The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-22
THE ABODE OF THE 'BLEsr.
Rev. Arthur j. Smiths Sermon Upon
"HeaFen.v

Heaven" was the subject of an elo-
quent discourse by Rev. Arthur j Smith
at the First Presbyterian Church last
night. Mr.. Smith began his sermon by
describing the great reception to Lafay-
cite at New York on the occasion of his
last visit to this country. The old man
remained unnerved until at Castle Gar
den a curtain was suddenly lifted and a
stage was revealed with representation
Of the old hero's boyhood home in France
Then he was so overcome with emotion
that he buried his face in his hands and
wept.
Had l the power to draw aside the
veil that shuts out from our view to-
night the unseen world above" said Mr.
Smith, there would he no need for me
to preach, for you would be so overcome
that you would yield yourselves to Christ
and enter his service.
THE place where the righteous will
spend eternity has been called by various
names in the Bible. Paradise, City of
GCd, New Jerusalem, are some of
them. Some would have US believe that
heaven is only a condition and not a place.
Jesus said; Il go to prepare a place for
you" He went to that place in His res
direction body, Elijah was caught up to
that sape place, and we are told that
Enoch walked with God, and was not, for
God took him.
1t is place of unsurpassed grandeur
and beauty. The jasper walk, pearly
gates, golden streets and palaces of ivory
are but hguratiVe. God always gives us
more than He promises, and We believe
that the walls, gates, streets and palaces
will be infinitely better than jasper. pearls
You'd the power of mans imagination
Heaven is a place of overpoweFing bright
ness. The light is too strong for human
eyes. Moses caught a glimpse of it in
Mount Sinai. The three disciples also had
a vision of it at the transfgura ton of
Christ. There are no dark clouds of sor>
row, doubt or fear there. There is no
night there. One eternal day. The Lamb
is the light of the city.
Holiness and purity prevails in heav-
en-. No sin enters there, nothing that
defileth or maketh a lie. Nothing ever
again will come between God and his chill
dren to break their communion with him.
Heaven is a pace of rest satisfaction
and joy. One of the things that will go
to make heaven attractive and beautiful
to man will be the large number of chill
dren who will be there. Two thirds of
the human race die in infancy. They are
covered by the atonement and will
meet us IN heaven. Children bring joy
into our homes here. What joyous place
heaven must be-
Heaven will be a place of reunion
Earth is full of good-bys. 1t is good-by
at the railroad station and steamboat
dock 1t is good-by at the grave. ThereIl
be no goOd-bys in heaven. 1t will be
welcome at the gates by the dear ones
who have gone before. We shall
know them. 1t will be VEL
come through the streets by the angels
1t will be welcome at the throne by the
King Himself.
'"Fhe condition of entering. Christ said
is the new birth. Except man be born
again he cannot see the kingdom of God. -
He also said, II am the door; by me If
any man enter in he shall be saved"
- ] am the way, the truth, and the life;
no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me- We must receive Jesus If we would
enter heaven. If there is no room for
Jesus in our hearts down here, there will
be nc room for us in heaven
In the morning, Mr.. Smith preached an
impressive sermon on God Searching Our
Hearts" There were eleven persons re-
ccived into the fellowship of the chuFch
'Ehe attendance of members upon the COM
munion service was larger than it has been
in several years.