Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-06

on the banks OF the Jordan and call
ACROSS to them, but they don't seem to
hear. We say, sis 1t we'll with the child?
Is it well with the loved ones?" and we
listen to hear If any voice comes back
over the waters. None, none! Unbelief
says, "They are dead. AID they are ami
hilated:" bat, blessed be God, we have q
Bible that tells US different. We open it
aud We find they are neither
dead nor annihilsted-tha. they
never were so much alive So
now-thst they are only waiting for our
coming, and that we shall join them on
the other side OF the river. On, glori-
GUS reunion! we cannot grasp it now.
"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither hath it entered into the heart of
man the things which God hath prepared
for them that love Him." On, what q
plsce Of explanation it will be!
see, every day, profound mysteries OF
Providence There is no question we ask
uftener than Why? There are
HUNDREDS OF GRAVES
in Greenwood and Laurel Hill that need
to be explained. Hospitals for the blind
and lame, asylums for the idiotic
and insane, almshouses for the destitute,
aud world of pain and misfortune that
demsnd more than human solution. All!
God will clear it all up. In the light that
pours from the throne, no dark mystery
can live. Things now utterly inscrut-
able will be illumined as plainly IS
though the answer were written on the
jasper wall, or sounded in the temple an
them. Bartimeus will thank God that he
was blind; and Lazarus that he was
covered with sores; and Joseph that he
WAS cast into the pit; and Daniel that he
denned with lions; and Paul
that he was humpbacked; and
David that he was driven from
Jerusalem; and thst invalid that for
twenty years ne could not lift his head
from the pillow: and that widow that she
had such hard work TO earn bread for her
children. The song will be sill the
grander for earth's weeping eyes, end
aching hesds, and exhausted hands, aud
scourgsd backs, and martyred sgonies.
But we can get an idea of that anthem
mere. We appreciate
THE POWER OF SECULAR MUSIC,
but do we appreciate the power of sacred
song? There is nothing more inspiritlng
TO me than a whole congregation lifted
on the wave of holy melody. When We
sing some of those dear old psalms and
tunes they rouse ali the memories of the
past. Why some of them were cradle
songs 10 our father's house. They are ell
sparkling with the imorning dew
of thousand Christian Sabbaths. They
were sung by brothers and sisters gone
now-oy voices that were aged and
broken in the music voices none the less
sweet because they did tremble aud
break. When l hear these old songs
sung, it seems as if al the old country
homes Joined in the chorus, and
city church snd sailors bethel and west
ern cabins, until the whole continent
lifts the doXology and the sceptres Of
eternity beat time in the music. Away
then with your starveling tunes that chill
the devotions of the sanctuary. and make
the people sit silent when Jesus
is marching on to victory. When
generals come back from victorious wars,
don't We cheer them and shout, "Huzza,
huzza?" and when Jesus passes along in
the conquest Of the earth, shall we not
have for Him one loud ringing cheer?
All hail the power of Jesus name
Let angles PROSTATE fall
Bring forth the rOval diadem,
And Gro Him Lord of all.
But, nv friends, II music on earth is so
sweet, what will 1t be in heaven! They
all know the tune there All the best
singers Of all the ages will join it-choirs
of whlte-robed children, cnoirs Of patri-
archs, choirs of apostles. Morning stars
their cymbals. Hsrpers with
their hsrps. Great anthems OF God, roll
or. roll on!-other empires Joining the
harmony till the thrones are all full, and
the nations all saved. Anthem shall touch
anthem, chorus join CHORUS, and all the
sweet sounds of earth and heaven be
poured into the ear of Christ. David CT
the harp will be there. Gabriel OF the
trumpet will be there. Germany, re-
deemed, will pour it's deep bass voice into
the song, and Africa will add to the music
with her matchless voices.
I wish we could anticipate that song.
wish in our closing hymn to-day we
might cAtch an echo that slips from the
gates. Who knows but that when the
heavenly door opens to-day to let some
soul through there may come forth the
strain of the jubilant voices until we
catch 1t? On, that as the song drops
down from heaven it might meet half way
s song coming up from earth.
They rise for the doxology, oil the null
titude OF the blest! Let US rise with
them; and so ct this hour the joys OF the
church on earth and the joys of the
church In heaven will mingle their chali-
ces, and the dark apparel of our morning
will seem to whiten into the spotless
Of the skies. God grant that
through the rich, mercy of our Lord Jesus
Chris. we may oil get there.