Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1891-11-14

O1-uC1tSu. bllO IObto A'AiO VI "t...o SA1ftA 8
ers gaIloping through the scene, the
gathering of hoofs, the clinking Of
bride bits and the flash of spears, all
the Garth conquered and all heaven in
Doxology. And we halt again forest
from the spectacle. Again the piano.
rama passes before the cavern OF Pat
mos, and john the exile sees great
thrones lifted, thrones of martyrs.
thrones of apostles, thrones of prophets,
thrones of patriarcls, and n throne
higher than all on which Jesus sits,
and ponderous books are opened.
their leaves turned over. revealing
the names of aII that have. ever lived,
the good and the bad. the renowned
and the humble, the mighty and the
weak. and at the turn of every leaf the
universe is in rapture or fright, and the
sea empties it's s;lrcophagus Of all tile
dead of the sunken shipping, and the
earth gives way, and the heavens van
ish. Again we rest moment FROM the
spectacle. The panorama moves on be-
fore the cavern Of Patnos, and John
the exile beholds city of gold, and q
river more beautiful than the Rhine or
the Hudson rolls through it, and fruit
trees bend their burdens on eitherbank,s
and all lis: surrounde by walls nswhich
the upho lstery- of autulMlal, forests,
and the sunrises and sunsets of all tho
ages, and the glory of burning worlds
seem to be comlningled.
And the Inhabitants never breathe q
sigh, or utter groan or discuss Il diff
ference, or frown dislike. or weep n
tear The fashion they wear is pure
white, and their foreheads are encir-
cled by garlands, and they who were
sick are well, and they who were old
are young, and they who were bereft
are reunited. And as the last figure OF
that panorama rolled out of sight.
think that John must have fallen back
into his cavern, nerveless and exhaust
ed. Too much was it for naked eye to
look at. Too much, was it for human
strength to experience.
OPEN THE GATES.
My friends, would not wonder
if you should have a very similar.
vision after awhile. You will be
through this world. its cares and ia
tigues and struggles, and if you have
served the Lord and have done the
best you could, I should not wonderif
your dying bed were Patnos. 1t
often has been so. was reading of a
dying boy who, while the family stood
round sorrowfully expecting each breath
woul,l be The last, cried: open the
gates! Open the gatesl Happy! Hap
Ply! Happy!"
John Owen in his last hour said to
his attendant, "Oh, Brother Payne,
the long wished for day is come at
lastl" Rutherford, in the closing mo-
lnent of his life, cried out: II shall
shine, shall SEQ him as he is, and all
the fair company with him, and shall
have my large share. | have gotten
the victory. Christ is holding forth
his arms to embrace me. Now feel
Now enjoy! Now rejoice! | feed.
on mamma. have angels food. My
eyes will see my Redeemer. Glory,
glory dweIleth in Immanuel's land"
Yes, ten thousand times in the bis
tory of the world has the dying bed
been made a Patmos. You see the
time will como when you will, oh. child
of God, be exiled to your last sickness
as much as John was exiled to P;ltmos.
You will go into your room not to
come out again, for God is going to do
better and grander and hap
pier for you titan he has ever yet done.
There will be such visions let down to
your pillow as God gives no man if he
is ever to return to this tame world.
The apparent feeling of uneasiness and
restlessness at the time of the Chris
tian's departure, the physicians say, is
caused by no real distress.
1t is an unconscious and involuntary
and | think in many cases
it is the vision of heavenly gladness too
great for mortal endurance. 1t is only
heaven breaking in on the departing
spirit. You see your work will be done
and the time for your departure will be
at hand. and there will be wings over
you and wings under you and songs let
loose on the air, and your old father
and mother gone for years will descend
into the room. and your little children
whom you put away for the last sleep
years ago will be at your side and their
kiss will be on your foreheads, and you
will see gardens in full bloom. and the
swinging open of shining gates, and will
hear voices long ago hushed.
In many Christian departure that
you have known and Lave known
there was in the pIlraseology of the de-
parting ones something that indicated
the temperance of those long de-
ceased. 1t is no deliriun, no delusion,
but supernal fact. Your glorified
loved ones will hear that you are about
to come, and they will say in heaven:
May I go down to show that soul the
way up9 May be the celestial escorta
May wait for that soul at the edge OF
the pillow" And the Lord will say:
Eyes. You may fly down on that mis-
sion." And think all your glorified
kindred will come down. and they will
be in the room, and although those in
health standing around you may hear
no voice and see no arrival from the
heavenly world, you will see and hear.
And the moment the fleshly bond OF
the soul snail break, the cry will be:
"Follow mel Up this way! by this
j c.t., ctr.n itrllt