Democratic messenger., 1893-09-02

nnd the letters upon your tombstones de-
faced with the elements before the divine
response will come, but He who hath de-
clared. II will be a God 10 thee and TO thy
seed after thee" will not forget. and some
day in heaven while you are ranging the
fields OF light the gates OF pearl will swing
back, and garlanded with glory that long
wayward one will rush into your out
stretched arms of welcome and triumph. The
hills may depart. and the earth may burn
and the stIrs fall. and time perish, but God
will break His oath and trample upon His
promises-neyer. never
Again, God keeps perpetual remembrance
OF all bereavements. These are the trials
that cleave the soul and throw the red hearts
OF men TO DO crushed In the wine press
Troubles at the store you may leave at the
store. Misrepresentation and abuse OF tho
world you may leave on the street where you
found them. The lawsuit that would swallow
your honest denominations may be left in the
courtroom. But bereavements are home
troubles, and there is no escape from them.
You will sec that vacant chair. Your eye
will catch Mt the suggestive picture.
You cannot fly in the presence OF such ills.
You 20 to Switzerland TO get clear OF them I;
but, more sure footed than the mule that
takes you up the Alps, your troubles climb
to the tiptop and sit shivering on the gla-
ciers. You may cross the seas. but they can
outslil the swiftest steamer. You may take
n
ert, but they follow you like a simoom.
armed with suffocation. You plunge into
the Mammoth cave, but they hang like sta
lactites from the roof OF the great cavern.
They stand behind with skeleton fingers TO
push you ahead. They stand before you to
throw You back. They run upon you like
reckless horsemen. They charge upon you
with cleaning spear. They seem to como
haphazard, scattering shots from the gun of
n careless sportsman. But not so. II Is good
aim that sends them just right. for God is
the archer.
This summer many Of you will especially
feel your grief rs you go to places where once
gone now. Your troubles will follow you to
the seashore and will keep up with the light
ming express In which you speed away. Or.
tarrying at home. they will sit beside you by
day and whisper over your pillow night after
night. | want to assure YOU that You are
not LETT alone and that your weeping is heard
Ia heaven.
You will wander among the hills and say.
"Up this hill last year our boy climbed VITA
great glee and waved his cap from the tor"
or This is the place where our little girl put
flowers IN her hair and looked up in her
mothers face. until every drop of blood in
your heart tingled with gladncss. and you
thanked God with thrill OF rapture and you
look around as much rs to say: ''Who
dashed out that light? Who filed this cup
with gall? What blast froze up these foun-
tains Of the hearth
Some of you have lost your parents within
the last twelve months. Their prayers for
you are ended. You take up their picture
and try TO call back the kindness that once
looked out from those old. wrinkled faces
and spoke in such n tremulous voice. and
you say II Is a good picture, out all the while
you feel that. after all, II does not do justice,
and you would give almost anything-you
al. IN N. Al
earth over-to hear just one word from those
lips that a few months ago used TO call you
by your first name, though so long you your
self have been n parent.
Now, you have done your best TO hide yoIr
grief. You smile when you do not feel like
it. But though you may deceive the world,
God knows. Ho looks down upon tho
empty cradle, upon the desolated nursery.
upon the stricken home and upon the
broken heart. and says: This is the way
! thrash the wheat this is the way seour
My jewels. Cast thy burden on MY arm.
and I will sustain you. All those tears l
have gathered into Ny bottle -
But what is the use of having 50 many
tears In Gods lachrymatory? In that great
casket or vase. why does God preserve all
your troubles? Through all the ages of
eternity. what use of n great collection OF
tears 10 not know but that in some dis
tant age of heaven an angel of God may look
into the bottle and find IL as empty OF tears
as the lachrymals OF earthenware dug up
gone? What sprite OF hell hath been invad-
ing Gods palace and hath robbed the lachry-
matories? None. These were sanctilei
sorrows, and those tears were changed into
pearls that are now set in the crowns and
robes OF the ransomed.
walk up TO examine this heavenly cor
onet, cleaning brighter than the sun, and
cry, From what river depths OF heaven were
those gems gatheredT' and thousand voices
reply. These are Transmitted tears from
Gods bottle" l sec scepters of light
stretched down from the throne of those who
on earth were trod on OF men. and in every
scepter point and inlaid in every ivory stair
OF golden throne / behold an Understandable
richness and luster and cry. ''From whence
this streaming lght-these flashing pearls!''
and the voices OF the elders beforethe throne.
and of the MARTYRS under the altar, and OF
the hundred and forty and four thousand
radiant on the CLASSY sea exclaim. Trans
muted tears from Gods bottle
Let the ages OF heaven roll on-the story
of earth's pomp and pride long ago ended
the kohinoor diamonds that make kings
proud, the precious stones that adorned Per-
sian tiara and famed in the robes OF Baby
lonian professions forgotten the Golconda
mines charrei in the last con1agration. hut
firm as the everlasting hills and pare ms tho
bright rs the river that flows from the eternal
rock, shall CLEAN. shall sparile. shall flame
forever these transmitted tears of Gods
bottle.
Meanwhile let the empty lachryma.ory of
heaven stand for ever Let no hand touch it..
Let no wing strike Il. Let no collision era x
it. Purer than b-ryl or chrysoprasus. Let
1t stand ON the step OF Jehovah throne and
under the arch of the uniading rainbow.
Passing down the corridors OF the palace,
the redeemed of earth shall glance at IT and
think OF all the earthly troubles from which
they were delivered and say. each TO each
That is what We heard of on earth. That
is what the psalmist spoke OF. There once
were put our tears" That is Gods hot
tle." And while standing there inspec,in, {,
this richest inlaid vase of heaven the towers
OF the palace dome strike up this s,lvery
chime God hath wiped away all tears
from al faces. Wherefore comfort one an
other with these words.