The New York herald., 1874-08-07
MADISON AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.

Baptist Spiritual sermon-Progrcsz
in the Life to COme-Our Life Here
Determining Our Place on Entering
Heaven.
Quite q large congreg alton for the middle OF
August was assembled in the Madison avenue
Baptist church yesterday morning. The Rev. A.
II. Birmingham. D. D., OF ST. Louis. NO., preached
very lengthy sermon on our progress in heaven.
He chose his text from Timothy H., w., 7-s-"I
have fought a good fight: have finished my
course; have kept the faith. Henceforth there
is laid up for me a crown OF righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
shall give me at that day, ana not to
me only, but to all them also that
love his appearing" Some definite connection be.
tween the present and future life was doubtless
apprehended by the apostle when he wrote those
words; he looked back over ON eventiul career,
and it is as II he had said, my fight well fought
my course finished, my faith well kept are to make
brighter my crown or rghteOusness.n The accu
mulated treasure OF his life here to enter into
his life there. The relation OF life to heaven Is
euSject Of no inconsiderable importance; a broau
earnest Christian life win secure to him who lives
1t extraordinary advantages in heaven. Not
religion exclusively; a true Christian life
must embrace oil proper secular relations
and employmcnts, and make them divine.
The spiritual IS the most essential element The
soul must be lifted and filled with God and walk
and dwell with Him daily. He must not shrink
from the duties and sacrifices Of religion. Such a
life. say, Will secure more OF heaven.
! But what do We mean by saying that some will
have better and larger heaven than 0thersf We
know well that Its constituent clements will mako
it delight to all. But heaven has resources be.
| exhaust These mighty saints WHO have gone be-
fore forever win have an untravelled dis;
| the highest glory God 10 infinite ana has
made a heaven like Hineself cxhaustless in It's re-
to Himself in making heaven. 1t ls mis- own DWELL
ing place. He has supplied 1t with such an abun-
fed there shall remain unusea supply absolutely
infinite; and yet there should be no waste. God
Himself ILLS all these places. His must be bound
less heaven. This heaven Is mVre to one than
another, because some have more capacity for en-.
joy.ng 1t than others. Such lie as nave de-
scribed Is GODS method OF increasing our caaclty.
No one would think OF disputing our ability TO
increase our capabilities here. Earnest living can
strong cnaracter than with one naturally weak. By
this living the original germ is enlarged. the I'm
mortal can lose sen, nothing; its power shall survive
cage and let the prisoner iree II this be the law
OF Immortality, that living increases Its power,
and how much we live as Christians. II we are
kindly, II we DO good TO others ana drink deeper
Td from the Holy spirit II we rise TO ~ plane nearer
Cod then shall we havo stored up our vantage
ground in heaven for we shall begin our journey
with far greater promise than II we had hardly
gained an entrance through the gates
In my future treatment Of this subject desire
to present some points which Illustrate how such
q lie prepares one Tor
HIGHER POSITION IN nRAvEN
on first entering. The degrees OF happiness IN
heaven are net based upon the absence OF guilt,
but upon the diversity OF experience which must
exist All are holy, but all nave not made equal
progress. Men differ here IN attainment why
not there 1t Is not the law OF heaven to be
alike, Is not questioned that these striking dis.
tinctions go down to the grave; why not farther
WDat Is there In death TO make all alike In their
capacities
1t is not always the most dillgent student who
wins the laures. The question oil ability lies be-
hind, and on the other hand, those possessing
ability and lacking diligence may lose them; sc
may Christians, OF naturally Impoverished intel
lect by ardent following OF God have greater gorJ
IN heaven than some on whom nature has Law
lsEed u wealth of mind.
we stay here for purpose, and II makes o vas
dinerence whether We grow here or not our lift
here VIII determine whether we shall at once
soar TO nigh place or whether we shall
crawl up. Your life here must In q great
measure settle whether you re lch heaven by tht
mcrcst chance, weak and jaaed, or whether y0l
ON refreshed. IT is not a mark OF picty to pral
for humble place In heaven you never ought Il
pray ior such a place. 1t indicates O. KIND Q
humility that is uninstructive. When l am re
leased from tins life ought to desire as hign
place IN heaven as the discipline OF life Will ut m
FOR. ought 10 desire high seat 10 the
GALLERY or ETERNITY
ADOtber beDe1t OF Chriatian life WIN consist