St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-13
JOHN IN PARADISE.
Another Sermon on Revela-
lions by Rev. Edwards,
Of Christian Church.
The Twelve Gates Which Open
Into the Heavenly
Realm.
Great GIopies Which Await Us
in the Land OF the
Blessed.
Some Conception Of tie Value
OF Gods Gifts to HAN
kind.

church, yesterday morning. He said:
We have stood beneath the tree whose
leaves were for the healing Of the ma
tions. We have gathered on the banks
Of the crystal river. Now we are to
a third feature of the pew
Jerusalem--the gates leading into the
habitation of God. The primary thought
is that, as Gods children, we are but
travellers and sOjourners upon the earth.
Day after day we find ourselves nearing
a land of promise. The wonderful allie
CORY of John Bunyan had its foundation
in a fact that shines through the Script
ures with luminous beauty. The his
tory of Israe'S march to the lanG of
Canaan is but an acted panorama of cur
spiritual exodus to the better country.
In the Old and New Testament Script
ures we find the migratory instinct
a God-implanted element of the soul.
Today it is not merely a family
or nation but a world that is invited to
the habitatiOn of the redeemed. Gods
sible contingency on His side that could
prevent our entrance through the gates
of pearl into the holy city. Should we
fail to enter, ours is the fault. Could
we have this thought made stronger
than is pictured in the words of my
text? Gates everywhere and OH all
sides. What lesson of tranScendent
Importance! What revelation of Gods
incompatible goodness, Of His world
wide love No question as to our access,
no law to prevent the faithful entering
into territory of unparalleled beauty.
10y and fruitfUlneSS. We may we'll
despair of reaching just estimate Of
Gods bounty as we stand with John
and view the depicted panoramic
splendor of our future dwelling place.
To be impressed with its glories is
10 Rise Superior
to the vicissitudes of this life, to bravely
support every burden and trial, and,
like Gideon's band, to vaHantly oppose
every foe that stands between us and
our Maker.
In the presence of the unimaglnable
glorIes awaiting US am dumb In mind
and speech. As attempt to see what
is the revelation John presents to US l
am blinded by excess OF light. Despair
SelZeS me as l attempt TO compass the
grandeur of heavens furnishings. Not
until our souls shall burst the shackleS
of the flesh and stand face to face with
its Creator shalt we adeq uately under
stand. Now is our soul compelled to
peer through a frosted aud dimmed
glass. This is true not only of our
anticipated entrance into the fellowship
of angels of Christ, of God-of all that is
pure and holy and righteous. 1t is
true Of our experience in this life. We
cry aloud with Paul, "Oh, the depth Of
the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge OF God" Beloved, what
shall we say of our present advantages
in the kingdom of Christ? We have not
reached their sweep and eXtensiveneSs.
Every day brings some new manifesto
ton of our Fathers love. With
with value that cannot be
estimated; with wisdom that
defies our reason; with a goodness and
graciousness that seem as lImitless as
the expansive armament above, the
plan of salvation stands beside US in
majesty divine. In the language OF
prophet and apostle, ''eye hath not seen
nor ear heard, neither have entered into
the heart of any man the things which
God hath prepared for them that love
him." We will better understand Johns
vision as we more closely adhere to the
preaching and teaching of the apostle
and Christ. All the unbounded affiu-
ence Of grace that comes to us now i'll
the way of blessing must be apprOpri-
ated before we shall rise to the superior
glOries of the future state. Not only
is heaven Supernaturaliy beautiful and
ravishingly refreshing, but the way
thitherward is of so respondent glory
that human words fail TO make it
known. The
Profusicn of Gods Gifts
in their value and prodigality over
whtlms US. How nllserably Empower
ished in the conception that sings:
There is gate that stands ajar." DO
these words give you comfort? They
are a libel on Gods character. The
thought they express may seem benef-
cent. Need tell you that the gate is
not now, nor has 1t ever been, ''ajar?''
Jesus Christ has opened wide the portals,
and above the entrance is written the
world-inclusive "WhosOeyer." If this
be true, why does not humanity enter
in? Why do not the multitude gladly
crowd the entrance? Because. my
friends. their feet are turned in an OBJ
posite direction. Great throngs of the
unsaved marching away from gates of
pearl that would admit them into un-
world blinuS their eyes, wells their un-
Outstanding and prevents their hearing
the seraphic choir sing, "whoSoeyer will
may come" Twelve gates, symbolical
of the spiritual Israel that shall enter
the eternal city. Twelve sentinels
who are none other than the apos-
ties, authorized to admit all who
hear and obey their inspired teaching
Each several gate huge pearl. Cleo
patra was said 10 possess pearl worth
nearly half million dollars. The
earrings that adorned tie statue of
Venus were valued at the same amount.
Place them together and one chip from
the door OF heaven would outweigh
their worth. Everything that Gods
hand has touched in love sparkles and
STIMULATES and gl0Ws with supernal
beauty. No tribe or kindred or tongue
or nation is barred. 0 the hosts that
have already entereal Hear John de-
scribe them: "And heard the voice of
many angels round about the throne,
and the number of them was ten thou
sand times ten thousand and thousands
great multitude which no man could
number" They
Came Through Every Gate.
Armies OF children, with happy faces,
platoOnS and regiments of the jewellers
OF earth. No standing and waiting for
admittance. Jesus opened the door on
earth and they marched straight into
glory. No credentials asked. They are
marked with the blood of Christ. No
crowdihg or pushing. Abundant pro-
vision for all. From all points of the
universe the loyal legions OF the Savior
march through the gates of pearl. If
there shall be any who do not enter
they can offer no plea in eXtenuatlon OF
their failure. The Lord sends the re-
flected Drilliancy Of heavens portals
into every region of the habitable globe.
There was a time in the history of
our race when such was not the fact.
Man through disobedience had closed
the entrance TO paradise. He became
wanderer upon earth. He longed for
the land of pleasantness and peace
which he forfeited. The patriarchs,
prophets and holy men OF Israel waited
in eXpectant desire for the time when
they should stand il the presence of