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

lnented. They are going out from our
circles of earth to join it-little voices
to join the anthem, little hands to
take hold in the great home circle,
little feet to dance in the eternal glee,
little crowns to be cast down before
the feet of Jesus. Our friends are in
two groups-a group this side Of the
river and group on the other side
of the river. Now there goes one from
this to that and another from this to
that, and soon we will all be gone
over. How many Of your loved ones
have already entered upon that
blessed place? If should take paper
and pencil, do you think could put
them all down? All, my friends. the
waves of Jordan roar SO hoarsely we
cannot hear the joy on the other side
when the group is augmented.
A little child's mother had died. and
they comforted her. They said: ''Your
mother has gone to Heaven. Don't
cry" And the next day they went to
the graveyard, and they laid the body
of the mother down into the ground.
and the little girl came up to the verge
of the grave and, looking down, said:
''Is this Heayen?" We have no idea
what Heaven is. It is the grave here
it is darkness here-but there 10 mer-
rymaking yonder. Methinks when
soul arrives some angel takes it around
to show it the wonders of that blessed
place. The usher angel says to the
newly arrived: .These are the mar
tyrs that perished at Piedmont; these
were torn to pieces at the inquisitson;
this is the throne of the great Jeho-
vah; this is Jesus" II am going to SEQ
Jesus" said dying boy. Il am going
to see Jesus" The missionary said:
"You. are sure you will see Him." "Oh,
yes; that's what want to go to Heaven
for" "But," said the missionary, .sup-
pose Jesus should 60 away from
Heaven-what then?" II should fol-
low him." said the dying boy. but i
Jesus went down to hell-what then r.
The dying boy thought for moment
and then said: where Jesus is there
can be no hell!" Oh, to stand in His
presence! That will be Heaven! Oh,
to put our hand in that hand which was
wounded for us on the cross-to 60
around amid the groups Of the re-
deemed and shake hands with the
prophets and apostles and martyrs
and with our own dear beloved onesl
That will be the great reunion. We
cannot imagine it now. Our loved ones
seem so far away. When we are in
trouble and lonesome, they don't seem
to come to us. We go on to the banks
of the Jordan and call across to them.
but they do not seem to hear. We says:
us it well with the child? is it well
with the loved ones?" and we listen to
hear if any voice come back over the
waters. None. none!
Unbelief says: '.They are dead, and
they are annihilated," but blessed bo
God, we have Bible that tells us differ
ent! We open 1t, and we find they arc
neither dead nor annihilated-tha
they never were SO much alive 40 now
that they are only waiting for our
coming and that we shall join them on
the other side of the river. Oh, glori-
GUS reunion. we cannot grasp it nowl
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard.
neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God hath pre-
pared for them that love Him.
When / hear these old songs sung, IL
seems as if all the old country meeting
houses Joined in the chorus and city
church and sailors bethel and western
cabins until the whole continent lifts
the doxology and the scepters of eter-
nifty beat time in the music. Away,
then, with your staryeling tunes that
chill the deyotions OF the sanctuary
and make the people sit silent when
Jesus is marching on to victory. When
generals come back from victorious
| wars do we not cheer them and shout:
"Huzza, huzza?" And when Jesus
passes along in the conquest Of the
eartL, shall we not have for Him one
loud, ringing cheer?
All hail the power Of Jesus namei
| Let angels PROSTATE fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord OF all.
But, my friends, If music on earth II
SO sweet what will it be in Heaven!
They all know the tune there. All the
best singers of all the ages will join il
I-choirs of white-robed children, choirs
of patriarchs, choirs of apostles. Morn
ing stars clapping their cymbals.
Harpers with their harps. Great an
thems Of God roll on! roll on!-otheT
empires joining the harmony till the
thrones are all full and the nations
all saved. Anthem shall touch anthem,
chorus join chorus, and all the sweet
sounds of earth and Heaven be poured
into the ear of Christ. David of the
harp will be there. Gabriel of the trum'
pet will be there. Germany, redeemed
will pour its rich bass voice into thu
song, and Africa will add to the music
with her matchless voices. wish IL
our closing hymn to-day we NIGH
catch an echo that slips from the gates
Who knows but that when the heaven
, " door opens to-day to let some son
. through there may come forth th,
. strain of the jubilant voices until W
"a - Ices -