Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-05-12

day, saying he was looking for an
honest man. If he had turned his Lam
tern toward himself he might have
discovered crank. Honest men by the
ten thousand. Through the Interna-
tional Series of Sunday School lessons
the next generation all through
Christendom are going to be wiser than
any generation since the world stood.
The kingdom is coming. God can do it.
No housewife with channels cloth ever
polished silver teaspoon with more
ease than Christ will rub off from this
world the tarnish, and brighten it up
till it glows like heaven; and then the
glorious apportionment. for my text
is reinforced by a score of other texts,
when it says of Christ: "He shall di-
vide the spoil with the strong"
But" you say, that this is pleasant
to think of for others, but before that
time / shall have passed mp into an
other existence, and / shall get no ad-
vantage from that new apportionment."
All, you have only driven me to the
other more exciting and transporting
consideration, and that is, that Christ
is going to divide up heaven in the
same way. There are old estates in the
celestial world that have been in the
possession of the inhabitants for thou
sands of years, and they shall remain
as they are. There are old family
mansions in heaven filled with whole
generations of kindred, and they shall
never be driven out. Many of the vic
tors from earth have already got their
palaces, and they are pointed out to
those newly arrived. Soon after our
getting there we will ask to be shown
the Apostolic residences, and ask where
does Paul live, and John; and shown
the patriarchial residences, and shall
say: Where does Abraham live, or
Jacob?" and shown the martyr resi-
dences and say: Where does John
Huss live, and Ridley?" We will want
to see the boulevards where the chariots
of conquerors roll. l will want to see
the gardens where the princes walk.
We will want to see Music Row, where
Handel and Haydn and Mozart and
Charles Wesley and Thomas Hastings
and Bradbury have their homes, out Of
their windows, ever and anon, rolling
some snatch of an earthly oratcrio or
hymn transported with the composer.
We will want to see Revival Terrace,
where Whitefield and Nettleton and
Payson and Rowland Hill and Charles
Finney and other giants of soul reap
ing are resting from their almost super
natural labors, their doors thronged
with converts just arrived, coming to
report themselves.
But brilliant as the sunset, and like
the leaves for number, are the celestial
homes yet to be awarded, when Christ
to you, and millions of others, shall di-
vide the spoil. What do you want
there? You shall have 1t. An orchard?
There it is; twelve manner Of fruits, and
fruit every month. Do you want river
scenery? Take your choice on the
banks of the river, in longer, wider,
deeper roll than Danube OF Amazon or
Mississippi If mingled in one, and
emptying into the sea of glass, mingled
with fire. Do you want your kindred
back again? Go out and meet your
father and mother without the staff or
the stoop, and your children in a dance
of immortal glee. Do you want
throne? Select it from the million
FURNISHED elevations. Do you want
crown? Pick it out of that mountain
of diamonded coronets. Do you want
your old church friends Of earth around
you? Begin to hum an old revival tune
and they will flock from ali quarters to
revel with you in sacred Renaissance.
All the earth for those who are here on
earth at the time OF continental and
planetary distribution, and all the
heavens for those who are there.
But notice that there is only one Be-
ing in the universe who can and will
distribute the trophies of earth and
heaven. 1t is the Divine Warrior, the
COMMUNICATIVE of the Centuries,
the Champion of Ages, the universal
Conqueror, the Son of God, Jesus. You
will take the spoils from his hand, or
never take them at all. Have his
friendship and you may defy all time
and all eternity, but without it you are
a pauper, though you had universe
at your command. We are told in Rev.
citation that Jacobs twelve sons were
so honored as TO have the twelve gates
of heaven named after them-over one
gate of heaven Naphtali, over another
Of heaven Issachar, over another Dan,
over another Cad, over another Ze-
bulon, over another judah, and SO on.
But Christ's name is written over all
the gates, and on every panel of the
gates; and have his help, his pardon.
his intercession, his atonementA /
must, or be a forlorn wretch for ever.
My Lord and my God! make me and
all VINO hear me this day, and all to
whom these words shall come. thy re-
pentant, believing, sworn, consecrated
and ransomed followers for ever.