Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-04-11
CFrom tho Yorkvillo Enquiror. ]
Heaven.

"DenOlu, says feCcr 10 our LOCu, "Wo
have. forsaken all and followed thee; what
shall we have thorefore?" 1t may be said
that this question wss characteristic of
Peter, He was an impulsive map, and
naturally very rash and imprudent man.
Still, the question is ono which is asked by
countless multitudcs to day, all over Chriat-
endom. What are the followers of the
meek aud lowly Jesus to have when tho
affairs of this world are all adjusted7 What
is to bo their portion when time shall be no
moro, and Gods government is approved os
rigidly righteous by all senticnt creatures
in tho universe? 1t is not difficult to tell
what they now haze. Multitudes of those
who have dedicated their lives to the service
of tho most high God, the saviour of sin
ners, have very littlo of those things which
the carnal mind desires. Still, even in
this world, they are not neglected, and the
world, arc glorious. II reckon" says
Paul, "that tho sufferingo Of this present
time arc not worthy to be compared with
the glory which shall bo revealed in u.s."
Romans viii:l7. -
Thut tho present state of existence is not
to be of eternal duration, is most manifest
to any sober mind. Human governments,
oven tho best of them, arc oaly reign of
terror me lifed. Human courts are neces-
sarily defective and incapable of melting out
justice with an even hand. Judges, law
yers, jurors, witnesses and spectators are
incapable of being just. They ure misera--
bic creatures, swayed by individual inter
sets, biased by preoonceivcd opinions,
impelled by violent passions, and controlled
by political alliances. Under such circum-
stances, it is not to be wondered at that
Justice lies trampeled in the dust at the
threshold Of the temple which bears her
name. Instinctively, humanity looks
beyond the line which divides time and
eternity, where there is q court that "lays
judgment to the line and righteousness to
the plummet." The events which are daily
transpiring around us, only indicate, that
wo are gradually, but surely, approaching
the throne of Him who will do right.
Although the providence of God suggests
the idea that the righteous, or thoso who
fear God and keep his commandments will,
ultimately, bo rewarded, it 10 only in the
Bible that We Gnd the fact positively stated.
What, it may be asked, docs the Bible teach
ou this subject2 Briefly, we may answer,
it teaches great deal about heaven. The
wonder is, that thcse who are longing for
tho New Jerusalem, know SO little about it,
since SO much is revealed concerning il.
Heaven is called, in the Bible, place in
opposition to mere mythical existence.
Our Saviour tolls his people that SIN my
fathers house are many mansions: if it
wcrc no SO, would have told you. / 60 to
prepare place for you" John xiv:2
Gods house and the heaven which tho Lord
Jesus Christ purchased with his blood, are
one and tho aame place. Heaven, or the
dwelling place Of God, is frequently, in the
Scriptures, called Gods house. The reader
may substantiato this declaration by refer
enoe to Deut., xxvi:15; Psalms, xxxiii:lA;
2 Cor, vi; together with number Of
other passages. Where that particular
place 10, VIC DO not know. we aro no.
prepared even to say, positively, that
heaven, the homo of the blessed, is any
particular spot in the vast universe of Him
who made oil things. Heavenis the Lords
Throne, (Psalms xi:4,) but whore that
throne is located, we dare not say. Again,
the earth is said to 5e tho footstool of God
and heaven his throne. Matt. v:31-35
Whether these aro fgurative or literal ex-
prcssions, wo dare not say. 1t seems, from
quite number Of passages in the Scriptures,
that there is particular locality in some
quarter of Gods vast domain, which he has
seen fit to select as his dwelling place, and
call it his throne. We daro not, however,
speak positively on this point. We may
not give Gods word correct Interpretation.
With regard to the nature of hoayen, We
can speak with greater positiveness, because
more is said 10 the Scriptures on this point.
The language of our Saviour to his disci-
Piles is very suggestive. They were heart
broken, because he had told them that he
was soon to leave them-their hearts were
troubled. To comfort them, he said "in
my fathers house are many mansions"
Every word 10 this sentence is emphatic.
The disciples arc not simply told that thero
is place somewhere in the universe whcre
they will be made happy, but they are told
that their eternal homo is in His fathers
house. Gods home is to be their home.
AS children, they are to dwell forever in
tho house Of God. This is tho blessing
which tho Psalmist contemplated as In
reservation for him and all Gods people
"Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow
mo all the days of my life; aud will dwell
in the house Of God forever" Psalms
xxxiii:6.
When wo speak Of on individual dwelling
in tho house Of another as q child, We indi
cate, BY this mode Of expression, that the
individual is loved, respected and in every
way treated as child. This is exactly
what the Scriptures teach concerning those
who believe in Christ Jesus. They orr
heirs of God and jointheirs with Chist