Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-11-24
that has 50 improved in society in tho last

Thousand. In the olden times, when the
events OF human life were scattered over
four or five centuries Of longevity, and the
world moved slowly, there were not SO
many stirring events to be reported in
heaven; but now, suppose, all the great
events OF earth are reported in heaven. II
there ia any truth plainly taught in this
Bible it is that heaven Is wrapped up IN
sympathy with human history, and we
look at those inventions OF the day-at
telegraphy, at swift communication by
steam, at all these modern improvements
which seem to give one almost omnfpres-
ence-and we see only the secular relation;
but spirits before the throne look out and
nations rise and fall, while the earth Is
shaking with revolution, do you not sup
pose there is arousing intelligence going
up to the throne of God, and that the ques-
tion is often asked before the throne,
"What is the news from that world-that
its ailegiance2" If ministering spirits, ac-
cording to the Bible, are sent forth to
minister to those that shall be heirs OF
heaven. when they come down to US to
bless us, do they not take the news backP
D o the ships of light that come out OF the
celestial harbor into the earthly harbor,
laden with cargoes OF blessing 20 back
unfreighted2 Ministering spirits not only
but our loved ones leaving us, take up the
tidings. Suppose you were In far city,
and had been there good while, and you
heard that some one had arrived from
recently seen your family and friends
you. would rush up to that man, and you
would ask all about the old folks at home.
And do you not suppose when your child
went up to God, your Rlorif1ed kindred In
heaven gathered around aud asked about
getting along we'll in the struggle of life;
to find out whether you were in any espe-
cial peril, that with swift and mighty
wing they might come down to intercept
your perils? Oh. yes! Heaven is a
greater place for news than 1t used to be-
news sounded through the streets, news
ringing from the towers, news heralded
from the palace gate. Glad news! Vic
torious newsl
Now, say these things about the changes
in heaven, about the new improvements in
heaven, for three stout reasons. First, be-
cause find that some Of you are impa-
tient to be gone. You are tired Of this
world, and you want to get into that rood
land about which you have been thinkinR,
praying, and talking so many years Now
be patient. could see why you would want
to go to an art gallery II some of the best
pictures we're to be taken away this week or
next week; but IL some one tells you that
there are other beautiful pictures to come
other Kensetts, Raphaels, and Rubens;
other masterpieces to be added to the gal
lery-you would say, 81 can afford to
wait. The place is improving all the
time" Now, want you to apply the same
principle in this matter ofreaching heaven
aud leaving this world. Not one glory is
to be subtracted, but many glorles added.
Not one angel will be gone, not one hier-
arch gone, not one of your glorifled friends
gone. By the long practicing the music
will be better, the procession will be
longer, the rainbow brighter, the corona
ON Il wit n ofsntH "a mt
addendal Why will you complain when
you are only waiting for something better2
Another reason why 1 speak in regard to
the changes in heaven, and the new i'm
provements in heaven, Is because l think 1t
will be consolation to busy and enterpris-
ing good people. I see very we'll that you
have not much taste for a heaven that was
all done and finished centuries ago. After
YOU have been active forty or fifty or sixty
years 1t would be a shock to stop you sud-
denly and forever; but here is a progressive
| heaven, an ever-accumulative heaven, vast
enterprise on foot there before the throne
OF God. Aggressive knowledge, aggressive
| goodness, aggressive power, aggressive
| grandeur. You will not have to come and
| sit down on the banks of the river OF life
in everlasting inoccupation. busy men,
| tell you OF u heaven where there is some
| thing to do! That Is the meaning of the
| passage, "They rest not day nor night" in
| the lazy sense of resting.
lido not think it was superstitious when,
! one Wednesday night, l stood by a DEATH
! bed within Il few blocks of the church
where preached, and on the same street.
and saw one of the aged Christians of the
| church going into glory. After l had
prayed with her said to her, eve have
| all loved you very much, and will always
cherish your memory in the Christian
| church. You will see my son before I
see him, and 1 wish you would give him
our love-" She said, II will, l wills" and
| in twenty minutes she was in heaven
the last words she ever spoke. 1t was a
| swift message to the skies. If you had
| your choice between riding in u heavenly
| chariot and occupying the grandest palace
| In heaven, and sitting on the throne next
| highest to the throne of God, and not see.
| ing your departed loved ones; and on the
other hand, dwelling In the humblest place
in heaven, without crown or throne, and
| without garland, and without sceptre, yet
having your loved ones around you, you
| would choose the latter. say these things
because want you to know 1t is domes-
tic heaven, and consequently 1t Is all the
time improving. Every one that goes up
| makes 1t a brighter place, and the attrac-
tions are increasing month by month and
day by day; and heaven, so vastly more OF
| heaven, thousand times more OF q
heaven, than it used to be, will be better
heaven yet. Oh, I say this to intensity
fOuT dullClpdtlOu!
enter heaven one day. 1t Is almost
empty. enter the temples OF worship,
and there are no worshipers. Iwalk down
the street, and there are no passengers.
go into the orchestra, and find the instru-
ments are suspended in the baronial halls
of heaven, and the great organs OF eter-
nifty, with multitudinous banks OF keys, are
closed. But I see shining one at the
gate, as though he were standing on
guard, and say, ''Sentinel, what does this
mean? thought heaven was populous
city. Has there been some great plague
sweeping off the population2" "Have
you not heard the news?" says the SEN
tinel. "There is world burning, there
is a great confagration out wonder, and
all heaven has gone out to look at the con-
fiagration and take the victim out of the
ruins. This is the day for which all other
days are made. This is the Judgment
This morning all the chariots, and the cav
airy, and the mounted infantry rumbled
and galloped down the sky" After had
listened to the sentinel, looked off over
the battlements. and saw that the fields
of air were bright with blazing world. I
said, Eyes, yes, this must be the Judg-
ment;" and while stood there heard the
rumbling Of wheels and the clattering Of
hoofs. and the roaring OF many voices,