Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-09-11

and you try chlornl, and you try morphine,
and you try strong drink, and you try
change of scene, and you try new business
associations, and anything and everything
rather than take the Divine companionship
and sympathy suggested by the words OF
my text when It says, "You shall not see Ny
face again unless your Brother be with
you.n Oh, that you might understand
something Of the height and depth, and
length, and breadth, and immensity. and
lnfnity of Gods eternal consultations.
90 further and find In my subject hint
as to the way heaven opens to the departing
spirit. We are told that heaven has
twelve gates, and some people infer from
that fact that all the people will go in
without reference to their past life; but
what is the use Of having "a gate that Is not
gate implies that our entrance into heaven
Is conditional. II is not monetary condi-
ton. II we come TO the door Of an exqui-
site concert, we are not surprised that we
must pay fee for we know that fine earthly
music Is expensive but all the oratorios
OF heaven cost nothing. Heaven pays
nothing for its music. 1t is all free. There
Is nothing to be paid at that door for en-
trance; but the condition Of getting
into heaven is our bringing our Divine
Benjamin along with us. Do you notice how
often dying people call upon Jesusi 1t is
the usual prayer offered-the prayer offered
more than all the other prayers put together
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" One OF
our congregation, when asked in the closing
moments OF his life "Do you know usT'
said: "Oh, yes, know you. God bless you.
Goodbye Lord Jesus receive nv
spirit" and he was gone. Oh. yes, in
the closing moments OF our life we
must have a Christ to call upon. II Jacobs
sons had gone toward Egypt, and had gono
with the very finest equipage, and had not
taken Benjamin along with them, and to
the question they should have been obliged
to answer: "Sir, We didn't bring him, as
father could not let him go; we didn't want
TO be bothered with him." voice from
within would have said: "Go away from
u.s. You shall not have any OF this supply.
You shall not see my face because your
brother is not with YOU And IL we come
up toward the door Of heaven at last, though
we come from all luxuriancs and brilllancy
OF surroundings, aud knock for admittance,
and it is found that Christ Is not with
US the police Of heaven will beat us back
from the broadhouse, saying: Depart,
| never knew YOU II Jacobs
sons, coming toward Egypt, hal lost every
thing on tho way; if they had expended
their last shekel; il they had COL up ut
terry exhausted to the corn-cribs Of Egypt
and 1t had been found that Benjamin was
with them, all the storehousss would have
swung open before them. And SO, though
by fatal casualty we may be ushered into
the eternal world; though we may be
weak and exhausted by protracted sick
ness-if i'll that last moment, We can only
lust stagger, and faint, and fall into the
gate OF heaven-it seems that all the corn
cribs of heaven will open for our need
and all the palaces will open for our recep-
ton; and the Lord OF that place, seated at
His table, aud all the angels Of God seated
at their table, and the martyrs seated al
their table, and all our glorihed kindred
seated at our table, tho King shall pass
portion from His table to ours, and then
while we think Of the fact that it was
Jesus who started US on the road, and
and Jesus who kept us on tho way, and
Jesus who at last gained admittance for our
soul, we shall bo glad II He has seen of the
travail of His soul and been satisfied, and
not be at all jealous II it be found that our
Divine Beniamin's mess Is five times larger
than all the rest Hail anontcd Of the
Lord. Thou art worthy.
Ny friends you see 1t is either Christ or
famine If there were two banquets
spread, and to one of them only you might
GO you might stand and think for a good
while as to which invitation you had better
accept; but here it Is feaStinsS or starvation.
II 1t were a choice between oratOrioS, you
might say: II prefer the Creation OF
Il prefer the Messiah" But here it is u
choice between eternal harmony and ever
lasting discord. Oh, will you live or diei
VIII you start for tho Egyptian corn-crlb.
or will you perish amid the empty barns of
the Canaanltsh famine2 "Ge shall not
see My face, except your Brother be with
YOU"