Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-07-21
SILENCE IN HEAVEN.
BY Rev. Russell N. ConweM. D. D..

oAALHHNSL IN hhh EN.
BY Rev. Russell N. ConweH. d. D..
TeXt-"And when he had opened
the seventh seal there was silence in
heaven about the space of half an
hour."-Revelatlon Will.
l am one Of those who believe that
this book is not yet open; that In a
great measure it is a sealed book, and
that by and by, in the development of
the years, men will understand the
book Of Revelation.
So | have found this verse. l do
not understand its relationship; |
would not undertake to give an exc
gesis Of it, and l do not believe any
man can. But there Is a thought In 1t
which we can comprehend. There Is
something here that is very useful;
and as q marvellous illustration of a
great gospel truth, there Is nothing
finer to be found in any of the litera-
ture of the world.
Think of the angels folding their
wings and bowling in silence for half
an hour in that eternal land above.
Wonderful saying, this half an hour Of
silence in heaven!
1t says here that when the seventh
seal shall be opened, or was opened,
as John related 1t in a vision he saw
there was silence in heaven about
the space Of half an hour. 1t calls
attention to that which is to follow.
1t calls the whole minds thought to
that II great purpose Of living in the
earth-viz.: the heavenly things that
are to come. 1t was the coming of
the end. 1t is the judgment day; all
mankind have reached the end Of earth
ly existence, and it Is a time when
every man is to be Judged according to
the deeds done in the body. There Is
half an hour of silence-a perfectly
awful thought. Yet, being here, 1t is
here to be melitatei upon and studied.
Oh, what voices there are in the
silence!
The coming Of the King makes ST.
lence. Christ Is come! | recall vivid
ly a great demonstration in st. Peters
burg, Russia, when the Gar AleXan-
der was coming with the Czarlna up
the river into the city. He was to be
announced by the firing of a gun on
one of the bridges Of the city, and the
streets were t~hronged with people
the streets were black with the crowd,
In their dark clothing of that north
land. They surged back and forth
like the restless ocean bay. They were
in the windows and doorways. The
roofs and cornices were covered with
people. They crowded in by the tens
of thousands to welcome the Emperor
on that fete day. When the time ar
rived, as announced, at quarter-past
two, all were waiting for the gun.
They waited and waited; and oh, the
silence of that multitude of people,
lmmovable, scarcely breathing. There
was something so solemn, so oppres-
sive that 1t seemed as though the
earth must open unless they were per-
ilillth W hoNV VI NopNuh Vi III JIM
way to maze a demonstration. But
when the gun doomed then the people
moved. Then they shouted. Then
they swung their flags and their hand
kerchiefs, and the military uttered
their huzzas, and it broke forth into a
salvo of welcome, so great that the
heavens themselves seemed to reply.
But the silence that preceded 1t seem
ed to emphasize it and those who wit
messed it were more impressed with
the silence than with all the acclaim
and all the parade and music after
wards.
The lesson to teach is the impor-
lance of men in every sphere stopping,
and meditating for half an hour. If
you are going to change your bust
ness; If you are going to a new place;
If you are going to be married; If you
are going to join the church through
your heart having been turned to
Christ;if you are undertaking any new
thing, stop for half an hour and in
silence mediate. If you are under
taking the accomplishment Of n days
work only, in the morning in silence
mediate, mediate in your bed before
you rise or afterwards sit by your
self and think q, few minutes. 1t will
save you time through the day, and
will greatly increase your ability to do.
1t will give to you that day, no matter
what your sphere, success, If you but
stop and mediate.
NEED OF MEDITATION.
BY Rev. ". C. Covert