The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-11

|
years, and we come upon them, we see how
differently they look. The hair has turned,
and wrinkles have come in their faces, and
we say, Glow You have changed" But, oh,
when we stand before the throne, all cares
gone from the face, all marks OF sorrow dis.
appeared. and feeling the Joy OF that blessed
land, methinks we will say to each other,
with an exultation we cannot now I'M
agine. elbow you have changed! In
this world we only meet to part. 1t is
goodby, goodby. Farewells floating in the
air. We hear it at the rail car window and
at the steamboat wharf. Goodby! Children
lisp it; and old age answers it. sometimes
we say it in a light way, "Goodby!" and
sometimes with anguish in which the soul
breaks down. Goodby! Ah, that Is the word
that ends the thanksgiving banquet; that Is
| the word that comes in to close the Christ
mas chant. Goodby! Goodby!
But not so in heaven. Welcomes In the
air. welcomes at the gates. welcomes at the
house Of many mansions-but no goodby.
That group Is constantly being augmented.
/, They are going up from our circles OF eartn
to join it-little voices to join the anthem,
little hands to take hold Of 1t in the great
home circle, little feet to dance in the eternal
glee. little crowns to be cast down before the
feet OF Jesus. Our friends are In two groups
u group this side Of the river and group
on the other side of the river. Now there
goes ono 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
I should take paper and pencil. do you think
T 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, and the little girl came up to the
| verge Of the grave, and looking down at the
body Of her mother said, SIS this heavenI'
Oh, we have no idea what heaven Is. 1t 1s
the grave here. It is darkness here, but there
is merry making yonder. Methtnks when a
soul arrives some angel takes 1t around to
show it the wonders of that blessed place.
The usher angel says to the newly arrived:
''These are the martyrs that perished at
Piedmont; these we're torn to pieces at the
inauisition; this Is the throne Of the great
Jehovah; this Is jesus" ~ am going to see
Jesus" said dying negro boy. 81 am GO
ing to see Jesus" and the missionary said,
''You are sure you will see Him" ION,
yes. That's what want to go to heaven
that Jesus should go away from heaven.
what then?" 'I should follow him" said
the dying negro boy. "But If Jesus went
| down to hell. what then?" The dying boy
| thought for a 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 90 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 1t now, our
loved ones seem so 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: "Is it we'll
with the child? Is it we'll with the loved
ones?" and we listen to hear II any
None! Unbelief says, "They are dead and
extinct forever" but, blessed be God, we
have Bible that tells US different. Weopen
it and find that they are neither dead nor
| extinct; that they never we're so 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 it now! "Eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard. neither have entered
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 Highlanders
were giving way. and Wellington found out
that the bands Of music had ceased playing.
He sent quick dispatch, telling them to
play with utmost spirit battle march.
The music started. the Highlanders we're
rallied, and they dashed on till the day was
won. We appreciate the power Of secular
music, but 90 we appreciate the power OF
sacred song? There Is nothing more inspir-
ing to me than a 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 were 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
| il all the old country meeting homes joined
in the chorus, and Scotch kirk and sailors
Bethel and Western cabins, until the whole
continent lifts the doxologY and the scepters
OF eternity beat time to the music. Away
| lucu Will lOuE tuuCo luoI ShAih
the devotion of the sanctuary and make the
people sit silent when Jesus is coming to
| hosanna.
But. my friends, II music on earth Is so
sweet, what will it be in heaven? They all
know the tune there. Methinks the tune Of
heaven will be made up partly from the
songs of earth, the best parts Of all our
hymns and tunes going to add to the song OF
Moses and the Lamb. All the best singers OF
all the ages will join it-choirs of white
robed children. Choirs Of patriarchs! Choirs
Of apostles! Morning stars clapping their
cymbals! Harpers with their harps! Great
anthems Of God roll on, roll! on! Other en-
pires joining the harmony till the thrones
are full Of it and the Nations all saved.
Anthem shall touch anthem, chorus join
chorus, and all the sweet sounds Of earth
and heaven be poured into the ear OF Christ.
David Of the harp will be there. Gabriel OF
the trumpet will be there. Germany re-
deemed will pour its deep bass voice into the
song. and Africa will add to the music with
her matchless voices.
| wish we could anticipate that song. /
| wish in the closing hymns OF the churches
to-day we might catch an echo that slips
from the gates Who knows but that when
the heavenly door opens to-day to let some
soul through there may come forth the
strain Of the jubllant voices until We catch
| it? On, that rs the song drops down from
heaven it might meet half way song CON-
ing up from earth!
/