The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-11-24

OF calculation mightler than all hu-
man mathematics, with powers OF
analysis surprising all chemical labor
atory, with speed swifter than teleg-
raphyl What must Heaven learn,
with all these advantages, in mil
lenium? The difference between the
highest university on earth and the
smallest class in primary school can
not be a greater difference than
Heaven as it is now and Heaven as it
once was. DO you not suppose that
when DR.. James Simpson went up
from the hospitals of Edinburgh into
Heaven he knew more than ever the
science of health; and that Joseph
Henry, graduating from the Smith
sonian institution into Heaven, awoke
into higher realms of philosophy;
and that Sir William Hamilton, lifted
to loftier sphere, understood better
the construction of the human intel
lee; and that John Milton took up
higher poetry in the actual presence
of things that on earth he had tried to
describe?
Again: Heaven is vastly improved
in its society. During your memory
how many exquisite spirits have gone
into It'll If you should try to make a
list of all the genial, loving gracious,
blessed souls that you have known, it
would be very long list-souls that
fave gone into glory. Now, do you
not suppose they have enriched the
society? Have they not improved
Heaven? You tell of what Heaven did
for them. They have done nothing for
Heaven? Take all the gracious souls
that have gone out of your acquaint-
anceship, and add to them all the gra-
cious and beautiful souls that for 500
or 1000 years have gone out of all the
cities and all the villages, and all the
countries of this earth into glory,
and how the society of Heaven must
have been improved! Suppose Paul,
the apostle, were introduced into your
social circle on earth; but Heaven has
added all the apostles. Suppose Han
nah More and Charlotte Elizabeth
were introduced into your social cir
Gle on earth; but Heaven has added all
the blessed and the gracious and the
holy women of the past ages. Sup
pose that Robert MCheyne and John
Summerfield should be added to your
earthly circle! but Heaven has gath
cred up all the faithful and earnest
ministry of the past. There is not a
town, or city, or village that has
so improved in society in the last hun
dred wears as Heaven has improved.
But you say: Hasn't Heaven al
ways been perfect?" Oh, yes! but not
in the sense that it can not be aug
mented. 1t has been rolling on in
grandeur. Christ has been there, and
He never changes--the same yester-
day, to-day and forever. But l speak
now of attractions outside of this,
and have to tell you that no place on
earth has improved in society as
Heaven has within the last 70 years;
for most of you within 40 years,
within 20 years, within five years,
within one year; in other words, by
the accessions from your own house.
hold. If Heaven were placed in
groups-an apostolic group, patri-
archal group, a prophetic group, group
of martyrs, group of angels, and then
group of your own glorified kindred
which group would you choose?
| Va, 10Th ,,lr
parison, but it would not take you
long to choose. You would say: "Give
me back those whom loved on earth /;
let me enter into their society-my
parents, my children, my brothers, my
sisters. We lived together on earth,
let us live together in Heaven Oh,
is it not a blessed thought that Heaven
has been improved by it's society-this
colonization from earth to Heaven?
J Again: / remark that Heaven has
greatly improved in the good cheer OF
announced victories. Where Heaven
rejoiced over one soul, it now rejoices
over hundred or thousand. In the
olden times, when the events of hu.
, man life were scattered over four OF
: five centuries of longevity, and the
/ world moved slowly, there were not Sc
many stirring events to be reported il
, Heaven; but now, l suppose, all the
, great events of earth are reported il
Heaven. If there is any truth plain
, ly taught in this Bible it is that Heav
en- is wrapped up in sympathy will
, human history, and we look at thos,
inventions of the day-at telegraphy
at swift communication by steam, a
all these modern improvements which
. seem to give one almost omnipresenc,
. and we see only the secular relation
9 but spirits before the throne look ou
and see the vast and the eternal rela
ton. While nations rise and fall
, while the earth is shaking with revo
: luton, do you not suppose there il
!. arousing intelligence going up to tn,
= throne of God, and that the question
is often asked before the throne
what is the news from that world
!. that world that rebelled, but is com
' ing back to its allegiance?" If min
! istering spirits, according to the Ri
5 BILE, are sent forth to minister to thos
that shall be heirs of Heaven, whel
y they come down to us to bless us, d.
! they not take the news hack? Do tn
ships of light that come out of the &c
y lestial harbor into the earthly harbol
n laden with cargoes of blessing, go bacl
unfreighted? Ministering spirits no
n only, but our loved ones leaving us