Democratic messenger., 1895-03-16

presence enough 90 make a heaven il
there were no other attraction-I say.
when they meet together in tho council
chambers close to the throne-ah, that
will be regalement infinite. That will
DO repast supernal. That will be an
gels food. And one of my exciting an
ticipations of heaven il the prospect of
seeing and talking with some of them.
Why not? What did they come out for
ON the balcony on that Christmas night
and sing for our world, IL they did not
want 10 be- put in communication with
usg | know the serenade was in Greek.
but they knew that their words would
be translated in all languages IL they
thought themselves too good 10 have
anything TO do with us, would they
have dropped Christmas carols upon the
shepherds, as bad as any Of US have ever
been? Aye! IL they sang for mortals.
will they not sing for us when we be.
come immortals:
The Man Who Laughs.
Now. in the emerald palace Of heav-
en-, let the cupbearers and servants Of
the king remove this course from the
banquet and bring ON another course
of angels food-the last course and
tho best, the dessert, the elimination
of the feast, which is celebrative jubi-
lance You and have known people
who prided themselves on never getting
excited. They have cultivated the phleg-
matte You never saw them cry: you
never heard them in q burst of laugh
ter. They are monotonous and to me in
tolerablo | am afraid of "a man or q
woman that cannot cry: ! am afraid Of
a man OF woman who cannot laugh.
Christ says in the book Of Revelation that
such people are TO him nauseating and
cause rcgurgitation-(Rev Revelation iii, l6)
Because thou art lukewarm and neither
cold not hot will spew thee out OF my
mouth. Bnt the angels in heaven have
no stolidity or unresponsiveness. There
is one thing that agitates them into
holy warmth. We know that absolute
ly. II their harp be hung up ON the
panels Of amethyst, they take it down
and with deft fingers pull from among
AHG ~ an W
their neighbors OH the same golden street
and tell the good news. II Miriam has
there cymbals anything like those with
which she performed on the banks Of the
Red sea. she claps them i'll triumph.
and there is festal table spread. and
the best of the angels food is set on it.
When is it? II is when a man or woman
down in the world who was all wrong
by the grace of God is made all right
(Luke XIV, l0) There is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one
sinner that repenteth. Why are they
SO happily agitatcd: Because they know
what q tremendous thing it is to turn
clear around from the wrong and take
the right road. II is because they know
the difference between swines' trough
with nothing but husks and kings
banquet with angels food. 1t is because
they know the infinite. the everlasting
difference between down and up.
Glad TidIngs In Heaven.
And then their festivity is catching.
IL we hear the bells of city ring, we
say. What is that for?" IL we hear
rolling ont from an auditorium the
sound of full orchestra. we say, What
is happening here?" And when the an
gels of God take ON jubilance over q
case Of earthly repentance your friends
in heaven will say: What new thing
has happened. Why full diapason? Why
the chime from the oldest towers Of
eternity" The fact is. my hearers,
there are people in heaven who would
like TO hear from you. Your children
there are wondering when father and
Slother will come into the kingdom,
and with more glee than they ever
danced in hallway at your coming home
at eventide they will dance tho floor of
the heavenly mansion Mt the tidings of
father and mother saved. Beside that
the old folks want 20 hear from you.
They are standing at the head Of the
celestial stairs waiting for the news
that their prayers have been answered,
and that you are coming on to take
from their lips kiss better than that
which now they throw you. Calling you
by your first name. as they always did,
they are talking about you and saying,
There is our son." or: There is our
daughter down in that world of strug-
gle battling. suffering, SHINING, weep
ing. Why can they not see that Christ
is the only one who can help and COM
fort and save:'
That is what they are saying about
you. And if you will this hour in one
prayer of surrender that will not take
more than a second to make decide this
then swifter than telegraphic dispatch
the news would reach them, and angels
Of God who never fell would join your
glorified kindred in celebration, and the
caterers of heaven would do their best.
and saints and seraphs side by side
would take angels food. Glory to God
for such a possibility! Oh. that this
moment thero might be n rush for
heaven!
The Spirit and the Bride say. Come.
Rejoicing saints rc-ccho. Come.
Who faints, who thirsts. who will, may come.
Thy Saviour bids thee come.