Connecticut western news., 1896-12-10

go over qua nSR JO5nua- IT they want to know how the storm pelted Sodom, they have only to go over and ask Lot. If they want to know more about the arrogance of Haman, they have only to go over and ask Mordecai. If they want to know how the Red sea boiled when it was cloven, they have only to go over and ask Moses. If they want to know the particulars about the Bethlehem advent, they have only to go over and ask the serenading angels who stood that Christmas night in the balconies of crystal. If they want to know more of the particulars of the crucifixion, they have only to go over and ask who were personal spectators while the mountains crouched and the heavens got black in the face at the spectacle. If they want to know more about the sufferings of the Scotch oovenanters, they have only to go over and ask An drew Melville. If they want to know more about the old time revivals, they have only to go over to ask Whitefleld and Wesley and Livingston and Fletcher and Nettleton and Finney.
 Oh, what place to visit inl If eter- nifty were one minute shorter, it would not be long enough for such sociality. Think of our friends who in this world were passionately fond of flowers turn ed into paradise, Think of our friends who were very fond of raising superb fruit turned into the orchard where each tree has l2 kinds of fruit at once and bearing the fruit all the year round. What are our departed Christian friends doing in heaven, those who on earth found their chief joy ill the gospel min- istry? They are visiting their old con- gregations. Most of those old ministers have got their people around them al- ready. When I get to heaven-as by the grace of God am destined to go to that place. will come and see you all. Yes, will come to all the people to whom I have administered in the gos- pei, and to the millions of souls to whom, through the kindness of the printing press, I am permitted to preach every week in this land and in the ut termost parts of the earth. will visit them all. I give them fair notice. Our departed friends of the ministry are now engaged in that delectable entertain ment and undertaking.
 But what are our departed Christian friends who :n all departments of use- fulness were busy, finding their chief joy in doing good, what are they do- ing nowf Going right on with the work. John Howard visiting dungeons; the dead women of northern and south ern battlefields still abroad looking for the wounded; George Peabody still watching the poor; Thomas Clarkson still looking after the enslaved, all of those who did good on earth buster since death than before. The tombstone not the terminus, but the starting post. What are our departed Christian friends who found their chief joy in studying God doing now? Studying God yet. No need of revelation now, for, unblanched, they are face to face. Now they can handle the omnipotent thunderbolts just as a child handles the sword of a father come back from victorious bat tie. They have no sin; no fear, conse- quently. Studying Christ, not through a revelation save the revelation of the soars-that deep lettering which brings it all up quick enough. Studying the Christ of the Bethlehem caravansary the Christ of the awful massacre, with it's hemorrhage of head and hand and foot and side; the Christ of the shat the Star, the Son, the Man, the God, the od-Man, the Man-God.
 But harki The bell of the cathedral rings-the cathedral bell of heaven. What is the matter now? There is go- ing to be a great meeting in the temple. Worshipers all coming through the aisles. Make room for the Conqueror. Christ standing in the temple. All heaven gathering around him. Those who loved the beautiful come to look at the Rose of Sharon. Those who loved music come to listen to his voice. Those who were mathematicians come to count the years of his reign. Those who were explorers come to discover the height and the depth and the length and breadth of his love. Those who had the military spirit in heaven come to look at the Captain of their salvation. The astronomers come to look at the Morning Star. The men of the law come to look at him who is the judge of quick and dead. The men who healed the sick come to look at him who was wounded for our transgressions. All different and different forever in many respects, yet all alike in admira- tion for Christ, in worship for Christ, and all alike in joining in the doxology, Unto him who washed US from our sins in his own blood and made us kings and priests unto God, to him be glory in the church throughout all ages, world without end" Amen.
 To show you that your departed friends are more alive than they ever were, to make you homesick for heav- en, to give you an enlarged view of the glories to be revealed, have preach ed this sermon.