The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-12-11
THE PEARLLY GATES"
Sunday Sermon By Rev. J. Wilbur
Chapman.
Brilliant DESCRIPTION Of the Celestial City In
Which There Is Neither Sicksess or Sor.
row, Death nor Crying


Church in this city in order 10 devote him
,ef to evangelistic work, has prepared the
following sermon for the press. IL is enti-
tied And the Twelve Gates Were Twelve
Pearls and was preached from the text.
"And had wall great and high, and had
twelve gates, and at the gates twelve an
gels, and names written thereon, which
are the names of the twelve tribes of the
children OF Israel" Revelation xxi: II.
When La Fayette last visited this coun-
try the people gave him royal reception.
A fleet of vessels went out to meet him.
the band played Hail to the Chief" and
the national music of France, and it is told
that he was unmoved
As he came ashore land and water trem-
bed with the power OF artillery. Old sol
ders saluted him as they shouted his well
come, and he was still unmoved. With
waving banners and under triumpbal
arches ne was taken to Castle Garden,
where most OF the great men OF the nation
we're gathered together 20 give him greet
ing. and he was stil not moved. But when
aa had taken his seat in the great amphi
theatre. and when the curtain was lifted
nc saw before him perfect representation
Of the place in France where he was born
and brought up, and when he saw the old
home SO filled with tender memories, the
home where his father and mother had
lived and died, It is said chat the great
man was touched. and bowing his face in
his hands he wept like child Ii could
only draw aside the veil which separates
the seen IRON the unseen. so that you
could behold that city which hath founda-
tons there would be no need for me to
preach. for in the very thought of heaven
you would he almost overwhelmed. | have
read descriptions of cities both in ancient
and modern times. but never such de-.
scription rs this; adorned like a bride for
her husband; city in which there is
neither sickness nor sorrow. death nor cry
ing; Il city OF walls and gates: on the east
three gates. on the west three gates on
the south three gates, on the north three
gates, and the walls had twelve founda-
tons, and in them the names OF the twelve
apostles OF the Lamb. The angel that
made the revelation had a golden rod in
his hand with which he was measuring the
city, and found that the length was equal
to the breadth. aud that the wall was IA
cuhits: that the building of the wall was
OF jasper; that the city was pure gold, and
that the twelve gates were twelve pearls.
1t is said that they were wide open by day
there is no night there. and in that city
there was no need of the sun, for the glory
OF the Lord did tighten it, aud the Lamb
was the light thereof.
II comes 60 me like an inspiration that
one day ] shall enter that city. Can you
say it? Hour children are going in, your
parents are going in your husband is going
It, your wife is going in; are you going inI
Il is great JOY to know that the things
that bring us the representations OF heaven
are so substantial. Some people tell us
that heaven is state, not place. What
then did Christ mean when He said, 81 go
to prepare a place for YOU" and what
again when He said. "In My Fathers
house there are many mansions?" What
Is the doctrine of the resurrection? Is it
that only the spirits of men are raised?
This is not our teaching. There must be
some place for the resurrccted body. When
bPiut txxya,a frt.,fI % notl,
any and cleud received Him out of their
sight, He arose bodily from their presence.
1t is certain, absolutely certain, that heav-
en- is place.
Perhaps some may question. at first, the
meaning Of the text. and yet | am very
sure il we only had the mind of the Spirit
We would find in it much of beauty, sweet
ness and power.
WHAT is HEAVEN?
II is a place OF overpowering brightness.
Everything that ever came from thence
tells us SO. Chariots SO bright that the
only thing to which they could be likened
was fire. Angels with, faces shining so that
men must veil their eyes before them.
Moses and ELIAS SO surrounded with glory
that the three disciples were overcome
with the vision on the mount of transfig-
uration. The walls are like great jewel,
The streets OF pure gold and every single
gate pearl You know the brightness of
one little gem as 1t sparkles on your
finger, but o. the wonderful thought that
every gate is pearl, and the day will come
when we may go. sweeping through the
gates II we will God has done everything
that He could do and our entering in now
rests upon ourselves. But the brightness
ot heaven, aside from the presence OF
CHRIST, is not due to the gates, nor to the
walls, nor to the streets, but to the pres
ence of those who have been redeemed
have been told that the deeper the
water the larger the pearl. Whether that
he true or not | can not tell. but / know
that from the greatest depths God some.
times takes His brightest Jewels, 1t is no
cause for encouragement ii YOU have been
., great sinner. Paul was prosecutor,
Bunyan a, blasphemer Newton libertine,
and yet they shine to-day as the jewels OF
Christ
Biologists tell us that the diamond is
only crystallized carbon, charcoal glorifed.
rms book tells us something better than
that, that though Your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though
tney ne red like crimson, they shall be as
Heaven is a place of unutterable sweet.
t ness. Gan you imagine the number of 1t.
te children there? Can any one describe
the sweetness of a ehild's song? And
when you remember that your own little
one may be therel What wonderful sing
ing 1t is as their lips are touched by the
unhger OF Christ, and their hearts are
thrilled with His presence.
20 the Joys that are there mortal eye hath
. not seen,
u the songs they Sing there with hosan.
mas between,
w. the thrice blessed song of the Lamb
n and of Moses,
" the white tents of peace where the
n ,rapt soul reposes.
" the waters SO still and Che pastures so
, green
mere. there they sing songs with hosan.
mas between!"
Inc hoy who was blind makes the best
LApression OF heaven TO me. The doctor
@ aau cut away the obstruction from his
r 80, ana the bandages placed there were
thoVeu th one by one, until after o little
ons haa ali been taken off. When he
p', psneu ms eyes in silent wonder as il
I'm world had been opened TO him, he be.
that h,u ms mother, and yet he did not know
,n;l; ,i1s ~ was she. Finally he heard her ia.
sasSn voiee e asking him, MY son, can you
inc no ne sprang into her arms. exclaim.
the ~; mother, is this heayen!" That is
to o,,o LEY uennition. Heaven is seeing eye
ye; knowing even as we are known II
sre snsre Is one word which better than an.
explanation. "S"'s" " i'e IL 10 an
.Afhrt is heayen?' I asked little child.
IVY and IN her innocence she smiled.
asked Se the aged, with her care oppressed.
Jestf''ns rest Ger, oh, heaven at last is
i asked thu ,,4..