The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-08-29

". skim from the summer waters ths
brightest spar,les. and YOU will get no idea
OF the sheen OF the everlasting sea. Pile up
tle spiendors OF earthly cities. and they
would not make stepping stone by which
You might mount TO the city of God. Every
house IS 4 palace. Every step n triumph.
Every covering OF the head u coronation.
Every mea. j. a banquet. Every stroke
from the tower il q wedding belt Every
day Is n iubiles. every hour raptura aud
every moment an ecstasy. "Eye hath not
seen it. ear hath not heari It,"
remark further we can get no idea on
earth OF the reunions OF heaven. n YOU
have ever been across the sea aud met a
friend, or even an acquaintance, in some
strange city. you remember how your blood
thrilled and how glad YOU were to see him.
What. then, will be our Joy. after we have
passed the seas OF death. TO meet In the
bright city Of the sun those from whom we
have long been separated After we have
been away from our friends ten or fifteen
years and we come upon them, wa see how
differently they look. The hair has turned,
and wrinkles have come in their faces, and
we say. How you have changeii' But. oh,
when we stand before thu throne. all cares
gone from the face. all marks OF sorrow dis
appeared. aud feeling the Joy OF that blessed
land, methinks we will say TO each other,
with an cSultation we cannot now inn
agne. GLOW YOU have changed" In
eoolby, goodby. Farcwells floating in the
air. We hear IT at the rail car window and
at the steamboat wharf Goodbyl Children
lisp il, and old age answers it. Sometimes
we say IL in light way. "GoOdby," and
sometimes with anguish in which tho soul
breaks down. Goodby! All. that Is the word
that ends the thanksgiving banquet. that is
the word that comes in 20 close the Christ
mas chant. GOOdby! Goodby!
But not so In heaven. Welcomes In the
air. welcomes az the gates. welcomes al the
house OF many manstons--but no goodbv
That group Is constantly being augmented.
They are going I'M from our circl-s Of aarth
10 Join it--little voices TO Join the anthem,
little hands 20 take hold OF It in the great
home circle, little feet to dance In the eternal
clee. little crowns 20 he cast down before the
feet Of Jesus. our friends are in two groups
"A group this side Of the river aud 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 he 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 then, all DOWN Al. my friends,
the waves OF jordan roar 50 hOarselv we ran-
not hear the joy on tho other side where
their group il augmented. II Is graves here
and collins aud hcarses here.
A little child's mother had dioi. and they
comtorted 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 the grave, and looking down nj tho
body of her mother saii, as this heayen?'
Oh, we have no idea what heaven is. Il is
the grave here. IL is darkness here, hutthere
Is merry making yonder Methiuks when n
soul arrives some angel takes It around 10
show II the wonders OF that blessed place.
Yhe usher angel says TO the newly arrived.
These are the martyrs that perishef nt
Piedmont; these were torn 20 pieces ut the
iuquisitton; this Is ths throne Of the great
Jehovah; this Is jesus" II am going TO SEQ
Jesus, said dying negro boy. III am go-
ing to see Jesus" and the missionary said,
You are sure you will see HIM" "Oh,
yes. That's what / want TO 60 to heaven
for. But, said the missionary suppose
that Jesus should go away from heaven.
what thenP' III should follow him." said
the dying negro boy. ''But II Jesus went
down to hell. what then2' The dying boy
thought for moment, and then he said,
"Massa. where Jesus is there can be no hell"
Oh, to stand In His presencel 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 tho
redeemed aud shake hands with prophets
aud apostles and martyrs aud with our own
dear, beloved ones That will be the great
reunion. We cannot imagine 1t now, our
loved ones seem 50 far away When We are
in trouble and lonesome, they don't seem to
come 70 MS. We 90 on the banks OF the Jor-
dan aud call across to them. but they
don't seem TO hear. We say: as IL well
with the child? l. Il well with the loved
ones?' and we listen to hear II any
voice comes back over the water. None!
None! Unbclief says, "They nre dead and
extinct forever" but, blessed be God. we
IA a pibln thut al
1t and lind that they are neither dead nor
extinct; that they never were 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
into the heart OF man the things which God
hath prepared for them that love Him."
l remark again. we can in this world get
no idea o! the song of heaven. You know
there is nothing more inspirlting than music.
In the battle Of Waterloo the Highlanders
were giving way. and Wellington found out
that the bands OF music hal ceased paying
He sent quick dispatch, t.llng them TO
play with utmost spirit a battle march.
The music started. the Highlanders were
rallied, aud they dashed ON till the day was
won. We appreciate the power OF secular
music, but 10 we appreciate the power OF
sacred song? There Is nothing more insplr-
lHS 10 iue tntn WnDlb congregation uttoi
up on the wave Of holy melody When wa
sing some OF those dear old psalms and
tunes they rouse all the memories Of tho
past. Why, some of them were cradle songs
In our fathers house. They are all spark
ling with the morning dew OF u thousand
Christian Sabbaths.
They were sung by brothers anI 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 SUM- It 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 aud the scepters
OF eternity beat time tn the music. Away
then with your staryeling tunes that chill
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 II be in heavanY They ali
know thA fnup fharn Mnthtnl5 "A 90