The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-31
RELIGIOUS READING.
FRIENDS IN HEAVEN.

It Is glorious to have friends in heaven.
They seem to aid to the attraction OF the
eternal world. While we think ofthem as the
inhabitants Of the star-paved city, we, at the
same time, regard them as our companions
and thus we are drawn nearer to the throne
by the cords of human love. and become, In
some sense, familiarized with the glories
which await us in blissful Immortality. IL
one view they appear as our associates, re-
joicing in our prosperity. sympathizing 10
our sorrows and having sentiments and pur'
poses kindred with our own; in another, we
behold them the companions Of the patriarchs
and the prophets, listening to, the sublime
alterations of Paul, ard tho seraphic melo.
dies of David's celestial lutte, and pouring
forth their own voices in the anthems Of
praise to the Lamb forever.
I bless God for the hope am permitted to
entertain. and that I have mother-the
heart-enshrined idol of my earlier years
whose spirit wanders in q cloud Of glory,
through the aromatic gardens, and over the
delectable mountains OF the blest. She spent,
here below life of sorrow-wedded to prl-
vations, disappoirtments and disease; but
now she plucks the fragrant flowers and the
delicious fruits of paradise-leans her own
wearied head upon the BOSOM Of Jesus, and
slumbers in beatiflc vision Of the throne OF
Gid. have often fancied, in hours OF dark
ness and despondent gloom, that her glorifed
spirit fingered around me, whispering words
that it was tho echo Of her lutte which made
sweet music in my heart, the hallowedness OF
her presence, which drove far from me the
tempter, with his wicked doubts, and the
rustling of her wings of glory which seemed
to pavilion me around with starlit 1rrad1a'
tions from the eternal throne.
And to have children in heaven Are they
not golden knobs, which transmit the cleo
tric spark Of divine love from the throne OF
OF the Lamb to be the burdened and discon-
solate soul? Bereaved parents! Could you
behold the babe which has perished like a
blossom from your arms, you would scarce
ly recognize the sickly infant which de-
manded your unceasing care and unslum-
bering watchfulness 1t has exchanged Its
toys for an angelic lute-its sobs for song
of triumph, and its little griefs and acute
pains for the sweetness Of seraphic JOY, and
the rapture of undying praise. And then,
what astonishing advantages has 1t already
made, in the elements Of knowledge, and
wisdom and love! And yet, what wonder,
since it has been instructed by the Great
Teacher? It would be no matter of sur.
prise. though 1t could inform us concerning
the mysteries of redemption, and speak IN
language which itwould not be lawful for
us to utter.
Glory to God, that we have friends in
heaven! Parents, husbands, wives, child
rem, brothers, sisters and associates have
gone before us. Their tears are wiped away,
their sighs of sorrow are repressed. their
burden of af1iction is removed, and they
have proved by their own experience, that
"life and immortality are brought to light in
the gospel" They await our arrival upon
those blissful shores. They stoop from the
golden battements Of heaven, to lure US on
to that glory which shall be eternal God
grant. gentle reader, that you and may be
attracted by that splendor of the unforeseen
world, and admonish by the terrors of hell
that we may "work out our salvation with
fear and trembling" and be brought at last
to stand high upon the mount of God, encir.
cled with the rainbow splendors, and filled
with the unutterabe glories Of blissful
sternity.-Christian Advocate.