Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-04-15

washed off into the sea. They came up
from Corinth, from Laodicea, from the
Red sea bank and Gennesaret's wave,
from Egyptian brick yards and eide
ons threshing floor Those, thousands
of years ago, slept the last s. ,ep; and
these are this moment having their
eyes closed ard their limbs stretched
out for the sepulehre,
A general expecting an attack from
the enemy stands on n hill and looks
through IA field-glass, and sees, in the
great distance, multitudes approach
ing, but he has no idea of their nun.
bers lie says; II can not tell any
thing about them, merely know
that there are great number And
SO John, without attempting to count,
says: "A great multitude that no man
can number"
We are told that Heaven is u place
of happiness; but what do we know
about happiness? Happiness in this
world is only half-Aedge thing; a
howery path, with serpent kissing
across it; a broken pitcher, from which
the water has dropped before we could
drink it; thrill of exhilaration, fol-
lowed by disastrous reactions. To help
us understand the joy of Heaven, the
Bible takes us to river. We stand on
the grassy bank. We see the waters
How on with ceaseless wave. But the
filth of the cities are emptied into it;
and the banks are torn; and unhealthy
eXhilarations spring up from it; and we
fail to get an idea of the River of Life
in Heaven
We get very imperfect ideas of the
reunions of Heaven. We think of some
festal day on earth, when father and
mother were yet living, and the chill
dren came home. A good time that!
But it had this drawback were not
there. That brother went off to sea,
and never was heard from. That sister
did wo not lay her away in the fresh.
ness of her young life, never more in
this world TO look upon her? Ali there
was a skeleton at the feast; and tears
mingled with our laughter on that
Christmas day. Not 50 with Heavens
reunions. 1t will be an uninterrupted
gladness. Many a 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'sperils
over? The Jordan passed, and not one
wanting? Why, even the prodigal is
here. | almost gave him up. How
long 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 il in their song. Wave
it from the top of the walls. AL
here!'
No more breaking of heart-strings
but face to face The orphans tina
were left poor, and in mercilcs
world, kicked and cuffed Of many hard
ships, shall join their parents, over
whose graves they so long wep
and gaze into their glorihed coun
tenances, forever, face to face. w,
may come up from different parts o
the world, one from the land and an
other from the depths of the sea; from
lives affluent and prosperous, or from
scenes of ragged distress; but we shall
all meet in rapture and jubilee, face t.
face.
Many of our friends have entered
upon that joy. a few days ago they
sat with rs studying these Gospe
themes; but they only saw througa
glass, darlSly-now revelation
hath come. Your time will also com e
God will not leave you houndering II
the darkness. You stand wonder-strucl,
and amazed. You feel as If all tn,
loveliness of life were dashed out. You
stand gazing into the open chasm o
the grave. Wait little. In the pres
ence of your departed, and of Hin
who carries them in His bosom
you shall soon stand face to face
Oh, that our last hour may kindl
up with this promised joy! May W
be able to say, like the Christian no
long ago, departing: Though pill
grim, walking through the valley, tn
mountain tops are cleaning fror
peak to pealS" Or, like my dea
friend and brother, Alfred Cool
man. who took his fight to the thron
of God, saying in his last moment tina
which has already gone into Christia
classics: Il am sweeping through tn
pearly gate, washed in the blood Of tn
Lamb