The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-23
HEAVENLY REWARDS ARE NOT
RESERVED FOR THE FUTURE.
They Are Being Bestowed Daily as
the Faithfulness of Life
Merits Them.

The Reverend A. F. Smith. pastor of
fNrkWood Methodist Episcopal Church.
; preached yesterday morning on Heavenly
Rewards and took as Il basis for his
theme the words of Christ as recorded in
Matthew Y. verse y: Rejoice and hc eX-
Seedlng glad. for great is your reward in
He said. in part:
The hope of rewards in heaven for
virtue and endurance on earth is strong
IN the hearts of Christians, and they ha-
hitually cast forward their weary eyes to
the crown held out before them by their
Lord. The promises of reward to those who
hold out faithful to the end, who endure
persecution for righteousness sake, and
press forward continually toward the mark
Tor the prize Of the high calling, are I'M
n~:iStakablys sure and very full of comfort.
what those rewards will consist of IS
alWays a question OF interest to the faith
full And although there are many ways
OF expressing the beauty and value OF
ITEM sun II is certain they Will be
spiritual. They can be represented TO our
present state of thinking only by terms of
human speech. out OF which clusters OF
strong figures and suggestive expressions
be formed.
The statement that the gift Ct God is
eternal life embodies all the truth regard
ing this matter. Gods gifts are elements
Of life, and are impcrishabIe. There are TO
Items mentionable In the inventory of
heavenly rewards, such as may be named
in a bill OF sale, but one eternal principle
operating for growth and happiness.
planted in the soul. embraces every item of
vital convenience and sweet luxury. God
cannot bestow on the soul a space of ce-
leStial territory. nor even. apart from the
character of the individual. erect a man
sion for eternal occupancy. The rev ards
for faith and zeal are of a different kind:
they are increased life. fuller capacities,
stalwartness of personality.
And these rewards are not reserved for
a future time which has heen set apart
when God will make up his mind upon a
verdict. nor will all the weight and glory
of them fall in one mighty. enhancing vol
Urnp lnnn the soul These PNnr lS arc h.-
ing bestowed day by day as the faithtulness
of life merits them. Heavenly rewards come
with each prayer heartily offered, each duty
faithfully done. How much better that is
than for them to be withheld till the toll
and struggle in which the strength and en-
enlargement were nesded has passed, Thu
wheat of the seasons feeds the iaDOrer. and
gives him power To sow again and sing
through the winter with his family
gathered about his bountiful beard in the
joy of comfort and plenty. So with the
haryests of life.
The presence of God in the peace of the
soul is heaven, and his Kingdom is now and
forever. The glory of the divine needs to
shine on the wickedneSs of the present
world. and the strength of the sons of God
towering above the ignOminy of the vicious
should be seen in this generation. There
fore. it is the peculiar pleasure of the Most
High to bestOw his rewards Immediately
upon the faithful, the prosecuted, and all
who are sincere and devoted"