The New York herald., 1872-10-28


Activity Not Necessary for Our Hap
piness-Hesven . Moro Vision Always
I'm tho Future-Sermon by Rev. d. b.
Frothinghsm.
The congregation assembled yesterday morning
at Lyric Hall was one of unusual size and fashion.
Upon the completion OF the Introductory exercises
OF prayer, singing and the reading OF the Scrip
lures. the last OF which was from the last two
chapters or Revelations, Rev. o. b. rockingham
commenced his discourse. His subject was
ssvisions OF Heaven" and was based upon the two
chapters which he had just read. They contained,
he began, vision Of heaven, for heaven can be
nothing more than vision. 1t Is not Q thing
we have. We have not all we can con-
ceiye OF happiness, goodness and JOY. IL Is
in the far-oH future; and whether mankind
will ever attain to IL Is doubtful But the dream -
always the same-rich and enchanting; and the
power OF 1t Is in the dream II Is like the pictures
that adorn our walls. BE they of some dear friends
or OF some charming landscape, some bold mountain
scenery, or isolated spot in lonely desert, how
ever inaccessible and undesirable the scene OF the
picture. the picture itself delights us. 1t may be
what artists call composition picture; II still en-
chants u.s. The Arab in the desert exposed to
thirst and the fierce SUMS rays, dreams OF time
when the sun shall be shaded and OF some delight
full oasis where there shall be bubbling fountains
for him. Mahomet took advantage OF this in the
construction OF his allurng, gorgeous paradise. SO
the North American Indian dreams Of his happy
dreamed OF celestial Jerusalem.
he WAS JEW,
and when he dreamed of Heaven he dreamed OF
city, not built up, but descended from Heaven. Its
walls were OF Jasper Its gates were of single pearls,
its streets were OF gold, and in the midst OF II ran
perennial river, on whose banks grew the tree OF
life We call such vision puerile; and so 1t is. 1t
would be very hard 10 imagine celestial Paris or
HEAVENLY NEW YORK,
But they dreamed OF Jerusalem as the grand
oasis as the city OF love, as the city OF the Lord
Himself and looked upon Its completion as the
triumph OF their race. But Jerusalem fell and
with IT the vision. But new one soon dawncd
holy Sunday to she
There He loved to meet His people. They
refreshed They listened TO the strains OF the great
organs, TO the sweet notes of the choir OF boys
beings on equal terms. The rich and the poor, the
wise and the foolish, were children Of one God and
the believer met his Redeemer 1t was a perfect
and simple dream The picture OF this heaven
is discerned In the old hymns. II was holiness and
repose Tor the tortured conscience. The condition
that entered their heaven was simple purity. But
the world changes, and as the dream of the city
passed away so the dream OF the Church passed
away. The cathedral is a monument. Sunday is
hardly more holy than other days. Personal life Is
doors basked in the sunshine, and
NEW VISION OF HEAVEN COMES UP
1t Is not a vision OF q city or church. IT Is
vision of heavenly home and united family
This vision was drawn out In charming little
book about three years ago. 1t met the want or
affection and 1t was popular, TO the auth0ress the
Old visions were nothing. She criticses them
severely and even unjustlg. She goes to church
and hears
PIoUS PASTOR
expatlate on heaven and 1t makes her shuddcr.
She wonders what kind OF people IL must be who
live on prayer and the praisng of God. The vision
opposite place. She wants personal love. She has
lost a brother, and she wants there to live and to
study with him. There those separated on the way
shall be united. God Is there; but in the most
the saint, but as Jesus the brother 1t is vision
of perfect sweetness. 1t Is a heaven Of those who
live In love IA welded love, the innocent love of
the child. 1t would have no attraction Tor the dis
satisfactory. The heart is not everything, and
there are but comparatively few In the world who
Wish Tor complete perfection. We must have more
conscience and aspiration. The primal element OF
JOY without wishing 1t to come to an end. But for
activity there must be something to overcome Ii
the artist thought that by taking up his pencil he
could paint like Michael Angelo he would sicken OF
painting in an hour. 1t is
THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO HEAVEN
not the heaven, that Is the aim IL Is the battle,
not the victory that Is dear. You say that strife Is
Incompatible with heaven; there Is no heaven
is perfectly satisteds No conscience at all. Love-
alteration, everything but activity tires The
artist always thinks OF the better picture he is
going to paint. Heaven and earth both have their
work; but In heaven the struggle always conquers
This Is the complete vision. In 1t all the others are
swallowed up-swallowed up as day browns the
morning star. Heaven Is always beyond, and the
only pledge for heaven Is the yearnngs OF heaven.