The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-03-06


ished and the last tear wept and tho
last groan uttered, and there shall
be nothing to hurt or destroy in all
Gods holy mountain! All that and
more will come to pass, for "the
mouth of the Lord hath spoken it"
So far I have mentioned nine of the
ten strings of the instrument of graft
tude. now come to the tenth and the
last. I mention it last that it may be
the more emorable-heavenly antici-
patton. By the grace of God we are
going to move into place so much
better than this that on arriving we
will wonder that we were for so many
years so loath to make the transfer.
After we have seen Christ face to face
and rejoiced over our departed kindred
there are some mighty spirits we will
want to meet soon after we pass
through the gates. We want to see and
will see David, mightier king in
Heaven than he ever was on earth, and
we will talk with him about psalmody
and get from him exactly what he
meant when he talked about the instru-
ment of ten strings. We will confront
Moses. who will tell of the law giving
on rocking Sinai and of his mysterious
burial, with no one but God present.
We will see Joshua, and he will tell US
Of the coming down of the walls OF
Jericho at the blast of the rams horn
and explain to US that miracle - how
the sun and moon could stand still
without demolition of the planetary
system. We will see Ruth and have
her tell of the harvest field of Boaz, in
which she cleaned for afflicted Naomi.
We will see Vashti and hear from her
own lips the story of her banishment
from the Persian palace by infamous
| Ahasuerus.
We will see and talk with Daniel,
and he will tell us how he saw Bel
shazzar's banqueting hall turned into
slaughter house and how the lions
| greeted him with loving fawn instead
of stroke of cruel paw. We will see
and talk with Solomon, whose palaces
| are gone, but whose inspired epigrams
| stand out stronger and stronger as the
centuries pass. We will see Paul and
hear from him how Felix trembled be-
| fore him and the audience of skeptics
on Mars hill were confounded by his
| sermon on the brotherhood of man,
what he saw at Ephesus and Syracuse
and Philippi and Rome and how dark
was the Mamertine dungeon and how
sharp the ak that beheaded him on the
road to Ostia. Yea, we will see all the
martyrs, the victims of ak and sword
and fire and bilIow. What thrill OF
excitement for US when we gaze upon
the heroes and heroines who gave their
lives for the truth. We will see the
| gospel proclaimers Chrysostom and
Bour6aloue and Whitefield and the
Wesleys and John Knox. We will see
the great Christian poets Milton and
Dante and Watts and Mrs. Hemans
and Frances Havergal. Yea, all the
departed Christian men and women OF
whatever age or station.
But there will be one focus toward
which all eyes will be directed. His
infancy having slept on pillow of
straw: all the hates of the Herodic
government planning for his assassi-
!; nation: in after time whipped as
though he were criminal; asleep on
, the cold mountains because no one Of
, fered Him lodging; though the great
, est being who ever touched our earth,
, derisiyely called "this fellow" His last
, hours writhing on spikes of infinite
, torture; His lacerated form put in sep
nlcher. then terminated and ascended
, tn he the center of all heavenly admi-
ration-upon that greatest martyr and
miphtiest hero of all the centuries we
/ will be permitted to look. Put that
. among your heavenly anticipations.
Now take down your harp of ten
/, strings and sweep all the chords, max
: ing all of them tremble with great
4 gladness. have mentioned just ten
a deliphtsome food, eyesight, hearing,
e healthful sleep, power of physical lo-
}. comotion, illumined nights, mental fac
S ulties in equipoise, friendships Of life,
: Gospel advantages and heavenly antici
s nations. Let us make less complaint
: and offer more thanks, render less
y dirge and more cantata. Take paper
r and pen and write down in long col
T umrs your blessings. | have recited
t only ten. To express all the mercie.
+, God has bestowed you would have tt
e use at least three, and think five, nu
merals, for surely they would ruI NJ
4 into the hundreds and the Thousands
= "Oh. give thanks unto the Lord, for HI
l. is good, for His mercy endureth for
IS ever" Get into the habit OF rehearss
a, of the brightnesses Of life.
IT Notice how many more fair day
s. there are than foul, how many moi
II good people than bad you meet. Sc
II YOUR misfortunes to music, as Davi
n onened his "dark sayings on harp.
is ri it has been low tide heretofore, lie
IN the surges of mercy that are yet to ro
IL in upon you reach high water mari
Or All things will work together for you
IN rood, and Heaven is not far ahea'
ne Wake up all the ten strings. Blessin
ne and honor and glory and power be III
Id to Him that sitteth upon the throne az
,e. unto the Lamb forever. Amenl
be ---------------
re He Knew Them.