The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-09-05

Inquisition; this is the throne Of the
great Jehovah; this is Jesus" II am ]
going to see Jesus" said dying nee
gro boy. II am going to see Jesus"
and the missionary said: "You are
sure you will see him?' ooh! yes;
that's what I want to go to heaven
for" But" said the missionary.
suppose that Jesus should go away
rom heaven-what then?' 81 should
How him." said the dying negro
h Y. "But If Jesus went down to hell
what them" The dying boy thought
a moment and then he said: MAS
sa, 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 wound
ed 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 i'm
agine it 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 Jordan and call across to them
but they don't seem to hear. We say,
els it well with the child? is it well
with the loved ones?' and we listen
to hear if any voice comes back yer
the waters. None! none! Unbelief
says, '"They are dead and extinct for
ever" but, blessed be God, we have
a Bible that tells us different. We
open it and find 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.
remark again, we can in this world
get no idea of the song of heaven.
You know there is nothing so 'nspir-
ing than music. In the battle of Wat
erloo the Highlanders were giving
away and Wellington found thar the
bands of music had ceased playing.
He sent quick dispatch telling them
to play, with utmost spirit, a battle
march. The music started. the High
landers were rallied. and they dashed
on till the day was won. We appreci-
ate the power of secular music; but
do we appreciate the power Of sacred
song? There is nothing mOr1 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 ali the
memories of the past. Why, some OF
them We're cradle songs in our fathers
house. They are all sparkling With
the morning dew Of a thousand Chris
tian Sabbaths They We're sung by
! brothers and sisters gone noW-by
voices that were aged and broken in
| the muSic-yOiceS none the less sweet
because they did tremble and break.
When I hear those cid songs sung it
seems as if all the old country meet
ing homes joined in the chorus. and
Scotch kirk and sailors Bethel and
Western cabins. until the whole con-
tinent lifts the doXology and the sceI-
tiers Of eternity beat time to the mu-
sic Away then with your starveling
tunes that chill the devOtions OF the
sanctuary. and make the people sit
silent when Jesus is coming to no.
sauna.
But. my friends, if music on earth
is so sweet. what will it be in heaven:
They all know the tune there Me
thinks 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 of the Lamb. All tie
best singers Of all the ages will join
| it-choirS of white-robed children.
choirs of patriarchs: clloirs Of apoS-
ties! Morning stars clapping their
cymbals. Harpers with their harpS.
Great anthems Of God. roll on: roll
on!-other empires joining the har-
mony till the thrones are full Of it.
and the nations all saved. Anthem
shall touch anthem, chorus join cho-
rus, and all the sweet sounds Of earth
and heaven poured into the ear of
Christ. David of the harp will be
there. Gabriel of the trumpet will De
there. Germany, redeemed, Will pour
it's deep bass voice into the song. and
Africa will add to the music with her
matchless voices.
wish we could anticipate that song.
I 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 jubilant voices until we
catch it? Oh, that as the song drops
down from heaven it might meet half
way song coming up from earth.