New-York tribune., 1875-02-08
HEAVENS DOOR OPEN.

Te Rev Aratage DID,, he nm Aue~ue Bap'.sf chrTA
The Rev. Thomas Armitage, d. D.. preached
yesterday morning at the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church.
Of which he is pastor. His subject was Heavens
Omen Door" and his sermon substantially as fol-
lows:
This is one Of the standing consultations Of the true
servant OF God, that when an earthly door Il closed
against him ne las a beauhc view u The open golden
lie tnough he be an exlled prisoner Just gate
OF the ancient city of refuge Afforded an asylum
Tor the fugitive from justice, when the ayengcr
~ blood was on lns track and at his
heels; lust the massive gates OF Jerusalem
welcomed tha weary pilgrim home again after Ills wan
inst as the iesutfu gate Of the temple which
required twenty open and shut H. was resting
place for the Impoverished and crippled. 50 are toe
ats of pearl and precious stones refuge, home and
rest 10 all exposed, the friendess, and the weary
hearted among the sens OF Cod VINE the Word 'dooI
or gate" as "A metaphoTical word Of Scripture, denotes
peril wnen IL is used Of the d" gates OF death; plot
of hell op orfuniiy when great door and eHcctua
is opened for the preaching Of the gospel; and the
passage Diessedncss when Jesus say = 1uI tne
door here IN tie text, the opening Oi "a oOor IN
Heaven means the disclosure OF great and Eorouj
revelation, an uufo'dns 10 tDe eye o Vuo ~ Ti - "a, az
that EXPRESSES new insight, ootADed by new Iree
dom OF access revealing God. Years had elapsed
since the Lord Jesus had Ascfhueu 20 1ie Tn
winch ne wac seated when John looked INTO the
heavenly door when was opened 20 us -, 81 ~
and the immediate scenes "hlch Ioo"eu ut1IEi % ~ II
directly with the administration OF Jesus az
mediator II this door opened IN Heaven mas sucA
bearing our salvation We may proceed al once W
show that the text implies,
l. That heavens door had been shn'. Then who shut
it, and howi That.ls terribly startling passage winch
vou nm In the book OF Genesis descriptive Of Adams
Eden, When MS klu udu luHuIltu JFIO
vah beyond longer endurance ior II Is salu 30 ne
drove out the man Just as Jesus drove Oht NOSE
wuO speculated III the temple upon th sacI OF Ine
people In IKE manner GoL snu' ,ao sF ,n
the Paradise below Whlcn Moses SPEAKS oI lH
the nrst book. OF the BiDle, ana the gaze
OF the Paradise above OF ,~Mch Joh9 sPokt
in the Last lest should put forth ais mana ana ea
Of tbe fruit OF Of hfe and 1--we forever In
effect aud after moral Orisr' lhan coseu tem ooti
and bolted and barred them cfecuay against himse H.
When he gate of that home turned upon It's PIVOT tAe
Iash OF it, closing spoke OF an immense moral reVou-
tIou in the universe. the gate Of grace anu glory
every avenue 10 purity and peace ana sealed II
securely voluntarily, and as appeared al the tc eief
ualv. Man deliberately smut 10 INC dOOT' anu uod
holiness morally ratlne1 the aci. ,,.
H. The asserts that leayens door mas been re
opened. And VINO rcop-ued IT. " saw, aud behed a
G"or ,et open in heaven" God Opeus. " and no
man can shut The heaven he Iost - TGcoNerTd "
free grace. as be lost II 10y apostisy' mneI Je7us @
earth he brought life aud immortality 10 Hght mating
a grand revelation OF mediatOllal restoration ne ne Is
every difficulty, ana honor tho moral government OF
cod by usfHg the closing Of tie dOOr ana SIM lay
III The text avows mat tins door being
opened II shall never aga'h ue clostu A. - uol m an
heaven set" open The door vas not opened 10 et one
pass through 10 ana thcA c'seu aSdlh' W ou - "s " ~ u
standing open. There was neither cloud over ~ nor
before It, ana there has never Deen day sihoe !!
sprauE brtsk, as hy the hdsIc 1i Iilc N''ei
ones have Not swept urcly and triumphant through
n. A. a boOI bespuukied way. Holneumes OOd brings
US down close 20 the gttes OF deatH' that We hdJ
nave a nearer vision Of the " door ret open IN
heaven" Then what great thoughts We think. Dut no"
f,w words speak. In the solemn stiffness Oh those
slt,tons what an lnmrnsC change takes place IN all
our estimates OF Two woilis between "hlch we slhd
- fI.t Ke surVrv al 0aCe Like the prophet when he
W. stand Win hun gathering cur mantle ArOnhd Us anu
LOOKING oy.r o. The ISAt pcJ ono. Neru sdy 20 ou
c,.1f Ju,t AS w.d" open FOR. your freudr who
nave entered tuOse WHO are picsIIHs on 10 oiu
them God invites yOu as 'oNtu-I5 ~ u ia y, ~ ,,I, M %
teHdery. he died for you as freely ana ne Is "lihS