Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-02-06

part of Arabia Felix, and the Queen OF
Sheba hears it, it must be tremendous
story. And yet this Queen declares IN
regard to it, although she had neaio
so much and had her anticipations rals-
ed so high, the half-the half was moi
told her.
So religion is always surprise 10 any
one that gets it. The story OF grace
an old story. Apostles preached 1t with
rattle of chain; martyrs declared 1t with
arm of fire; death-beds have affirmed
it with visions of glory, and ministers
of religion have sounded it through the
lanes, and the highways, and the CHAP
els. and the cathedrals. 1t has been cut
into stone with chisel, and spread on
the canvas with pencil; and it has been
recited in the doxology of great congre-
cations. And yet when man comes 70
look on the palace of Gods mercy, and
to see the royalty of Christ. and the
ealth of this banquet, and the luxuri-
business of His attendants, and the love-
Illness of His face, and the joy OF His
service, he exclaims with prayers, with
tears, with sighs, with triumphs; Inc
half-the half was not told mel
appeal to those who are Christians.
Compare the idea you had OF the JOY OF
the Christian life before you became a
Christian with the appreciation OF that
Joy you have now since you have become
a Christian, and you are willing to at
test before angels and men that you
never, in the days Of your spiritual
bondage, had any appreciation OF what
was to come. You are ready to-day TO
answer and say in regard to the dis
coveries you have made OF the mercy
and the grace and the goodness OF God;
1.-THE half-the half was not told me-"
Well, we hear great deal about the
good time that is coming to this world
when it is TO be girded with salvation.
Holiness ON the bells OF the horses.
The lions name petted by the hand OF a
babe. Ships OF Tarshish bringing car
goes for Jesus. and the hard, dry, bar
rem, winter-bleached storm-scarred,
thunder-split rock breaking into floods
Of bright water. Deserts into which
dromedarfes thrust their nostrils, be-
cause they we're afraid of the simeon
deserts blooming into carnation roses
and silver-tipped lilies. 1t is tae old
story.
Every body tells it. Isaiah told 1t.
John told it. Paul told it. Ezekiel
told 1t. Luther told it. Calvin told it.
Milton told it--every body tells it; and
yet--and yet when the midnight shall
fly the hills, and Christ shall marshal
his great army, and China, dashing her
idols into the dust, shall hear the voice
OF God and wheel into line; and India,
destroying her Juggernaut and snatch
ing up her little children from the
Ganges, shall hear the voice of God and
wheel into line; and vine-covered Italy,
and wheat-crowned Russia, and all the
nations OF the earth shall hear the voice
OF God and fall into line; then the
charch, which has been toiling and
struggling through the centuries, robed
and garlanded like bride adorned for
her husband, shall put aside her vail
and look up into the face Of her Lord
and King and say: THE half-the half
was not told mel"
Well, there is coming a greater sur
prise TO every Christian-a greater sur
prise than any thing that have depict
ed. Heaven is an old story. Everybody
talks about it. There Is hardly hymn
book that does not refer to IL. Children
read about 1t in their Sabbath school
books. Aged men put on their specta-
cles TO study it. We say it is harbor
from the storm. We call it home. We
say it is the house Of many mansions.
We weave together all sweet, beautiful,
delicate, exhilarant wor ds; we weave
them into letters, and tlen we spell it
out in rose and lilly and amaranth. And
yet that place is going to be surprise to
the most intelligent Christian. Like the
Queen of Sheba, the report has come to
us from the far country, and many of
us have started. 1t is desert march,
but we urge on the camels. What
though our feet be blistered with the
way? We are Fastening to the palace.
We take all our loves and hopes and
Christian ambitions, as frankincense
and myrrh and cassia, TO the great
AhAhks W. ihdcb NV ACob. W. AluSt iiOb
halt. The night is coming on and it is
not safe out here in the desert. Urge
on the camels. / see the domes against
the sky, and the houses of Lebanon and
the temples and the gardens. Sec the
dance in the sun and the gates
flash as they open to let in the poor pill
yrims.
Send the word up to the palace that
we are coming. and that we are weary OF !
The march Of the desert. The King will !
,ome out and say: Welcome to the
palace, battle in these waters; recline ON
these banks. Take this cinnamon and |
and myrrh and put it upon
! censor and swing it before the altar"
And yet, my friends, when Heaven |
bursts upon us it will be greater sur
Prise than that-Jesus on the throne. |
md we made like Him. All our Chris |
ian friends surrounding us in glory. All |
'ur sorrows and tears and sins gone by
oreverl The thousands of thousands, |
he one hundred and forty and four
thousand, the great multitudes that no |
nan can number, will cry, world without