Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-01-08
NO SECT IN HEAVEN.

Talking of serts till late one eve,
" tho yariOns doctrines the saints believe,
That night stood in troubled dream,
~ the side of a datkly flowing stream,
And "Churchmann down to the river came;
When heard a strange voice call his name
Good father, stop when you cross this tide,
Non must leave your robes on the other siden
But the aged father did not mind,
Aud his long gown foated out behind,
As down to the stream his way he took,
Ills pale hands elasping gilt-adged book
Sim bound for Heaven, and when TN there,
shall want my book Of Common Prayer;
And though put on starry crown,
should feel quite lost without my gown
Then he fixed his eyes on the shining track.
But his gown was heavy, and held him back
Aud the poor old father tried in vain,
single step in the flood to gain.
saw him again on the other side,
but hiss SILK gown iioated on the tide;
And no one asked in that hlissiul spot,
whether he belonged to he Church" or not
Then down % the river Quaker strayed,
His dress Of sober hue was made;
:, My osat and hat must be all Of gray.
cannot 50 any other way"
Then he lnttoned his coat straight up to his chin
Anl slaidly solemnly, waded in,
And bis hroad-brimmed hat he pulled down tight
over MS forehead SO co Id and white.
Hu strong wind carried away bis hat
- Hulhtuh NJ silently signed over tnnt.
And then, as he gazed on tho farther shore
The coat slipped on and was more.
Az he entered heaven, his suit of gray
Went quietly sailng-away-awRy.
md none Of the angels questioned him
About the width of bis beavers brlm.
Next came DR.. Watts with bundle Of Palms
Tied nicely up in his aged arms,
a nd hymns as many, a very wise thing,
Tint the people in heaven, sail roundh might sing.
Ttut \ Il. l..
As lle saw that tile river ran broad and high,
And looked rather surprised as one by one,
The Psalms and Hymns in the wave went down.
And after him, with his MSS,
Came Wesley, the pattern Of godlness,
But he cried, Z" Dear me, what shall dog
The water has soaked them through and through
And there on the river, far and wide,
Away they went down the swollen tide,
Aud the saint astonshsd. passed through alone,
Without his manuscripts, up to the throne.
Then gravely walking, two saints by name
Down to the stream together came,
But ms they stopped at the rivers brink,
saw one saint from the other shrink
".spri- kled or plunged, may ask you, friend
How you attained to lifes great end ~
" Thus, with few drops on my brow"
But Ihave been Dipped as you'll see ME now.
And really think it will hardly do,
As I'm CLOSE communion, TO cross with you;
You're bound, know, to the realnh Of bliss
But you must 80 that way, and III 60 this"
Then straghtway plunging with all his might,
Away To the left-hiA friend ut the right,
Apart they went from this world Of sin,
Bat at last together they entered In.
And now, when the river was rolling on,
Presbyterian church went down;
Of women they seemed m innumerable throng,
But the men could count as theypassed along.
And concerning the road, they never could agree,
The Old or the net5 way, which il could be,
Nor ever a moment paused TO think
That both would lead to the rivers brink.
And a sound of murmuring long and lond
Came ever up from the moving crowd,
You're in the old way, and In In tile new.
That is the false, and this is the true,S-
Or " Pm in the old way, and you're in the new,
That Is the false, and tbs Is the true.n
But the brethren only seemed to speak
Modest the sisters walked, and meek
And II ever ono Of them chanced to say
What troubles she met with on the way,
How She lunged to pass to the other side,
Nor feared to cross yer the swelling tide
voice arose from the brethren them
" Let no Que speak but the holy men;
For have w not heard the words Of Paul.
"Oh, let the women keep silence ALT
watched them long in my curious dream,
Till they stood by tho borders Of the stream,
Then just as thought, the two ways met
But all the brethren were talking yet,
And would talk on, till tho heaving tide
Carried them over, side by side;
Side by side, for the way was one,
The toilsome journey Of life was done.
And all who in Christ the Saviour died,
Game out alike on the other side
No forms, crosses, or books had they,
No gowns Of silk, or suits OF gray,
No creeds to guide them, or MSS.
For all had put on Chirsfs righteousness"