The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-10-19

! Heaven? Oh, we have no 1ded Wnas
Heaven is 1t is the grave here-it is
| darkness here-but there is merry
making yonder. Methinks when
soul arrives, some angel takes it
around to 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 Inqui-
sition; this is the throne of the great
jehovah; this is Jesusr" II am going
to see Jesus" said dying negro boy.
Il am going to see jesus" and the mis-
sionary said: "You are sure you will
see Him?" "Oh! yes; that's what l
want to go to Heaven for" but"
said the missionary, suppose that Je-
sus should go away from Heaven
what then?' II should follow Him."
said the dying negro boy but If Je-
sus went down to hell-what then?'
The dying boy thought for a mo-
rnent, 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 the prophets, and apostles,
and martyrs, and with our own dear,
beloved ones! That will be the great
reunion: we can not imagine it now,
our loved ones seem so far away. When
we are in trouble and lonesome. they
don't seem to come to u.s. We go on
| the banks of the Jordan and call
across to them, but they don't
seem TO hear We say: us it well
with the child? it is we'll with the
loved ones?" and we listen to hear II
any voice comes back over the waters.
None! none! Unbelief says: "They
are dead and extinct forever" but.
blessed be God. we have 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 wait
ing for our coming, and that we shalt
join them on the other side OF the
river. Oh. glorious reunion; we can
not 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."
Iremark again. we can in this world
get no idea of the song of Heaven.
You know there is nothing more in
spring than music. In the battle OF
Waterloo, the Highlauders were Civ
ing away, and Wellington found out
that the bands of music had ceased
- ill 1fcr,n fp
telling them to play, with utmost
spirit, a battle march. The music
started, the Ilighlanders were rallied,
and they dashed on till the day was
won. We appreciate the power of secu-
lar music; but do we appreciate the
power of sacred song? There is nothing
more inspiring to me than whole con-
gregation lifted up on the ways 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
Sparkling 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 be-
cause they did tremble and break
When hear these old songs sung. il
seems Us if all the old country meet
ing homes Joined in the chorus, and
Scotch kirk and Sailors Bethel and
Western cabins, until the whole CONT
nent lifts the doxology and the scepters
of eternity beat time to the music.
Away then with your starveling tunes
. that chill the devotions of the sanctu
ary, and make the people sit silent
; when Jesus is coming to Hosanna.
,, But, my friends, if music on earth l.
so sweet, what will it be in Heaven
They all know the tune there. Me
! thinks the tune of Heaven will bt
made up partly from the songs o
earth: the best parts of all our hymns
and tunes going to add to the song o.
Moses and the Lamb. All the bes'
singers of all the ages will join it
choirs OF white-robed children! cho.r'
of patriarchs! choirs of apostles
Morning stars clapping their cymbals
Harpcrs with their harps. Grea
. anthems of God, roll on! roll on!-
: other empires joining the harmony
I till the thrones are full of it, and thu
0 nations all saved. Anthem shall touch
anthem, chorus join chorus, and al
Q the sweet sounds of earth and HEAVIER
I be poured into the ear Of Christ
: David Of the harp will be there
I Gabriel of the trumpet will be there
Germany, redeemed, will pour fortl
q its deep bass voice into the song, ant
: Africa will add to the music with he
matchless voices.
: / wish we could anticipate that song
!. ] wish in the closing hymns OF thu
: churches to-day we might catch al
echo that slips from the gates WIZ
z knows but that when the Heavenly
! doors opens to-day to let some sou
through there may come forth TIL
strains of the jubilant voices until w
: catch it? Oh. that as the song drop
= down from Heaven it might meet hal
? way song coming up from earth!
e Church Work.