Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-02-15

ne meats OF eartniy conflict are cool, the
glory of heaven fills all the scene with love,
JOY and peace. At eventime it is light
light,
Finally, my text shall find fulfillment at
the end OF the Christians life. You know
how short winters day is and how little
work you can do. Now, my friends, life is
a short winters day. The sun rises at 8
and sets at 4. The birth angel and the
death angel fly only a little way apart.
Baptism and burial are near together.
With one hand the mother rocks the era
die and with the other she touches grave.
/ went into the house of one of my pa
rishiorers on Thanksgiving Day. The lit
tie child OF the household was bright and
glad, and with it / bounded up and down
the hall. Christmas Day came and tn
night OF that household had persisted. w
stood. with black book, reading over tn
grave, Ashes to ashes. dust to dust"
But hurl away this darkness. cannot
have you weep. Thanks be unto God, who
giveth us the victory, at eventime it shall
be light. l have seen many Christians die.
/ never saw any OF them die in darkness.
What if the pillows of death do rise above
our girdle, who does not love to battle?
What though other lights do go out in the
blast, what do we want 4. them when all
the gates OF glory swing open before us,
and from myriad voices, myriad harps,
myriad thrones, a myriad palaces there
dashes upon us "Hosanna, Hosannai"
Throw back the shutters and let the
sun in" said dying Scoville McCullum, one
OF my Sabbath-school boys. Throw back
the shutters and let the sun in" You can
see Paul putting on robes and wings of as
cension as he esclaims: Il have fought the
good tight! l have finished my course! /
have kept the faith"
Hugh Mckall went to one side of the
scaffold OF martyrdom and cried: Fare
well sun, moon and stars! Farewell all
earthly delights" then went on the other
side of the scaffoid and cried: Welcome,
God and Father! Welcome, sweet Jesus
Christ, the Mediator of the covenant!
Welcome. death. Welcome, glory"
A minister of Christ in Philadelphia,
dying, said in his last moments, Il move
into the light" They did not go down
doubling and fearing and shivering, but
their battle cry rang through all the cav
erns OF the sepulcher and was echoed back
from all the thrones OF heaven: 20 death,
where is thy sting? o grave, where is thy
victory" Sing, my soul, OF joys to come.
saw a beautiful being wandering up
and down the earth. She touched the aged
and they became young; she touched the
poor and they became rich. l said, WHO
is this beautiful being wandering up and
down the ear;h!" They told me that her
name was Death. What a strange thrill
VI ~! WHeu tne pdtsleu Nnrlstian DeSlu
to use his arm again, when the blind
Christian begins to see again, when the
deaf Christian begins to hear again, when
the poor pilgrim puts his feet on such pave
ment and joins in such company and has
free seat in such great temple.
Hungry men no more to hunger, thirsty
men no more to thirst, weeping men no
more TO weep. dying men no more to die.
Gather up all sweet words, all jubilant ex
pressions, all rapturous ordinations;
bring them to me, and | will pour upon
them this stupendous theme OF the souls
disenthrallment,
oh, the JOY of the spirit as it shall mount
up toward the throne OF God, shouting:
Free, Free" Your eye has gazed upon
the garniture OF earth and heaven. but eye
hath not seen it; your ear has caught har-
caught them from harp's trill and birds
carol and waterfalls dash and oceans do1-
clogy-but ear hath not heard il.
How did those blessed ones get up into
tee light! What hammer knocked off Their
chains! What loom wove their robes Of
.:ght! Who gave them wings! An, eter-
nifty is not long enough to tell it. seraphim
have not capacity enough to realize it
the marvels OF redeeming love!
Let the palms wave; let the crowns git
ter; let the anthems ascend; let the tres
OF Lebanon clap their hands-they cannot
tell the half OF it. Archangel before the
throne, thou failcst,
Sing on, praise on, We hosts OF the glcri-
fled, and if with your scepters you canrot
reach it and with your songs you canrot
express it then let all the myriads OF the
saved unite in the exclamation: 'Jests.
Jesus. Jesusi'
There will be a password at the gate OF
heaven. A great multitude come up and
knock at the gate. The gatekeeper sa5s,
The password" They say: I'VE have no
password. We were great on earth, md
now we come up to be great in heaven"
A voice from within answers, Il never
knew you Another group come up to
the gate of heaven and knock. The gate
keeper says, The password" They say,
I'VE have no password. We did u great
many noble things on earth We endowed
colleges and took care of the poor" The
voice from within says, Il never knew
OF heaven and knock. The gatekeepr
says. The password" They answer, We
were wanderers from God and deserve 20
die. bat we heard the voice OF jesus"
Aye, aye" says the gatekeeper. that is
the password. Lift up your heads, &c
everlasting gates, and let these people
come in" They go in and surround tie
throne, jubilant forever.
All. do you wonder that the last hours
by thoughts of the coming glory. Light n
the evening. The medicines may be bite
The pain may be sharp. The parting may
be heartrending. Yet light in the ever
ing. AS all the stars of the night sing
their anchors of pearl in lake and river
and sea so the waves of Jordan shall be l.
Illuminated with the down flashing OF tn.
glory TO come. The dying soll looks up at
the consultations. The Lord is my light
and my salvation; whom shall l fear?'
The Lamb which is in the midst of tn.
throne shall lead them to living fountains
OF water. and God shall wipe away all team
from their eyes"
Close the eyes of the departed one:
earth would seem tame to its enchanted
vision. Fold the hands; life's work j.
ended: Veil the face; it has been trans
figured.
Mr.. Toplady in his owing hour sale
Light" Coming nearer the expirin.
moment he exclaimed with illuminated
countenancc, Light" In the last instan:
of his breathing he lifted up his hands an!
cried: Light. Light"
/, Thank God for light in the evening!
tcopyrisht. 1865. L. Kiopschl