Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-12-23
SOME EDITORIAL THOUGHTS
ABOUT HEAVEN.


The Master said the Kingdom oi
Heayen was within each heart, but It's
demonstration must be in our rela-
tlons to the world and others about
us.
While the material heaven with
golden streets in Its principal city, its
walls OF jasper, its temple Of alabaster
and its CLASSY floor Is becoming only a
Renaissance with many, the multi
tude of believers will still take the
sacred descriptions OF the house Of
many mansions literally and derive
untold consultations from those reyela-
tions as to their future scenes Of life.
We would not rob anyone OF those
beautiful dreams and imaginings of
the prophets, for indeed they are part
of the doctrine OF Immortality, which
as the apostle says is one OF the
foundation stones OF the Christian
religion. But we would that all
could make IL possible To realize more
Of Heaven here on earth. Can we not
demonstrate few OF the essentials OF
Heavenly existence on this earth !?
There Is a quaint story told by Rey.
VIM, p. Mckenzie Of Holland burgo-
master, who descended from the
height OF his austure sell-lmDortance
one day 10 soothe the we OF child
crying over broken toy. After his
death when he came TO heavens gate,
as the story told, he was satisfied that
the many good deeds of his life had
procured an easy entrance; but the
record keeper turned over page after
page, but every one was a blank. Al
last In the corner OF nearly the last
page was one kind act--the mending
or toy for child but that was
enough TO procure him admittance,
for even cup Of cold water given with
love, for Chrlst's sake, brings certain
reward. A single brave or kindly act
has been enough 70 set a name in
history, as for example Sldney's self
denial Ia passing the water his own
lips craved TO the thlrstler soldier on
Lutzen's field. But what If a life be
filled with kindly acts? What II the
record OF years has every hour desig-
mated by self-denial and tenderness
and loving rebukes that healed sin,
and wise counsels that helped the
good OF the world Would not such
"A itfa iliucfrato naovan horo und no
sure the world OF the certainty Of
Gods will being done on earth as IN
heavenY Would not such a life call
out love, and would not men honor
themselves by loving?
Christmas spirit is evidence that
weak and sinful humanity can take
quite slide in the direction OF real
izlng Heaven on this terrestrial globe
What shall remain when this now
solid globe shall have passed away,
and as Shakespear SAYS:
Like an unsubstantial pageant faded
Leave not u rack behind"
When as we are told In the scrip
lures, 1.-THE armament shall be rolled |
up like scroll?" Naught but the
memory OF kind deeds, the record OF
little acts OF kindness done without
hope OF reward or any possible com
pensatl0n. That Is, the realization of
Heaven on earth.
N men and women fail OF achieving
contentment; II they languish with
pain from successive failures; II their
fondest hopes are chilled by untlmely
frosts Of disappointment; IL they can
get no secure foothold for a liyelihood;
II they struggle In despair against
sin, disease and the Icy grasp OF
death; is IL not because they have
meyer allowed their souls 70 grow
and their spiritual life TO develop In
unseltish service OF Others?
What right have we TO demand or
expect that the Heavenly harmonles
shall be heard by our ears here or
hereafter, II we have closed our ears
10 the cry OF distress, or have steeled
our soul against sympathies that are
the most gracious gifts OF our Heav-
enly FatherY Heayen shall not be
seen, can not come 10 our vision, IL we 1
have not trained our eyes 20 behold
It's attributes.
Bayard Taylor says the traveller In
foreign land sees only what his d
'yes have been educated 10 see, OBJ {
ieryes only what his mind has been d
,rained 10 observe. Shall IL be other d
wise with the far country called
Heaven? Might its waves OF eter- v
lal bliss not be breaking all around b
Is, and our eyes, trained only 20 look a
or the sordld aud material, not be- 1
lold this boundless ocean OF eternal a
OYeg 4
Might not our ears, II trained q
My 10 catch the chlnkiDg sound of $
Iollars or to selfish enjoyment. utterly Il
all 10 catch the music Of those O
waves Then that is true that 1
Wordsworth wrote" Heaven lies about a
Is In our Infancy" aud what the v
ayior said: "Unless ye become as \
title children ye cannot enter the I
idgdom OF Heaven" d
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