Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-08-26
where their group is augmented. 1t is
graves here and collins and hearses here.
When a Soul Arrives.

/ When Soul Arrives.
little child's mother had died. and
| thew ccmforted her. They said: stYour
mother has gone to heaven. Don't cry. +"
and the next day they went to the grave
ward. and they laid the body of the
mother down into ground, and the lit
tie girl came up to the verge of the
grave, and looking down at the body of
her mother said, "Is this heaven?' Oh,
we have no idea what heaven is. It is
the grave here. 1t is darkness here, but
there is merry making yonder. Methinks
when a 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 mar
tyrs that persisted at Piedmont; these
were torn to pieces at the inquisition !;
this is the throne of the great Jehovah /;
this is Jesusr' Il am going to see
jesus said dying negro boy ct am
going to see Jesus, and the missionary
said, '.You are sure you will see him?''
"Oh, yes. That's what want to go to
heaven for - But, said the mission
airy, tsuppose that Jesus should go away
from heaven, what them" 81 should fol-
low 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 help
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 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 us. We go on the banks of the Jor-
dan and call across to them, but they
don t seem to hear. We say: els it we'll
with the child? Is it we'll with the low
ed ones?" and we listen to hear if any
voice comes back over the waters None
None! Unbelief says, "They are dead
and extinct forever" but, blessed be
God, we have a Bible that tells US diff
ferent. 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 9TH
er side of the river. Oh, glorious re-
union, we cannot grasp it nowl 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.
Sacred Song.
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, a battle march. The
music started, the highlanders were
rallied, and they dashed on till the day
was won. We appreciate the power of
secular 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 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 sparkling
Christian Sabbaths.
They were sung by brothers and sis
ters 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, it seems as if all the old country
meeting homes joined in the chorus. and
Scotch kirk and sailor 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 sanctuary
and make the people sit silent when
Jesus is coming to hosanna.
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
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 or
Other empires joining the harmony till
the thrones are full of it and the ma
tions all saved. Anthem shall touch an
them, 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 it's deep bass voice in
to 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 today we might catch an echo
that slips from the gates. Who knows
hut that when the heavenly door nnenS