Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-10-02

OF earth 10 nne landscape In the heav-
emily country and says, "Walk there and
enjoy yourself. " The soul thinks to it.
SELF. 1.-The place l owned on the Hud-
son" or "the castle l had ON the
Rhine was almost as picturesque, and
then cannot see the sunset ON the river,
for it is here everlasting day and the
sun never sets. The welcoming angel
says to some newly arrived soul, Ills
ten now to the music; the orchestra Of
heaven is about to render one Of the
best oratorios The soul would think:
"Why, / have been hearing the best
music for 80 years on earth. Almost ev-
cry winter heard in the Academy of
Music the Creation, the Messiah, and
'Jephthah. l have heard all the great
living prima donnas and some who are
dead" Let the welcoming angel then
say to prospered soul Of earth, go
now and rest this is the everlasting
rest" why" tho soul would think,
81 am not tired; why do l want rest?
have not done stroke Of work for the
last 20 years. l spent my winters in
Florida and my summers III the Adiron-
daoks, and / am not in need of rest. "
The Closing Picture.
Nv hearers, heaven will not be so
much Ct heaven for those who had no
struggle On earth. But when those who
had a hard push with the red gate of
my text, the gate Of carbuncle, come to
the gate Of pearl and find it wide open,
they will say: "Why, how strange this
is This is the first gate Of valuable en-
trance in 40 years that | have found
open" And the welcoming angel will
say TO some Christian mother who
reared large family Of children and
prepared them for usefulness and heav-
en-, "Go where you please and sit
down on what velvet bank or cushioned
throne you may prefer. " And | hear
the newly arrived soul saying: "Oh,
my! What a good thing it is to rest l
was so tired. l was tired for 40 years.
Angel, tell me, is this an unbroken
rest? Can it be that there are no sick
children to take care Of? My head was
so tired planning for the household on
small means; my eyes were 20 tired
with sewing and knitting; my back
ached with doing work that made me
stoop for so many hours. There was
nothing in the universe | so much need
ed as rest. Now l have it. Blessed
Jesusl Blessed heaven! Blessed restP'
Then the welcoming angel will say to
some Christian that on earth was deaf
and had not heard voice of song or voice
Of friendship, "Hark now to the choirs
in white as they are about to join III
the opening piece Of the temple wor-
Ship" and as the baton swings and as
the deft fingers begin to feel the pulses
Of the harp and lips of martyrs breathe
on the soft Iutes of praise hear the
surprised soul just entered heaven say
ing: "Musicl Why, that is the first |
ever heard. Will it keep on? Tell them
not to stop. What is the name Of that
anthem? Why, never heard anything
like that. l never heard anything at
all. "
And little child, long ago in heaven,
pulls at the white robe and says, Moth
err" And she turns around saying:
"My child, for the FIST time l hear
your voice. On earth l saw your smile
and felt the coil Of your blond curls on
your childish brow, but l never heard
your voice, even in play or prattle, and
am confused TO know which is the
best music-that which the angels Of
God render or the voice Of you, my
darling. Musicl l read about it and
saw the notes in the music book, and l
saw the fingers of pianists and organlsts
run up and down the snOwbaDks Of the
keyboard, but | never thought it would
be anything like this. Music!" Then
the angel will say 10 lifelong invalid:
did you ever breathe air like this:
Such balm Such tonic! Such immortal
life in every respiration Did you ever
have any climate on earth like this
climate Of heaven" And the soul says
This is the first time in many long
year / have been freed from pain. AS l
passed through the river by that gate
the last ache left me, and am well,
gloriously well, everlastingly well.
have swallowed the last bitter draft.
have felt the last cut Of the knife.
have passed the last sleepless night,
and now l realize the beauty Of what
st. John said in Revelation, There
shall be no more pain. " And then the
martyrs and the prophets and the apos-
ties will take up the chorus, and all the
recovered invalids from earth will join
in the triumphant refrain that surges
to and fro from east gate Of heaven to
west gate. Chorus, "No more pain, no |
more pain, no more pain, no more |
pain"
My hearers, it will be a great heaven |
for all who get through, but the best
heaven for those who had ON earth |
nothing but struggle Blessed all those /
who before they entered the gate Of |
pearl passed through the gate Of car
bunclel