Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-11-27

| no more"
st. John hears the waves of the sea wildly
dashing against the rocks, and each wave
has voice, and all the waves together make
a chorus, and they remind him OF the multi
tudinOus anthems of heaven, and he says.
''They are like the voice OF many waters"
One day, as he looked off upon the sea, the
waters were very smooth, as it is to-day
while we sail them in the Minerva and they
were ike glass, and the sunlight seemed tc
set them on fire, and there was a mingling of
white light and intense flame, and as st.
John looked out from his cavern home upon
that brilliant sea he thought of the splendors
of heaven and describes them AS sea of
glass mingled with fire." Yes, seated in the
dark cavern of Patmos though homesick and
hungry and loaded with Domitian's anathe-
mas, st. John was the most fortunate man
on earth because of the panorama that
passed before the mouth Of that cavern.
Turn down all the lights that we may bet
ter see it. The panorama passes and loi the
conquering Christ, robed, girdled, armed, the
fash OF golden candlesticks and seven stars
in His right hand candlesticks and stars
meaning light held up and light scattered.
| And there passes a throne and Christ on it,
/ and the seals broken, and the woes sounded,
| and dragon slain, and seven last plaques
swoop, and seven walls are poured out, and
| the vision vanishes. And we halt a moment
| to rest from the exciting spectacle. Again
| the panorama moves on before the cavern of
Patlnos, and John the exile sees great city
! cred, palaced, tempted. fountained, foliaged,
sculptured. hanging gardens, suddenly going
crash! crash! and the pipers cease to pipe,
and the trumpets cease to trumpet, and the
| dust, and the smoke, and the horror fill the
| canvas, while from above and beneath are
! voices announcing, Babylon is fallen, is
! fallen" And we halt again to rest from the
| spectacle.
Again the panorama passes before the
cavern Of Patmos, and John the exile sees a
n q w Rhnr
leading forth the cavalry Of heaven, the long
line Of white chargers galloping through the
scene the gathering Of hoofs, the clinking Of
bride bits, and the flash OF spears, all the
earth conquered and all heaven in Doxology.
And we halt again to rest from the specta-
Gle. Again the panorama passes before the
cavern of Patmos, and John the exile sees
great thrones lifted thrones of martyrs,
thrones of apostles, thrones of prophets
thrones of patriarchs, and throne higher
than all on which Jesus sits, and ponderous
books are opened, their leaves turned over,
revealing the names of all 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 OF fright, and the sea empties it's
sarcophagus Of all the dead Of the suuken
shipping, and the earth gives way, and the
heavens vanish. Again we rest a moment
from the spectacle.
The panorama moves on before the cavern
OF Patmos and John the exile beholds city
OF gold, and a river more beautiful than the
kline or the Hudson rolls through it, and
fruit trees bend their burdens on either
bank, and all is surrounded by walls in
which the upholstery Of autumnal forests.
and the sunrises and sunsets OF all the ages,
ana the glory OF burning worlds seem to be
commingled. And the inhabitants never
breathe sigh, or utter a groan, or discuss
q difference, or frown a dislike, or weep
tear. The fashion they wear is pure white,
and their foreheads are encircled by gar
lands, and they who were sick are we'll, and
they who were old are young, and they who
were bereft are reunited. And as tue last
figure OF that panorama rolled out of sight |
think that John must have fallen back into |
bis cavern nerveless and exhausted. Too |
much was it for the naked eve to look at |
TOO much was it for human strength to ex-
perience.
Ny friends, would not wonder if you |
should have very similar vision after
awhile. You will be through with this world
Its cares and fatigues and struggles, and if
you have served the Lord and have done tho
best you could, should not wonder if your
dying bed were Patmos. 1t often has been
SO. was reading of dying boy who, while
the family stood around sorrowfully, ex-
pecting each breath would be the last, cried:
"Open the gates! Open the gatesl Happy
Happy! Happy" John owen, in his
20 brother Payne the long wished
for day has come at lastr' Ruther-
DIS life, cried out, 81 shall shine, [ shall see
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 mama.
lhave angels food. My eyes will see nv
Redeemer. Glory, glory dwelleth in Imman-
lePs land" Yes, ten thousand times in the
history Of the world has the dying bed been
made PaJmos.
You see the time will come when you will.
Oh, child of God, be exiled to your last sick
ness as much as John was exiled to Patmos.
Y GU will go into your room not to come out
again, for God is going to do something
better and grander and happier for Won ,
han He has ever done! There will be such
Visions let down to your pillow as God gives r
10 man II he is ever to return to this tame
world. The apparent feeling Of uneasiness +
and restlesSneSs at the time of the Christians {
departure, the physicians say is caused by
10 real distress. 1t is an unconscious and E
Involuntary movement, and think in many
saseS 1t Is the vision Of heavenly gladness too T
great for mortal endurance. It is only :
heaven breaking in on the departing spirit i c
lou seq your work will be done and the =
Ime for your departure will be at hand and :
here will be wings over You and wings I'M
Ter you, and songs let loose on the air and Z
our Old father and mother gone for years :
VII descend into the room, and your little r
hlldren whom you put away for the last 2
leep years ago will be at your side, and their
lss will be on your foreheads and you will
ee gardens in full bloom, and the swinging
pen OF shining gates, and will hear voices r
ong ago hushed.
In many Christian departure that YOU
ave known and [ have known there was in q
be phraseology of the departing ones some
hing that indicated the temperance of
hose long deceased. 1t is no delirium no .