The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-12-11
THE CELESTIAL CITY
DR.. CfAPMANS SUNAY SERMON
Eloquent Description of the Home
Where is No Sickness, Signing,
Pain or Death.

bur Chapman. who has recently resigned
the pastoratc of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church in this city i'll order to devote him.
self to evangelistic work, has prepared the
following sermon for the press. 1t is enti-
tied And the Twelve Gates Were Twelve
Pearls and was preached from the text,
"And had a 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: l2.
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-
bled with the power Of artillery. Old SOL
diers saluted him as they shouted his vel
come, and he was still unmoved. With
waving banners and under triumphal
arches he was taken to Castle Garden,
where most of the great men of the nation
were gathered together to give him greet
ing, and he was still not moved. But when
he had taken his seat in the great amphi.
theatre. and when the curtain was lifted
he saw before him a perfect representation
of the place in France where he was born
home so filled with tender memories. the
home where his father and mother had
lived and died. it is said that the great
man was touched. and bowling his face in
his hands he wept like child. Ii l could
only draw aside the veil which separates
the seen from the unseen, so that YOU
couli behold that city which hath founda-
tions. there would be no need for me to
preach. for in the very thought OF heaven
YOU would be almost overwhelmed. | have
read descriptions of cities both IN ancient
and modern times, but never such de.
scription as this: adorned like bride for
her husband; 4 city IN which there Is
neither sickness nor sorrow. death nor cry
ing: 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-
tions. and in them the names of the twc.ve
apostles Of the Lamb. The ange! that
made TIE 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. and that the wall was l44
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 tina. they were wide open by day
there is no night there. and in that city
of the Lord did tighten it, and the Lamb
was the light thereof.
1t comes to me like an inSpiratinn that
one dav 7 shall enter that city. Can YOU
say it! Your children are going in. your
parents are going in. your husband i going
it. Your wife Is going in: are YOU going In:
1t is a great Joy to know that the things
that bring US the representations of heaven
are 50 substantial. Some people tell us
that heaven is state, not place. What
then did Christ mean when He said. II so
to prepare 4 place for vou: and what
again when He said. "In NY Fathers
house there are many mansions What
ia the doctrine of the resurrection? IL 1t
that only the spirits of men are raised?
This is not our teaching. There must be
some place for the resurrected body. When
Christ went out with His anosties to Beth
any and a cloud received Hir, 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?
1t is 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 Il great jewel,
the streets of pure gold and every single
gate a pearl. You know the brightness of
one little gem as it sparkles on Your
finger but D! the wonderful thought that
every gate is pearl, and the day will come
when we may go sweeping through the
gates if we will. God has done everything
that He could do, and our entering in now
rests upon ourselves. But the brightness
CT. 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
be 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 if you have been
a great sinner. Paul was prosecutor,
Bunyan blasphemer, Newton libertinc.
and yet they shine to-day as the jewels OF
Christ.
Biologists tell us that the diamond is
only crystallized carbon, charcoal glorified.
This book tells us something better than
that, that though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool"
Heaven is place of unutterable sweet
ness. Can You imagine the number of lit
tie children there: Can any one describe
the sweetness of a childs song? And
when you remember that your own little
one may be there! What wonderful sing
ing it is as their lips are touched by the
finger of Christ, and their hearts are
thrilled with His presence.
20, the joys that are there mortal eye hath
not seen,
o, the songs they sing there with hosan-
mas between.
o. the thrice blessed song OF the Lamb
and of Moses.
o, the white tents of peace where the
rapt soIl reposes.
o, the waters so still and the pastures so
green,
There. there they sing songs with hosan-
mas between"
The boy who was blind makes the best |
of heaven to me. The doctor |
ho1 thn not fro,,, hi |