Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-16
M sRcT HEAVEN.

Taking OF sects TIL late one eve,
| OF the various doctrines the saints believe,
| That night stood in troubled dream
! By the Side Of darby flowing stream
When FChuTchman'' down to the river came
When heard strange voice cal his name:
You must leave your robes on the other side.
I'm bound for Heaven. and when Pm there,
[ shall want my Book OF Common Prayer;
A nd though put on a starry crown, JESS
! shah feel quite lost without my gown.
Taeii he fixed his eyes on tle shining track.
But his g0Nn was heavy and held him back,
And the poor old Father tried In vain a-
i single step in the food 70 gain
1 saw him again on the other side, 1--i-rf-7-
But his silk gown noated on the tide;
Aud no one asked, IN that bli~sfu1 spot,
Whether he belonged 70 the Church or not.
Then down to the river a Quaker sirayed,
His dress of sombre hue was made;
ssMy cOat and hat must be all OF gray,
cannot go any other way. p
Then he buttoned his coat straight up to his
And straightly. solemnly waded in;
And his broad-brimmed hat he Pulrd down
tight
over lis forehead 50 cold and white .l-
But a strong wind car led away his hat,
A moment he silently sighed over that,
The coat sinr,ed of and was seen no more
As he entered Heaven, his suit of gray
Went quietly sailing-away-away, -t--lh
And none Of the angels questiond him -F
Abou. the width OF his beavers brim.
Next came DIR. Watts. with bundle of Psalms,
Tied nicely up in his aged arms, --.-.i
And hymns as many, a very wise thing,
That the people in heaven, can around, might
sing.
But I thought that he heav'd an anxious sigh
AS he saw that the river ran broad and high,
And lOok'd rather surprised as, one by one,
The Psalms and Hymns in the waves went
And after him with his MSS,
Came Wesley, the pattern of godliness; -.
But he cried, tsDear me. what shall Il do?
This water has soaked them thros and through"
And there on the river far and wide,
Away they went on the swollen tide,
And the saint, astenish'd, pass'd through alone,
Without his manuscript, up 10 the throne.
Then gravely walking two saints by name,
Down 10 the stream together came
But a. they stopp'd at the rivers brink,
saw one saint from the other shrink.
"Sprinkled or plung'd? may ask YOU, friend,
How you attain'd TO LIES great end?''
"But have been dipp'd as YOU see me now.
And really think it viii hardly do,
As I'm Close Communion 70 cross with YOU,
You're bound, know, for the realms Of bliss,
But YOU must 60 that way, and III go this
Then straightway plunging with all his might,
Away TO the left, his friend % the right
Afar they went from this world of SIN,
But at last together they enter d In
And now the river was rolling on,
A Presbyterian church went down;
OF women there seem'd an innum'rable rhrong,
Bat the men could count as they pass'd along.
And concerning the road they could never
The Old OF the aeag way which could il be;
Nor even a momsnt paus'd TO think, Ca.
That both would lead 10 the rivers brink.
And a sound of murm'TIng long and loud,
Came up from among che moving crowd,
You're in the old way, I'm in the new;
That is the false. ard this Is the true"
Or, "I'm in the old way, you're inthe new;
That is the false, and thls Is the true"
But though the brethren all seem'd to speak;
Modest the sisters walk'd, and meek.
And il ever one Of them chanc'd 10 say
What troubles she met with on the way.
How she long'd TO pass to the other side,
Nor fear'd 70 cross Der the swelling tide,
A voice arose from the brethren then-
Let no one speak but the holy men;
For have We not heard the words of Paul
Oh. ,et the women keep silence alli''
watched them all in my curious dream,
Till they stood by the borders Of the stream;
Then, just as thought, the two ways met,
But all the brethren we're talking Yet;
And would talk on, till the heavIng tide
Carried them over side by side.
Side by side. for the way was one
The tUilsOme journey OF life was done,
a nd all who in Christ, the Savior, died,
Came cut alike on the other side.
No forms, or crosses, or books had they,
No gowns Of six OF suits Of gray;
No CTee,is 70 guide them. OF MSS.
But all had on Christs righteousness