The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-07
THE MORNING NEWS: MONDAY. DECEMBER T. 1896

If they want to know how the sun and the
moon halted. they have only, to go over
and ask Joshua If 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 Ha-
man, they have only to go over and ask
Mordecai If they want TO know now the
Red Sea boiled when it was cloven, they
have only to go over and ask Moses. IT
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 balco-
MES of crystal. If they want to know
more of the particulars Of the cruciixion,
they have only to go over and ask those
who were personal spectators while the
mountains crouched and the heavens got
black in the face at the spectacle. II they
want to know more about the sufferings OF
the Scotch covenanters, they have only TO
go over and ask Andrew Neville III they
want to know more about the old-time re-
vivals, they have only to go over to ask
Whitefield, and Wesley. and Livingston,
and Fletcher. and Nettleton, and Finney.
Oh! what a place to visit I'M If eternity
were one minute shorter, it would not be
long enough for such sociality. Think OF
our friends, who, in this world, were pas
sionately fond of flowers, turned into par
adise. Think of our friends who were
very fond of raising superb fruit turned
into the orchard where each tree has
twelve kinds of fruit at once, and bearing
the fruit all the year round! What are our
departed Christian friends doing in heav-
en-, those who on earth found their chief
joy in the Gospel ministry? They are Wis
iting their old congregations. Most of
those old ministers have got their people
around them already. When l get to
heaven-as by the grace of God l am
destined to go to that place. will come
and see you all. Yes, l Will come to all
the people to whom l have administered
in the Gospel, and to the millions of souls
to whom through the kindness of the
printing press, am permitted to preach
every week in this land and in the utter
most parts of the earth. l will visit them
all. I give them fair notice. Our depart
ed friends of the ministry are now en-
gagged in that delectable entertainment
and undertaking.
But what are our departed Christian
friends who in all departments of useful
ness were busy, finding their chief JOY in
doing good-what are they doing now?
Going right on with the work. John How
ard visiting dungeons; the dead women
of northern and southern battlef1elds 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 start
ing post. What are our departed Chris
tian friends who found their chief joy in
studying God, doing now? Studying God
yet. No need of revelation now, for I'M
blanched they are face to face. Now they
can handle the omnipotent thunderbolts,
just as a child handles the sword of
father come back from victorious battle.
They have no sin; no fear, consequently.
Studying Christ, not through revelation
-. .T..Gs- hat 1orsr
lettering which brings 1t all up quick
enough. Studying the Christ Of the Beth
lehem caravansary the Christ Of the
awful massacre with it's hemorrhage of
head, and hand and foot, and side; the
Christ of the shattered mauSoleum; Christ
the Sacrifice, the Star, the Son, the Man,
the God, the Goldman, the man-God. But
bark! the bell of the cathedral rings-the
cathedral bell of heaven. What is the
matter now? There is going to be a great
meeting in the temple. Worshippers 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 hight
and the depth and the length and breadth
OF MS love. 1nOSe VINO ndQ the military
spirit on earth sanctified, and the mill
tary spirit in heaven, come to look at
the Captain of their salvation. The as
tronomers 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
transgression. All different and different
forever in many respects, yet all alike
in admiration for Christ, in worship for
Christ. and all alike in joining in the dox-
ology: 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 thaR they ever were, to
make you homesicK for heaven, to give
you an enlarged view of the glories to be
revealed, have preached this sermon.