The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-11-04

EUhAltAA hHllV the idea of Heaven.
Rev. TALMAeE- and translate IL in
TO modern phrase, we would find that
it's atmosphere is a combination OF
early June and Of the Indian summer
in October, place combining the ad-
vantages of city and country, the
streets standing for the one, and the
~ manner of fruits for the other; a
place of musical entertainments
harpers, pipers, trumpeters, doxolo-
gies; place of wonderful architecture
behold the templesl a place where
there may be the higher forms of ami
NAL life-the beasts which were on
earth beaten, lash.whipped, and CALLED
and unblanketed. and worked to
death, turned out among the white
horses which the Book of Revelation
describes as being in Heaven; place
of stupendous literature-the books
open; a place OF aristocratic and demo-
cratic attractiveness-the kings stand
ing for the one, all nations for the
other; all botanical, genealogical,
arborescent, worshipful beauty and
grandeur.
But my idea now is to speak chiefly
times talk of Heaven as though 1t were
an old city, finished centuries ago,
when have to tell you that no city on
earth, during the last so years, has
had such changes as Heaven. Its not
the same place as when Job, and David.
and Paul wrote of 1t. For hundreds
and hundreds of years it has been GO
ing through peaceful revolution, and
year by year, and month by month,
and hour by hour, and moment by mo-
ment, II is changing, and changing
for something better. Away back
there was only one residence in the
snniverse-the residence of the AL
mighty. Heaven had not yet been
started. immensely was the park all
around about this great residence; but
Gods sympathetic heart after awhile
overlooked in other creations, and
there came, all through this vast coun-
try of immensely, inhabited villages,
which grew and enlarged until they
joined each other, and became one
great central metropolis of the uni
verse, streeted, gated, tempted, wa
tered, inhabited. One angel went
forth with a reed, we are told, and he
measured Heaven on one side, and
then he wenth forth and measured
Heaven on the other side; and then
St John tried to take the census of
that city, and he became so bewildered
that he gave it up.
That brings me to the first thought
of my theme-that Heaven is vastly
improved in numbers. Nothing little
sg ah 81 a.
of adults who have gone into glory
during the last 100, or 500, or 1000
years, remember there are 1000, 900, =
900 of people in the world, and that
the vast majority of people die in in
fancy. How many children must have
gone into Heaven during the last 500
or 1000 years! If New York should
gather in one generation of 1000. 900
population, if London should gather
in one generation 4, 1000. 900 population,
what a vast increase! But what a
mere nothing as compared with the
800, 900, 900, the 1000, 100000, the "mul-
titude that no man can number" that
have gone into that city! OF course,
all this takes for granted that every
child that dies goes as straight into
star; and that is one reason why
Heaven will always be fresh and beau
tiful-the great multitude of children
in it. Put 500, OOO,0 900 children in a
country, it will be blessed and lively
country.
But add to this, If you will, the great
multitude of adults who have gone
into glory, and how the census of
Heaven must run up Many years ago
a clergyman stood in a New England
pulpit and said that he believed that
the vast majority of the race would
finally be destroyed, and that not more
than one person out of 1000 persons
would be finally saved. There hap
pened to be about 1000 people in the
village where he preached. Next Sab
bath two person were heard discussing
the subject, and wondering which one
of the 1000 people in the village would
finally reach Heaven, and one thought
IL would be the minister, and the other
thought il would be the old deacon.
Now, l have not much admiration for
life boat which will go out to a ship
sinking with 1000 passengers, and get
one off in safety and let 1899 60 to the
bottom. Why, Heaven must have been
a village when Abel, the first soul
from earth, entered it, as compared
with the present population of that
great city!
Again: | remark that Heaven has
vastly improved in knowledge, Give
man 40 or 80 years to study one
science, or all sciences, with all the
advantages of laboratories and observ-
Rtories and philosophic apparatus, he
will be marvel of information. Now,
into what intelligence must Heaven
mount, angelhood and sainthood, not
after studying for 40 or 80 years, but
for thousands Of years-studying God
ana the soul and immortality and the