Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-01-19


II a very novel way DR.. Talmage in
this discourse describes what may be
- expected in the next world by those
who here bend all their energies in the
right direction; text. II. Peter l.. II, For
SO an entrance shall be ministered unto
you abundantly."
Different styles of welcome ut the gate
of heaven are here suggested. We all
hope TO enter that supernal capital
through the grace that is ready to save
even the chief of sinners. But not now.
No man healthy of body and mind wants
TO go now. The man who hurls himself
out Of this life is either an agnostic or is
demented or finds life insufferahe and
does not care where he lands. This is
the best world We ever got into, and we
want to stay here as long as God will let
us stay But when the last page of the
volume of our earthly life is ended we
want enrolment in heavenly citizenship.
We want to get in easily. We do not
want to be challenged at the gate and
asked TO show our passports. We do not
want the gatekeeper in doubt as to
whether we ought to go in at all. We do
not want to be kept in the portico Of the
eSAsFaN hiAAAA tthNbAtdtiph II maui as "
where we came from and who we are
and whether il is safe to admit us. lest
we be a discord in the eternal harmonies
or lower the spirit of heavenly worship.
When the apostle Peter in the text ad-
dresses the people. For so an entrance
shall be administered unto you abundant
ly, he implies that some will find ad-
mission into heaven easy, raptrous and
acclamatory. while others will have to
squeeze through the gate of heaven, il
they get in at all. They will arrive anx-
ious and excited and apprehensive and
wondering whether il will be Come or
Go" The Bible speaks of such per-
sons as scarcely saved" and in another
place as saved as by fire." and in an
other place as escaped by the skin of the
teeth"
Carrying out the suggestion of my text,
| propose to show you what classes of
Christians will get into heaven with
hard push and those who will bound in
amid salutations infinite. In the first
class | put that man who gets into the
Kingdom of God at the close of a life all
given to worldliness and sin. Years ago
he made the resolution that he would
serve himself and serve the world until
body, mind and soul were exhausted and
then, just before going out Of this life,
would seek God and prepare TO enter
heaven. He carries out his resolution.
He genuinely repents the last day or the
l&sst hour or the last minute Of his life.
He takes the last seat in the last car Of
the last train bound heavenward. His
released and immortal spirit ascends. Not
one wing bears down toward him with a
welcome. No sign of gladncss at his ar
rival. None there obligated to him for
kindness done or aims distributed or
spiritual help administered. He will find
some place to stay but I do not envy
that man his heaven He got ia, but it
was not an abundant entrance.
The Mercy of Christ.
Sometimes in our pulpits we give a
wrong turn to the story Of the dying thief
to whom Christ said. This day shalt
thou be with me in paradise" We ought
to admire the mercy of the Christ that
pardoned him in the last hour, but do not
let us admire the dying thief. When he
was arrested, | think his pockets were
full OF stolen coin. and the coat he had on
his back was not his own HI stole
right on until he was arrested for his
crimes. He rcpenfed. and through great
mercy arose to paradise. but he was no
example to follow. What a gigantic
meanness to devote the wondrous equip
ment of brain and nerve and muscle and
bone with which we are endowed. these
miracles of sight and hearing and speech
TO purposes unworthy or profane. aud
fhnn tbrr,,e,b 81
last, enter heaven. Cheating God all
ones lifetime and then taking advantage
Of bankrupt law and made free of all
liabilities. ! should think that some men
would be ashamed 10 enter heaven or
would prefer some medium place in the
wide universe where the palaces are not
so effulgent and the trees bear not more
than six instead of twelve manner of
fruits and the social life is not so exalted
Again, the bigot viii not have what my
text calls an abundant entrance. He has
his bedwarfed opinion as to what all
must believe and do ia order to gain CO
lestial residence. He has his creed in one
pocket and his catccbism IN another peck
ct, and it may bc good creed and good
eatechism, but he uses them rs sharp
his theories. You must be baptized in his
way or come 20 him through apostolic
succession or be foreOrdained Of eternity.
or you are in al awful way. He shrivcls
up and shivels up and becomes more
splenetic until Tie time Of his departure
is at hand He has enough IF the salt Of
grace to save him, but his entrance int
heaven will be something worth watch
ing. What do they want with him in
heaven, where they have all gone into
eternal catholicity. one grand commin-
Cling Of Methodists and Baptsts and
Episcopalians and Luthcrans and Con
gregationaHsts aud Presbyterians and
score of other denominations inst as good
as any / have mentionedf They all join
in the halleuiah chorus. accompanied by
barpers on their harps and trumpeters
on their trimpets Worthy is the Lamb
that was slain to receive blessing and
riches and honor and glory and power
Necessity OF Denominations.
Denominations Of Christians on earth
were necessary in order 10 better work
and to suit preferences-as an army must