The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-06
MUST cross THE SEA OF GLASS.
Rev. DIR. Fairs Sermon at the indie
pendent Church.

At the Independent Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning Rev. DR.. Fair, the pas
tor, preached from Rev. 1872: Before the
throne, there was sea of glass mingled
with FIRE"
He said the Christian would be crowned
in Heaven and reign forever. But how"
he asked, does he ascend his throne? The
text reveals the singular fact that there is
a sea of glass before the throne. In the
scriptures glass is the emblem Of purity.
1t is clear and transparent; it hides no
dark secrets, conceals no defects. the sun
shines through and through it, if it con-
tains flaw, no experts eye is needed-it
Is apparent at glance. So the Christian
must be pure, sincere and unsullied, with
out spot or wrinkle"
DR.. Fair said that as the lenses of
telescope reveal the beauties of distant
body and as those of a microscope show
the animalculae and impurities Of drop
of water so will be the disclosures when
the soul Is put under the infinite and I'M
erring scrutiny of the sea of glass In
many u man or woman where the natu-
raj eye has seen nothing beautiful or at
tractive, only the commonplace and pro-
sale, world OF spiritual beauty will flash
out to gem the heavens. Ocean depths of
love- mountain nights of aspiration, bound
less fathomless tides of holy emotions,
which the poor stammering tongue could
not express, a golden harvest of kind
words and gentle charities for the reaping
of angel hands. In many that to the nat
ural eye seem beautiful, will be found only
nothingness and empty profession, world
of coling. kissing hatreds and Shiny rep
tiles of impurity. Let us remember, If
we hope 20 reign with Christ, we must
cross the sea of glass We may not see
much sin or muddy impurity In our hearts,
we may say we have our faults but we
are not so bad as others; we don't drink
or gamble, or steal, or swear, but uncon-
sciously we may harbor malice and pre-
JUDGE and covetousness, which is idolatry.
When a storm is over, when the ocean
is no longer agitated by struggling winds,
when it lies still and calm. its surface I'M
ruffied by the gentlest zephyr's breath,
when It's last undulating throb dies softly
along the beach, like an infants sob when
it sinks to sleep; then we say it is a sea
of glass. The fire that mingles with II
now is only the sunsets glow; the bene-
diction and kiss of heaven to crown the
restless picture with its highest beauty.
The result of the Christians trials, of
sanctifed suffering is repose."
Dr. Fair said the great truths inter
linked in the text are fire, purity, coro-
nation, eternal and unbroken rest. ct Is
Gods strange way again. Afliction and
holiness, blood and whiteness. After all,
can we not see 1t Is best? Is not the crown
brighter to the warrior after he has won
1t through suffering? When the sailor
rides peacefully at anchor in the quiet
haven in the sight of home and the voices
of his loved ones come floating over the
FURNISHED water, is not the sea of glass
rendered far more beautiful and sweet by
the memory of the storms that baff1ed his
voyage and tossed him in the rough
waves? So the rest of heaven will be
all the sweeter because of our trials here.
AS we sit upon the throne and look back
in life, we will understand its meaning,
and thank God for the restless waves that
bore us nearer home. The sea of life that
now seems so dark and rough and fiery,
will then appear as clear as glass, the
glow of it's extinguished fire rejecting
over its crystal depths, the highest beauty
and sweetest joy. And through all eter-
nifty we will bless God that the sea of
glass mingled with fire was before the
throne"