Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1891-09-10

and YOU try strong drink, and you try
change of scene, and YOU try new business
associations, end anything and everything
rather than take the Divine companionsh1p
and sympathy suggested by the words OF
nv text when it says "You shall not see MY
face again unless your Brother be with
youn Oh, that you might understand
something of the height. and depth, and
length, and breadth, and immensely, and
infinity of Gods eternal consultations
go 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 gate that IS not
sometimes to be shut? The swinging OF
gate implies that our entrance into heaven
IS conditional. 1t is not a monetary condi-
ton. IT we come to the door OF an exqul-
site concert, we are not surprised that we
must pay q fee, for we know that line 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 Jesus? It -
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 usY
said. 'sOh, yes, know you. God bless you.
Goodbye. Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit" and he was gone Oh. yes In
the closing moments of our life we
must have Christ to call upon. II Jacobs
sons had gone toward Egypt, and had gone
with the very finest equipage, and had not
taken Benjamin along with than, 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
US You shall not have any of this supply
You shall not see my face because your
brother is not with you" And II we come
up toward the door of heaven at last, though
we come from all luxuriance and brilliancy
of surroundings, and knock for admittance,
and it is found that Christ is not WITH
us. the police of heaven will beat us back
from the bread. house, saying 9s spcaH:
sons, coming toward Egypt, had lost every,
thing on the way; if they had expended
their last shekel; it they had come up ut
terly exhausted to the corn-cribs OF Egypt,
and it had been found that Benjamin was
with them, all the storehouses would nave
swung open before them. And SO, though
by fatal casualty we may be ushered mt
!, tue eternal world; though we may be
.. weak and exhausted by protracted sick
! ness-if, in that last moment, we can only
lust stagger, and faint, and fall into tn
gate of heaven-it seems that all the corn
: cribs of heaven will open for our meek
and all the palaces will open for our recep
: ton: and the Lord of that place. seated q
!, His table, and all the angels of God seate
= at their table, and the martyrs seatet q
= their table. and all our glorified kindre
: seated at our table, the King shall pass
= portion from His table to ours, and the
3 while we think Of the fact that it we
II Jesus wno started US on the road, an
:, and Jesus who kept US on the way, an
: Jesus who at last gained admittance TOR OF
- soul, we shall be glad if He has seen OF tt
~ travail of His soul and been satisfied, an
= not be at all jealous if it be found that OIL
! Divine Banjamins mess is five times larg'
- than all the rest. HALL anointed OF Il
"a Lord. Thou art worthy.
- My friends, you see it is either Christ I
- famine. If there were two banque
~ ~ spread, and to one Of them only you mig
~ go, you might stand and think for a goe
- while as to which invitation you had bett
# accept; but here it Is feasting or starvation
~ II it were choice between oratorios. u
az ~ might say: II prefer the Creation,
20 II prefer the Messiah" But here it is
~ choice between eternal harmony and eve
~ lasting discord. Oh, will you live or d
u. ~ Will you start for the Egyptian corn-cri
"a or will you perish amid the empty barns
- the Canaanitish famine? "Ye shall u
=, see My face, except your Brother be wi
= youn