The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-06

A Present Heaven.
While strenuously denying the visibil-
ity of the universal church on earth, We
none the less earnestly contend for its
reality. 1t is the Spiritual City, and wo
have already "comc to Mount Zion, the
heavenly jerusalem" Do we not miss
the truth of the delineation when we
transfer it all to the heavenly state, as
our popular hymns teach US to doa or
else to some future condition Of this
world, wholly unlike the PRESENT.
Those hymns, indeed, have much to
answer for, in leading us with senti-
mental ecstasy to dwell on glories yet
unattained, when we might understand
and exult in our present blesscdness. 1t
is no wonder that in the dark, stormy
days of the twelfth century and the
tumults and distractions of the age, a
gentle spirit like that of Bernard, safely
sheltered in the monastic cell, should
seek his ideal as only possible outside
this rough world:
For thee, o dear, dear country,
Mine eyes their vigils keep;
For very love, beholding
Thy happy name, they weep.
1t is impossible not to sympathize in
the pathos of the strain. But I submit
that there are nobler lessons to be learnt
even from these bright visions of the
Apocalypse. The city, not made with
hands, is built among us here and now.
1t stands amid the world of men, in their
sin and sorrow; and the leaves of the
tree of life beside the crystal river are
for the healing of the nations. And
again, the nations walk amid the light
thereof-not "the nations of the saved"
alone, as we have been accustomed to
read; for I need hardly remind you how
the New Testament revision again has
cleared away for US the dclusivc restric-
ton. "And the kings of the earth do
bring their glory into it." and its gates
front all points of the compass and
stand all day open, to testify that with
Christs true church there is welcome,
always and for all, for every wanderer
on the earth's surface and from every
realm of thought. 1t is good for us,
my brethren, to dwell with ideals and to
be assured that in the life of the lowliest
Christian, and amid the unloveliest sur.
roundings OF the poorest tabernacle, there
shines the spiritual glory of the true city
of God.
have been much self-accused for not
referring all to God as the last end; that
I do not cat, drink, sleep, journey, speak
and think for God; that practice was so
short and narrow, light Sc long and
broad. Samuel IeutAeJord.
Gods presence is enough for toll and
enough for rest. If he journey with us
by the day, he will abide hy us when
nightfall comes, and his con1panionship
will be sufficient for direction on the road
and for solace and safety in the evening
camp. mp.-Maclaren.
"Ah," sighed an o.d, faithful clock
which I had in my room, "what a bur
den is life! These weights wear ne
out. With much pleasure would I say,
'Tick-Tick, and strike, as is my duty,
if only need not carry these dreadful
heavy weights: I am not free from them
one single hour" So it sighed daily. till
], moved with pity to my dear old faith
full clock, took away its weights, when
its complaints stopped; but it never gave
me sign of gratitude since; it was
henceforth silent as the grave. So it
would be with many of US if we were
without the burdens of life. No doubt
they are often heavy and wcarisome, but
needful to our spiritual life.