Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-09-06

have ever been across the SEA and met a
friend, OF even an Acquaintance, IN some
strange city. you remember how your blood
thrilled aud how glad you were 70 see him.
What, then, wall BE- our Joy, after We have
passed the seas Of death. 20 meet In the
bright city 81 the sun those from whom We
have long been separated After We have
been away from our friends ten or fifteen
years, aud We come upon them, We see how
differently they look. The hair has turned.
aud wrinkles have come In their faces, and
We say. "How you have changed But. Oh,
when We stand before the throne, all cares
gone from the face. all marks Of sorrow dis
appea red. and feeling the joy % that blessed
land. methinks We will say 10 each other.
with an rxultation We cannot now i'm
agine. How you have changed" In
this world We Onlv meet TO part. II is
goodby. eoodby. FareWels floating in the
air We hear Il az the rail ear window and
M the steamboat wharf. GOOdbyi Children
lisp Il and old age answers IL. Sometimes
We say il in light way, "Goodby.' and
sometimes with anguish IN which the soul
breaks down. Goodhy! An, that is the word
that ends the thanksgiving banquet; that is
the word that comes in % close the Christ
mas chant. GOOdhy! Goodby,
But not so in heaven. Welcomes in the
air, welcomes al the gates, welcomes at the
house Of many mansious-hut no goodbN.
That group is constantly being augmented.
They are going up from our circles OF earth
to join it-iittle voices to join the anthem,
little hands TO take hold OF II in the great
home circle. little feet 10 dance in the eternal
glee. little crowns to be east down before the
feet of Jesus. Our friends are in two groups
IA group this side of the river and group
on the other side OF the river. Now there
goes one from this to that, and another from
this to that, and soon We will all be gone
over. How many Of your loved ones have
already entered upon that blessed place, II
! | should take paper and pencil, do you think
| / could put them all down? All. my friends,
the waves Of Jordan roar so hOarsely we can
not hear the Joy ON the other side where
their group is augmented. 1t is graves here
and collins and hearses here.
A little childs mother had died, and they
comforted her. They said: "Your mother
has gone to heaven. Don't cry" and the
next day they went to the graveyard, and
they laid the body OF the mother down into
| ground, aud the little girl came up to the
verge of tie grave. and looking down at the
body Of her mother said, as this heaven
| Oh, we have no idea what heaven is. 1t is
! the grave here. II is darkness here, butthere
/ is merry making yonder. Methinks when a
soul arrives some angel takes it arc IN
show it the wonders OF that blessed place.
The usher angel says to the newly arrived:
These are the martyrs that persisted at
| Piedmont; these were torn to pieces at the
/ inquisition; this is the throne OF the great
Jehovah; this is jesus II am going 10 see
Jesus" said dying negro boy. Il am 60
ing to see Jesus" and the missionary said,
you are sure YOU will see Him. "Oh,
YES. That's what | want to go to heaven
for" "But." said the missionary suppose
that Jesus should go away from heaven,
what them" II should follow him." said
the dying negro boy. But If Jesus went
down to hell. what them" The dying boy
thought for moment, and then he said,
''Massa, where Jesus is there can be no hell"
Oh, to stand in His presence That will
be heaven Oh to put our hand in that
hand which was wounded for us on the cross
to go around amid all the groups OF the
redeemed and shake hands with prophets
and apostles and martyrs and with our own
dear, beloved ones. That will be the great
reunion We cannot imagine II now. our
loved ones seem 50 far away. When we are
in trouble and lonesome, they don't seem to
come to us. We go on the banks OF the Jor-
dan and call across to them, but they
don't seem to hear. We say: as 1t well
with the child? Is ii we'll with the loved
ones?" and we listen to hear II any
voice comes back over the water. None.
None! Unbeief says, They are dead and
extinct forever" but, blessed be God we
have 4 Bible that tells us different. Weopen
it and find that they are neither dead nor
extinct; that they never were 50 much alive
as now; that they are only waiting for our
coming, and that we shall join them on the
other side of the river. Oh, glorious re-
union, we cannot grasp il now! Eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard neither have entered
into the heart of man the things which God
hath prepared for them that love Him"
| remark again, We can in this world get
no idea of the song OF heaven. You know
there is nothing more inspiriting than music.
In the battle of Waterloo the Highanders
were giving way, and Wellington found out
that the bands of music had ceased playing.
He sent a quick dispatch, telling them 10
play with utmost spirit battle march.
The music started, the Highlanders were
rallied, and they dashed on till the day was
won. We appreciate the power OF secular
music, but do we appreciate tho power OF
sacred song? There is nothing more inspir-
ing to me than whole congregation lifted
up on the wave of holy melody. When we
sing some OF those dear Old psalms and
tunes they rouse all the memories OF the
past. Why, some OF them We're cradle songs
In our fathers house. They are all spark.
ling with the morning dew Of thousand
Christian Sabbaths.
They were sung by brothers and sisters
gone now, by voices that were aged and
broken in the music voices none the less
sweet because they did tremble and break
When | hear these old songs sung 1t seems As
If all the old country meeting homes joined
in the chorus, and Scotch kirk and sailor:
Bethel and Western cabins, until the whole
continent lifts the doxology and the scepter
Of eternity beat time TO the music. Ava,
then with your sturveng lures that chill
the devotion Of the sanctuary and make thu
people sit silent when Jesus Is coming t
hOsannA.