The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-06-21

Of the robes of great crowd rising up
to praise the Lo.d. You thought that
you knew what it was to be well, but
there is no perfect health on earth.
The diseases of past generations came
down to US. The airs that now float
upon the earth are not like those which
foated above Paradise. They are
charged with impurities and distem-
pers. The most elastic and robust
health of earth, compared with that
which those experience before whom
the gates have been opened, is nothing
but sickness and emaciation. Look at
that soul standing before the throne.
On earth she was lifelong invalid.
See her step now and hear her voice
now. Catch. if you can, one breath of
that celestial air. Health in all the
pulses-health of vision, health of
spirits, immortal health. No racking
cough, no sharp pleurisies, no consum-
ing fevers, no exhausting pains, no hos
pitfalls of wounded men. Health swing
ing in the air, health flowing in all the
streams, health blooming on the banks.
No headaches, no side aches, no back
aches. That child that died in the
agonies of Group, hear her voice now
ringing in the anthem. That old man
that went bowed down with the infirm-
tiles of age, see him walk now witt
the step of an immortal athlete-for-
ever young again. That night when
the needlewoman tainted away in the
garret, wave of the heavenly air re-
suscitated her forever. For ever1ast-
ing years to have neither ache, nor
pain, nor weakness, nor fatigue. EYE
hath not seen it. ear hath not heard it.
I remark further that we can in this
world get no just idea of the splendors
of Heaven. John tries to describe them.
He says "the IL gates are IL pearls"
and that 1.-THE foundations of the wall
are garnished with all manner of pre-
cious stones" As we stand looking
through the telescope of st. John we
see a blaze of amethyst and pearl and
emerald and sardonyx and chryso-
prasus and sapphire, a mountain of
light, a cataract Of COLOR q sea of glass
and city like the sun. John bids us
look again, and we see thrones
thrones of the patriarchs, thrones of
the angels, thrones of the apostles,
thrones of the martyrs, throne Of
Jesus-throne of God. And we turn
round to see the glory, and it is thrones,
thrones. thrones!
John bids us look again and see the
great procession of the redeemed pass
ing. Jesus, on white horse, leads
the march, and all the armies of
Heaven follow on white horses. In
finite cavalcade passing, passing; en-
pires pressing into line. ages following
| ages. Dispensation tramping after
dispensation. Glory in the track of
glory. Europe, Asia, Africa, North
and South America pressing into lines.
Islands of the sea shoulder to shoul-
der. Generations before the flood fol,
lowing generations after the flood,
and as Jesus rides at the head of that
| great host and waves his sword in
| signal Of victory, all crowns are lifted
and all ensigns swung out and all
chimes rung and all halleluiahs chant
ed. and some cry, "Glory to God most
high!" and some, "Hosanna to the
son of David!" and some, "Worthy ID
the Lamb that was slain!"-till all ex-
clamations of endearment and hom-
age in the vocabulary of Heaven are
exhausted, and there comes up surge
after surge of "Amen! Amen! and
Amen!" "Eye hath not seen it, ear
hath not heard it," Skim from the
summer waters the brightest sparkles
and you will get no idea of the sheen
of the everlasting sea. Pile up the
splendor of earthly cities, and they
would not make a stepping stone by
which you might mount to the city Of
God. Every house is palace. Every
step is a triumph. Every covering o1
the head coronation. Every meal i.
q banquet. Every stroke from ths
tower is wedding bell. Every day i.
a jubilee, every hour rapture ant
every moment an ecstasy.
i / remark further, we can get nj
idea of the reunions of Heaven. /
you have ever been across the sea,
and met friend or even an acquaint
! ance in some strange land, you re
member how your blood thrilled AM
how glad you were to see him. Wha
will be our joy after we have passet
the seas of death to meet in the brigh
city of the Lord those from whom W,
. have long been separated. After w
have been away from our friends tel
or fifteen years and we come upol
them we see how differently they look
Their hair has turned, and wrinkle
. have come in their faces, and we say
i SLOW you have changed" But, oh
: when we stand before the throne, al
cares gone from the face, all mark
, of sorrow disappeared and feeling tn
| joy of that blessed land, methinks "
II will say to each other with an exults
1 ton we cannot now imagine: "Ho,
: you have changed?"
j In this world we only meet to par
r It is good-by, good-by. Farewell
: floating in the air. We hear it at th
rail car window and at the steamboa
: i