The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-01-30

and there apd here is the mark Of d tear,
and say, och, that Is a broken heart, and
It wants to DO comforted!'
Tho object of this sermon is to take this
theory out of the region Of surmise and
speculation into tho region of positive GER
tainty People cay: "It would be very
pleasant II that doctrine wero true. hope
it may be true. Perhaps 1t 10 true. wish
1t were true" But ! believe that I can
bring an accumulation OF argument to
bear upon this matter which will prove
the doctrine of future reoog milton rs plain
~ as that there Is any heaven at all, and
that tho kiss Of reunion at tho celestial cato
will DO us certain as tho dying kiss at the
door of the sepulcher.
Facts For Proof.
Now, when You nre going to build ship
you must get tho right kind Of timber.
You lay tho keel and make the framework
of the very best materials-thc keelson,
stanchions, plank shear, counter timber,
knees, transoma-all iron or solid oak. You
may build n ship of lighter material, but
when the cyclone comes on it will go down.
Now, wo may have great many beautiful
theories about tho future world bulls out
of our own fancy, and they may do very
we'll as long as we have smooth sailing In
the world, but when the storms Of sorrow
como upon us, and the hurricane Of death,
we will be swnmped--we will be founder
ed. We want theory built out Of Gods
eternal word. The doctrine of future REQ
ignition is not SO often positively stated in
the word of God as implied, and you know,
my friends, that that is, after all, tho
strongest mode of affirmation. Your friend
travels in foreign lands. He comes home.
He does not begin by arguing with you to
prove that there are such places rs London
and Stockholm and Paris and Dresden md
Berlin, but Ills conversation implies 1t.
And SO this Bible does not SO positively
ltate this theory as, all up and down Its
chapters. take 1t for granted.
What does my text implys II shall go
to him." What consolation would it be to
David to go to his child Il he would not
know him? Would David have been al
lowed to record this anticipation for the
Inspection of all ages If 1t were n ground
less anticipation? We road In the first book
of tho Biblo: Abraham died and was gath
cred to his people. Jacob died and was
gathered to his people. Moses died and
was gathered to his people. What peoples
Why, their friends, their comrades, their
old companions. OF course It means that.
1t cannot mean anything else. So In the
very beginning OF the Bible four times that
Is taken for granted. The whole New Tes-
lament is an nrbor over which this doctrine
creeps like luxuriant vine full OF the pur-
pie clusters Of consultation. james, John
and Poter followed Christ into the noun
tain. A light falls from heaven on that
mountain and lifts 1t into the glories Of
| tho celestial. Christ's garments glow and
his fnco shines like the sun. The door OF
henvon swings open. Two spirits come
down and alight on that mountain. The
disciples look at them and recognise them
as Moses and Elins. Now, II those dis
ciples standing on the ourth could rsoog-
nixe these two spirits who had been for
years in hearon,. do you tell mo that VIZ,
| with our h.,venly eyesight. will not be
able to recognize those who have gone out
| from among us only s. 10, go. 80 years agos
Tho Bible indicates over and over again
that the angels know each other, and then
the Bible says that we are to be higher
than the angels, and II the angels have the
power of recognition, shall rot wo, who
nro to be higher than they In the next
realm, have good eycsight and as good
| onpacitys What did Christ mean in his
conversation with Mary and Martha when
he said, 'tThy brother shall rise AGAIN."
1t was as much ns to say: Don't cry.
nop,k yra,r vor,rSelvrs ont with this trQu-