Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-12-25


, ness of heart: "The lines are fallen
unto me in pleasant places; yea 1
have a goodly heritage ?" To be per-
mitted to live in such land? To be
permitted to live in such an age? To
be blessed with such bounteous har-
vests?
But even all this is not enough.
Not enough that we should be favored
above all the peoples that have lived,
and tiourished, ard gone the way Of
all the earth before Us. Not enough
that we should measure the distance
to stars, and obtain rich treasures from
the bowels of the earth. Not enough
that we should control the elements,
and make them minister to our COM
fort and to our pleasure. Not enough
that the lightningS should become our
messengers, and the winds q highway
for man to journey to The clouds.
There is one thing more he has done
for US; yet one thing more for which
we owe Him thanks one thing more
for which Eternity will be too brief to
praise Him enough. This one thing
more, the grandest, cOstliest gift Of
them all.
When away back in the eounsels Of
Eternity the Three-One God determ-
ined to make man, it vas determined
to create him immortal. He should
have a begilning, but he should have
no end. And, pure and spOtleSs he
came from the hands Of his Creator.
But he proved disloyal 10 his trust,
and darkness enshrouded him. He
was lost.
Again is the great Master Hand
stretched forth and CLEANS Of light
penetrate the thick darkness. The
Eternal Son Of God, who rested in the
bosom of the Father during the long
" Forever" before the " morning stars
sang together, and the sons Of God
shouteu for joy" takes upon Himself
to lift from the pit into which he has
fallen this creature Of His love. And
that man, that tOe. my friends, might
not fear to approach His terrible maj.
esty that we might be more nearly
able to comprehend Him; that we
might be able to love Him, because
we could comprehend, in some meas
ure, His sympathy for US, He became
like US. No, not like US for He had no
sin-stains upon Him. But He became
like-us in form, but fairer; like US in
sympathy, but more intense; like us
in capacity to suffer, but more sensi-
tive. And he did sutfeT-and suffered
for as. He suffered more than mortal
man could suffer, and for as. And
died the most terrible of all deaths,
aud for as. Aud it is because He suf-
fered, and died, and rose again from
the dead, and ascended again to His
glorious throne, far away among the
stars, yet so near that he hears our ev-
cry word, and notes our every breath,
and takes account of our revery thought
it is because He did this that you,
and 1, and all we love and cherish,
and all this great and happy people,
and all the peoples, nations and
tongues on this broad footStoOl are in
such circumstances as we are this day.
1t is because He did this that we enjoy
all the great blessings Of which we
have been talking, aud beside these,
so many more that an age would be
insufficient to name them-eternity
insufficient in which to thank Him.
We look upon the great orb Of day
and think he gives US light. And so
he does. But we forget that this great
sun is but a satellite revolving around
a grander center, and this again but
satellite with satellites, and still again
increased, on and on through the re-
gions of illimitable space up to the
throne of God Himself, who is light,
and gives to these their light.
And even THIS Is not all. After we
have enjoyed the bOunties OF our low
ing Benefactor for a few brief years,
we must lay these bodies down in the
dust, a penalty of that first great dis
loyalty. But this immortal part,
which thinks, and feels, and enjoys
so much, which takes the crude ma
terials, as found in nature, as they
came from natures God, and works
such wonders with them, must seek
another dwelling place. And He has
provided IL. And 1t is q more glorious
land than this one, lovely as IL is. And
the age will be q grander one than
e'er was seen on earth, or tDiH be, un-
til after it be purified by the fervent |
heat that shall melt it. And the mind |
of man shall soar TO grander heights,
and accomplish greater results, than |
it can ever hope to do, fettered as it is |
by sin and a decaying body. And the |
joys OF that world beyond-who can
conceive of what they will be? And |
this "gOodly heritage is for rs, my /
friends; "this land of pure delight"
this city of the living God, with
d" streets of shining gold" in whose
midst is the . Tree of Life" and he
who eats its fruit shall never taste OF
death, The sun may cease to give his
light, and the moon forget to run her
course, and the stars may cease to
twinkle in the midnight sky, but this
- Paradise of God" will endure for
ever and forever. And this inherit
anee is for US, If ICe lDiH it so.
Oh is there not cause for praise to
Him who rules in heaven and earth
our heavenly Father? praise TO Him
who redeemed the millions Of saved
ones in heaven with His own precious
glorious Son? praise TO
Him who acts upon the hearts of men
and gives them joy unsDeakable and
full Of glory, even the Holy Ghost?
And when the last trump shall re-
sound throughout the universe, and
He that sits upon the great white
throne shall come in power and mai
esty to judge the world, may we all
not one missing-be of the number Of
His Jewels, and be taken to dwell with
Him in the regions of unending bliss,
where we will sing songs of everlAst-
ing praise, and our lives be one Eter-
- I.,c