Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-12-15
WORDS FROM THE PULPIT.
Life in Heaven and its Pleasures.

Life In Heaven and its Pleasures.
Isaiah XIV. S-"He will swallow
up death in victory, and the Lord God
will wipe away tears from all faces"
The preacher explained that he had
been led to select that subject for his
text on account of the many deaths
that had occurred within the circle of
his acquaintance. What was death =?
Why does it accompany US from year
to year, breaking up the hOliest ties
that bind us here, removing beloved
one from the household, never to re-
turn to this mortal sphere? When
they look upon the gloomy side of the
picture they were apt to regard death
with strange views, forgetful of the
advantages secured by immortal life
in heaven. 1t was well not to forget
the glad tidibgs that He will swallow
I'D death in victory and that He will
wipe away tears from all faces. They
were naturally led to inquire the OBJ
ject of their future existence and what
was to be the manner of existence
Was it to be an Interchangeable, ana
fixed and permanent state ? They
knew that they had the most trust
worthy accounts fIOm the Redeemer
himself of the perpetuity of the state
in heaven, of its joys and pleasures
If they inquired into the nature of
heaven they would be treading on
mystic grounds, though such an in
quiry would be profitable, elevAting
ones thoughts, and expanding our
aspirations and exalting our views to
some extent. That was the reason
why so many desired to know more
of heaven. God had provided two
worlds for them, the probationary and
the external world. Man was made
for the external-for future state in
heaven, and death was the happy
transition from death unto life, from
misery and sorrow to joy and happi-
ness. Once in heaven they would be
as the angels, and they would not see
the Divine Being--their LOrd-as
through glass darkly, but face TO face.
He did not believe in these passages
which said "that in heaven they
should merely see the God of the sal
vatiOn." No, they would see Him
face to face as He is. One of the great
est and most joyful considerations of
q heavenly life was that there would
be no sorrow. and weeping, but sing
ing and joy and happiness. They
would never be tired of the joys of
heaven; there would be no sameness
there, and they would discover fresh
pleasures anu joys from day to-day.
Their bodies, according to the laws,
would waste and crumble away, but at
the last day their bOdieswOuld be rails
ed, immortal, like unto His glorious
body. But their bodies would not as
sumo the appearance and likeness OF
Christ's body on earth, but rs He is
now-as He sits on the right hand OF
| God to intercede on earth for His be-
| loved ones. 1t was of the utmost inn
pOrtance that they prepare and fit
/ themselves for heavenly life, running
/ the lifeset before ethem-relinquishing
I sinful pleasures and sensual appetites,
and preparing for life of purity and
J happiness by spirituaiizing and en-
larging the spiritual aspirations. He
| trusted that they would not harbOr
the suppOsition that the happiness OF
heaven consisted in hearing music
and enjoying rest. There would be
holy impulse and affections and no
| bier conceptions of the Divine Creator
to cultivate. Their intellectual power
were now cramped, but there they
would be boundless, eOnceiving the
! brightest views of God and rendering
Him homage day and night.-Reu. r.
armstrong, ". Y. Fifth Ar. Baptist
Church. (HerdJd RepOrt.)