The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-06-29
.There is rest for the weary,

Then putting his wasted hand over his
heart, he said, There is rest for me-"
But there are some of you who want
to hear about the land where they
never have any heartbreaks and no
graves are dug. Where are your father
and mother? The most of you are or"
phans. / look around and see one
man who has parents living see ten
who are orphans. Where are your
children? Where see one family cir
Gle that is unbroken l see three or
four that have been desolated. One
lamb gone out of this fold; one flower
plucked from that garland; one
golden link broken from that chain;
here a bright light put out, and there
another, and yonder another. With
such griefs how are you to rest. viii
there ever be power that can attune
that silent voice, or Nndle the luster
of that closed eye, or put spring and
dance into that little foot? When we
bank up the dust over the dead, is the
sod never to be broken? Is the ceme-
terv to hear no sound but the tire OF
the hearse-wheel, or the tap of the
bell at the gate as the long professions
come in with their awful burdens of
grief? Is the bottom of the grave
gravel and the top dust? No! no! no!
The tomb is only place where we
wrap our robes about us for a pleas
ant nap on our way home. The swell
ings of Jordan will only wash off the
dust of the way. From the top of the
grave we catch glimpse of the tow
ers glinted with the sun that never
sets.
Oh, We whose looks are wet with the
dews of the night of grief; ye whose
hearts are heavy, because those we'll
known footsteps sound no more at the
doorway, yonder is your rest! There
is David triumphant; but once he be-
moaned Absalom. There is Abraham
enthroned; but once he wept for
Sarah. There is Paul exultant; but he
once sat with his feet in the stocks.
There is Payson radiant with immor-
tai health; but on earth he was always
sick. No toll, no tears, no partings,
no strife, no agonizing cough, no
night. No storm to ruffle the crystal
sea. No alarm to strike from the ca
thedral towers. No dirge throbbing
from seraphic harps. No tremor in
the everlasting song; but rest-per-
feet rest-unending rest.
Into that rest how many loved ones
have gone! Some put down the work
of mid-life, feeling they could hardly
be spared from the store or shop for
day, but are to be spared from 1t
forever. Some went in old age. One
came tottering on his staff, and used
to sit at the foot of the pulpit, his
wrinkled face radiant with the light
that falls from the throne of God. An
other having lived a life of Christian
consistency here, ever busy with kind,
nesses for her children, her heart full
of that meek and quiet spirit that is in
the sight of God of great price. sud
denly her countenance was transfig'
ured, and the gate was opened, and
she took her place amid that great
cloud of witnesses that hover about
the throne!
Glorious consolation! They are moi
, dead. You cannot make me believe
, they are dead. They have only moved
r on. With more love than that witt
, which they greeted us on earth, they
? watch us from their high place, ant
r their voices cheer us in our struggle
e for the sky. Hail, spirits blessed! nov
? that we have passed the flood and VOL
E the crown. With weary feet we pres
e up the shining way, until in everlast
p ing reunion we shall meet again. Oh
r won't it be grand when, our conflict
r done and our partings over, we shal
e clasp hands, and cry out, This
v HeavenW
r BY the thrones of your departe'
+ kindred, by their gentle hearts, an,
!. the tenderness and love with whicl
a they now call you from the skies,
v beg you start on the high road t
4 Heaven. In the everlasting rest ma
: we all meet.
One of the old writer's wished h
G could have seen three things: Rom
n in it's prosperity, Paul preaching
v Christ in the body. | have thre
= wishes: First, to see Christ in glory
g surrounded by his redeemed; seconC
to see Christ in glory, surrounded b
, his redeemed; third, to see Christ /
~ glory, surrounded by his redeemed.
;, When on my new fledged wings | ris
4 To tread those shores beyond tn
~ skies,
h I'll run through every golden street,
:, And ask each blissful soul | meet
y " Where is the God whose praise y
= sing?
y O! lead me, stranger, to your King.