The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-02-05
Moral and Religious.
THE EVERLASTING HOME.
nv THE REV. ]. N. DANFoRTH,

Ihaye written Of the home of the living and of the
dead But thcre is still another-thc everlasting
home The former will cease to be- This never.
II has engaged the thoughts Of the great and the good
in past times. Let not he neglected by us.-Not
revelation only but the course of nature teaches us,
TINT we have here no continuing city, but we seek
DEE TO Gomez we now dwell in tents or abernaces'
True, men build houses 10 last long. But they do
not expect to continue 50 long, much less to sur
viye them. But tho house not mndo with hnnds'
That is the real and permanent house Pause ye
busy men in the great mnrts of trade and commerce.
and spend few minutes with me- Which wnH'
Most Of you probably have home, which you love-
So is il generally, my readers 1t is snid That IN every
thing there is n lesson. The word, too is full oil
annlosies. Types and symbols have been a hvorite
mode of teaching with Infinite Wisdom. Is there not
something typical in homer What are its visible re-
nlties.
The FATHER is the most conspicuous object
there. cluster Of little dependant beings surrounds
him His smile lights up their joy. His irown
spreads fear over that circle. This is a type. The
best of all fathers presides in the everlasting home.
His smile nwakens the rapture of sainted bcsoms
His frown-never does the shadows Of a shade pass
over that countenance.
Happy is the family that is blessed with kind
elder brother. In his manly affection and cordial
protection they of the household confde. Even his
mother leans on him. who Graded on her bosom.
But in that exalted home OF redeemed spirits there is
an elder brother, who is not ashamed to call the
mennest rthe sanctfcd 'his brethren. THAT same
eye that wep the miseries of humanity, watches
the sleeping dust Of every member ofthe amiy,
and shall all safely arriving at their eternal home
An inward view Of home shows a circle of children
OF different ages and capacities all the objects of pa
rental love- Ifthere is weak and suffering one
there, so much the more is it loved much the
does it evoke the mysterious tenderness of pa
rental affection. Look into heaven, the final,
lasting home Of the children of God. Are they not
all the children Of one Folhcr?-The first born Son
and Elder Brother died in circumstances Of peculiar
agony to make that home happy one TO all the rest
OF the family. How happy must it be! Because it is
so holy.
We see servants within the precnts of home
II is honorable to serve well Christ called himself
the servant of men, Who will be the servant in the
house not made with hands, Angels-in the beau
tirul livery of holiness. What raiont splendors will
hold the ruvshed eyes of all that shall be permitted
TO behold that scene! sAre they not mnisering SER
wants, sent lorth 10 MINISTER u 'eH WIN shah JIG
heirs OF salvation?
There are some families in which you will hear
music from all the members. There sits the daughter,
Just budding into womnnhood, gracefully touching
the keys OF the piano. Her brother dscourses sweet
music the rich toned flute. Another brother is
skilled on another instrument. A sister lends the
enchanting notes of her treble voice-Anothcr in
counter. second brother sustaining the perfor-
nance by a voice of deep toned bass, What an ad-
dition the charm of home is all this That family
need not wander abroad for Of true happiness.
But what is this the music Of heaven of the family
named in heaven'-where all will sing, and it will be
the music of the heart! Read Johns descriptions Of
these heavenly scenes and sounds in the book of
Revelation, chapters xiv. and xix.
Again contemplate the furniture, which is APP
pendage Of home. In how costly manner some
houses furnished. But that may be an evidence Of
pride or vanity. Not so in that other mansion.
That pavement of sapphire, those walls of jasper,
those precious stones, ii is the effort of language to
express that which is inespressible. Then what n
table will be spread there! 1t is called 'the marriage
Of the Lamb Again the capabilities of language
tasked in the description, until they stngger under
the burden. Grew. XIX. ~
Have you had death in your family. Has the
shadow of the grim messenger darkened your
doors' His presence is unknown in the everlasting
home. Has the disobedience of child embilered
the domestic cup'-Ali will be obedient there.
Has the rod of alction rested upon your little circle?
Is it stranger in the house Of the blessed Is there
a short passage from the Preside to the grave! There
ia no such passage from the gate of heaven. Are
there long absences Of your loved ones here' They
shall go no more ont there. Whereas, the pious
family on earth only worshipped morning and even
ing, there they shall never their worship and
their praise. Time will have expired. The life of
eterntyw commence. Then shall we begin to
understand the meaning Of the word HOME.