome
those spiritual powers wheFewilh thou art still con-
flictirg the joyful trumphs Of these exulling
.yictors the of their glory different,
yet all full, and the least unreasonable lastly see
all this happiness not limited to thousands, nor ye
millions of years, but commensurate by no less than
eternity. And now my soul, if thou have recev-
ed the inGalIibe engagem ent of thy God, lin that
having believed thou art sealed with the Holy
Spirit Of promise, which is the earnest of thine in
hertance until the fall redemption ofthy purchas-
ed possession" Ephes. l. 10, 14.-if, through hi:
Infinite mercy, thou be now upon the entering into
that blessed place and state ofmmorali,y forbear,
thou canst, TO be raised above hyself with the joy c
~ 4 H., tby tOH with
a joy unspeakabe and glorious, Thess. i 6. Zee
fthou canst now breathe forth any thing but prais
to thy God, and songs of rejoicing bearing ev'
ermore par, in that heavenly song of ihe angels
"Bessing. and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiy.
ing, and honor, and power, and might, be unto oul
God, for ever and ever.'
And now what remains, o my soul, but tina
thou humbIy and faithfully wait Mt the gate of hea-
ven. for happy entrance, at the good pleasure Of
thy God, into those everlasting mansions. ! con.
fess. should thy merits be weighed in the balance
of rigorous Justice, another place (Which can
not mention without horror) were more fit for thee
more due to thee for, alas, thou hast been above
measure sinful, and thou knowest the wages of sin
death, Psal lix. 10. Psal. xxxvi. Is. But the Goo
ofmy mercy hath prevented thee with infinite com
passion, and in the multitude Of his tender mer
ces hath not only delivered thee from the neither
most hell, but hath also vouchsafed to translate thee
to the kingdom of his dear Son, Col. i. 49, In hin
thon hast bodness of access to the throne of grace
thou, who in myself art worthy to be a child o
wrath, art in him adopted TO be co-heir of glory
and hast the livery and sezin given thee before
hand Of blessed possession !; the full estatnl
wherein, do in all humble awfullness attend AL
the few days, therefore, of my appointed time will
wait at the Threshold Of grace, until my chan g
come, with trembling joy, with longing patience
with a comfortable hope. Only, Lord, know
there is something to be done, ere can enter:
must die, ere can be capable ofenjoyng thatbles
sed life with thee ; one stroke of thine angel mus
be endured in my passage into thy paradise, And
10, here am before thee, ready to embrace tn
condition; even, when thou please, let me bleet