Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-12-13
THE PEARLLY GATES"
Sunday Sermon By Rev. J. Wilbur
Chapman.
Brilliant DESCRIPTION Of the Celestial City in
which There Is Neither Sickness or Sor.
row, Death nor Crying

New YORK CIrY-The Rev DIR. T. VII.
bur Chapman, who has recently resigned
the passionate of the Fourth Presbyterian
church in this city IN order to devote him
self TO evaagelistic work, has prepared the
following sermon for the press. Ii Is enti-
led 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
shildren of Israel" Revelation xxi: -
Wien La Fayettc last visited this coun.
try the people gave him royal reception.
A feet of vessels went out 10 meet him.
the band played Hail 10 the Chief" and
the national Eusic OF France, and IL Is told
that he was Ilnmoved
As he came ashore land and water trenl-
he'd with the power OF artillery. Old so.-
diers saluted him they shouted his well
come. and he was still unmoved. With
waving banners and under triumphal
arches he was taken 10 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
lie had taken his seat in the great amphi-
theatre. and when the curtain was lifted
be 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 - said that the great
man was touched. and bowling his face in
his hands he wept like n child. ii | could
oaly draw aside the veil which separates
the seen from the unseen. that you
coul1 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 De almost overwhelmed. l have
read descriptions OF cities both III ancient
and modern times. but never such n de-
scription az Ibis; adorned like a bride for
her husband: 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 gales. 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. and that the wall was III
cnbts; 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 heed OF the sun. for the glory
H-of the Lord did tighten il. and the Lamb
was Che light thereof.
1t comes 10 me like an inspiration that
one day / shall enter that CITY. Can Won
say K? Your children are going in. your
parents are going in. Your husband is going
il. vour wife Is going in; are YOU going in?
II is a great JOY TO know that the things
that bring us the representations of heaven
are 81 substantial. Some people tell us
that heaven Is a state not place. What
then did Christ mean when He said. II go
TO prepare place Tor you and what
again when He said. ''In Ny Fathers
honse there are many mansions:" What
ia the doctrine OF the resurrection? Is ii
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 apostles to Beth
any and cloud received Him out OF their
sight, He arose bodily from their presence.
1t is certain. absolutely certain, that heav
en- is a place.
Perhaps some may question at first. the
meaning of the text. and vet [ am very
sure ii We on!y had the mind of the Shirt
we would find in it much OF beauty, sweet.
ness and power.
WHAT Is HEAVEN?
II 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 likencG
was fire. Angels with faces shining SO that
men must veil their eyes before them
Moses and Ehas 81 surrounded with glory
that the three disciples were overcome !
with the vision on the mount OF transtig
uration. The walls are like a great jewel
the streets OF pure gold and every single
gate pearl. You know the brightness o!
oRe little gem as it spar,:lcs OH your
finger, but .. 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
CT heaven, aside from the presence oil
Christ - dino IN h. IN he
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 Nc
cause for discourageInen; II you have beer
a great sinner. Paul was prosecutor,
Bunyan a blasphomer, Newton : libertine
and yet they shine to-day IS the jewels o.
Christ.
Biologists tell us that the diamond i.
only crystallized carbon. charcoal gloriiied
This book tells us something better thar
that. that Though your sins be as scarlet
they shall be As white as snow; though
they he red like crimson, they shall be "a
WOOL
Heaven is a place OF unutterable sweet
ness. Can YOU imagine the number of Ii;
tie children there! Can any ono describe
the sweetness OF child's songy And
when you remember that your own little
one may be there, What wonderful sing
ing it Is as their lips are touched by tho
finger of Christ. and their hearts are
thrilled with His presence.
30. the joys that arc there mortal eye hath
not seen,
o, the songs they sing there with hosan-
mas between.
o. the thrice blessed soas OF the lamb
and of Moses.
ID. the white tents OF peace where the
raDt soil reposes,
y, the waters still and the pastures SO
green.
There. there they sing songs with hosan-
mas betwcen."
The ho: who ives blind makes the best
expression ef heaven 20 me- The doctor
had cut away the obstruction from his
eyes. and the l,2ndagcs placed there were
removed one b. one. until after little
they had all been taken off. When he
opened his eyes in silent wonder as If a
new world had been opened 10 him. he be.
held his mother, and yet he did not know
that it was she Finally he heard her "a
miliar voice asking h.n. My son. can you
see:" He sprang into her arms cxclaim.
ing, 20. mother. Is this heaven" That is
the best definition. Heaven is seeing eve
TO eye. knowing even az we are known. II
there j. one word which better than an.
other will describe heaven 10 me it is an