St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-04-09
COvNGToN PARIsHILA, SATURDAY. APRIL 1898

fron Corinth. from Laodicea, FROM the
Red sea bank and Gennesarets wave,
froA Egyptian brick yards, and Gide-
one sthreshing floor. Those, thousands
of years ago, slept the last S ,ep; and
thcse are this moment having their
eyes closed and their limbs stretched
opt for the sepulchrc.
IA general expecting an attack from
The enemy stands on a hill and looks
through a field-glass, and sees, in the
great distance, multitudes approach
ing, but he has no idea of their num-
b{rs. He says: II can not tell any
thing about them. 1 merely know
that there are a great number" And
Sd John, without attempting to count,
s1ys: "a great multitude that NO man
c4n number"
Aye are told that Heaven is a place
Of happiness; but what do we know
about happiness? Happiness in this
wprld Is only a half-aedge thing;
H9wery path, with a serpent Kissing
a&ross it broken pitcher, from which
tle water has dropped before we could
d1nk it; a thrill of exhilaration, fol-
Lowed bydisastrous reactions. To help
u understand the joy of Heaven. the
Bible takes us to a river. We stand on
tie grassy bank. We see the waters
How on with ceaseless wave. But the
hfth of the cities are emptied into it;
Aod the banks arc torn; and unhealthy
e3hilarations spring up from it; and we
<Ne1 To pot sI.,n ,fH Tho Piuay. of IF
i1IIeaven.
I'VE get very imperfect ideas of the
reunions of Heaven. We think of some
fc6tal day on earth, when father and
mother were yet living, and the chill
dfen came home. A good time that!
Bht it had this drawback-all were not
there. That brother went off to sea,
and never was heard from. That sister
Hid " : not lay her away in the fresh
ness Of her young life, never more in
this world to look upon her? All. there
was a skeleton ut the feast; and tears
mingled with our laughter on that
Christmas day. Not SO with Heavens
reunions. twill be an uninterrupted
gladncss. Many Christian parent
will look around and find all his chill
dren there. '.Ah!- he says, ''can it be
possible that we are all here, life's spcrils
over? The Jordan passed, and not one
wanting? Why, even the prodigal is
here. l almost gave him up. How
leng he despised my counsels! but
grace hath triumphed. All here! all
here! Tell the mighty joy through
the city. Let the bells ring, and the
angels mention it in their song. Wave
it from the top of the walls. ALI
here!''
No more breaking of heart-strings,
but face to face. The orphans that
were left poor, and in mercilcss
world, kicked and cuffed OF many hard
ships, shall join their parents, over
whose graves they SO long wept
and gaze into their glorified coun-
tenanccs, forever, face to face. We
may come up from different parts of
tlf world, oae from the land and an
other from the depths of the sea: from
lives aflluent and prosperous. or from
scenes of ragged distress; but we shall
al meet in rapture and jubilee, face TO
face. -
Many of our friends have entered
upon that joy. A few days ago they
sat with us studying these Gospel
themes; but they oaly saw through
glass, darkly-now revelation
hath come. Yonr tim, will also come.
God will not leave you floundering in
the darkness. Youstand wonder-struck
and amazed. Yoa feel as if all the
loveliness OF life were dashed out. You
stand gazing into the open chasm of
the grave. Wait little. In the pres
cnce of your departed, and of Him
who carries them in His bosom,
you shall soon stand face to face.
Oh, that our last hour may kindle
up with this promised joy. May we
be able to say. like the Christian not
long ago. departing: Though pill
grim. walking through the valley. the
mountain tops are cleaning from
peak to peak!' Or. like my dear
friend and brother, Alfred Cook
man. who took his flight to the throne
of God. saying in his last moment that
which has already gone into Christian
classics: Il am sweeping through the
pearly gate, washed in the blood Of the
lamb