Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-27
The Glory Of the Gospel.

do not find the most striking prophecies
of the future life in any mere words of
Scripture. l find them in the fact that he
who had the power of miracle in his hands
surrendered himself to death, that after
ward he might open the kingdom of heaven
to all believers. There is the supreme glory
of the celestial realms manifested to me by
the agony of that death The gospel is not
simply philosophy of religion, or law Of
living. 1t is an apocalypse, showing the
heavens to us, and bringing thus its divine
benediction on every life. Here is the di-
vine mission Of preaching; here is the
beauty Of every sacrament; here the glory
Of every church. Not in its stately build
ing, not in its rythmic service, not in its
melodies of music, not in its rich historic
associations, but in the fact that "the
church above and that below but one COM
munion make" When we commemorate
Christ's DEATH until he comes again in the
glory of the judgment, the heavens are un-
yelled to us. When our voices and hearts
go up in glorious song or psalm, we seem to
be echoing the strains of the song Of sera-
phim in the skies. When we reach from
the church on earth and touch the hands of
apostles and martyrs, and Of others beyond
the veil, we see how no worship in the home
or the field can take the place of the wor-
ship in the church where we stand confeder-
ated with kindred and assembled spirits.
Here is the hidden meaning and blessedness
which the thought of heaven brings in the
events which seem most painful, those
events which force sorrow into our hearts
and tears into our eyes and darkness into
our life, and from the shock of which we
think we can never escape. The mother
lays down her little child, part of her own
life, with scalding tears; and the world
seems lonely and desolate, the heavens are
brass and the earth is iron, But with time
come to her mind the words of the Master 4:
"Know ye not that in heaven their an
gels do always behold the face of my Father
which is in heaven OF such is
the kingdom of God" She remembers that
he spoke this not as theory or thought,
but from his own consciousness, his own
recollection, of the kingdom of God from
which he had come. And the mothers
thoughts go on with the life of that little
child continued in unseen realms, as if she
were borne up on eagles wings, until she
feels the reality of heaven and the beauty
and charm of it. Thereafter the household
whence the little child has gone has always
in it that saoredness and that sweetness of
hope which before it cnnld not have pos
sessed. So when our beloved friends pass
from us so when misfortunes and distress
come upon u.s. this thought of the higher
life comes to cheer and comfort. George
Herbert says:
When God at first made man,
Having glass of blessing standing by,
Let us, said he pour on him all cam
Let the worlds riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.
So strength first made way;
Then beauty flowed; then wis iom, honor. pleasure;
When almost all was ont, God IN ade a stay,
Perceving that alone of all his treasure
Rest In the bottom lay.
"For II should, said he,
Bestow this Jewel also on my creature
lie would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest In nature, not the God OF nature;
SO both should losers be.
"Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repiniDg restlesaness;
Let him be rich and weary; that at least,
II goodness lead him not, yet wearlness
May toss him TO my breast,