The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-29
ASLEEP IN CHRIST
SERMON DELIVERED BY REV.
 STEWART M'QUEEN.
Rector of the Holy Comforter Church Talks About the State Between Death and the Resur-
 rectiOn.

-
 rectiOn.
 The Rev. Stewart Mcqueen delivered an interesting sermon at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter on The State Between Death and the Resurrec- tion of them who are fallen asleep in Christ"
 The Rev. Mcqueen, said:
 It Is natural to all whose homes and hearts have bsen robbed and desolated by death to be comfortod and strength ened by the thought of the Resurrect~ ion that feature of 1t. I mean. espec- tally, which shall consist n the reunit- ing of loved ones for all eternity. New ertheless. this Is not ehot gh to satis- fy our hearts. There Is an interval. remember. between the time they leave us and the time we shall see them again. It Is this we wish to know about. Therefore our affections, our memories. still follow them. We would project our vision even into the place whither they are gone! Our hearts will ask questions and demand answers. We would learn all that is to be known. all that our Heavenly Fath graciously reveals about them between death and the resurrection. Those personalities which expressed themselves through ness and love, That of them now? Where are they now? How is 1t with them now.
 The teaching of our Savior and His Apostles is plain and simple. Those who ''dle in the Lord Gas St. John expresses it). those which are fallen asleep In Christi, Gas St. Paul expresses it), are in the joy and felicity cf Paradise, that portion of the Intermediate state pro- vided for them. It is tile abode of peace and bliss and safety. It Is the abode further we may well believe, of con- tinuous growth in purification and per- lection. though we have no warrant for asserting Scripture so teaches. It is not Heaven itself, for that Is the final home of the redeemed Tn Christ which they shall not enter L-til after the resurrection. It Is the place where the souls of just men made perfect. walt for the final judgment" We may be sure that hope shines there, thaf f. tn sustains and love beauttfies, sure the reflected glory of Heavens near glory iridates; sure they are upheld and cheered by the certainty Of eternal life and blessedness which awaits them. It is also a time of expectation. True. they have obtained good report through faith" but, they have not yet "received the promise. An no. (and what a comforting ruth this is>, God having provided some better thing for ,fs that they without us should not be made perfect" In a word, just as Christ did not enter Heaven until after His resurrection, so shall 1t be with HIS faithful followers; they will not enter Heaven until after their lesurrection.
 We reflect upon those who nave proven themselves heroes and martyrs in the service of God; those who helped to build His everlasting Kingdom or righteousness and justice in this world; |; those who shed their very blood TOT Christ and the truths sake; those with whom we have been associated In the cause of our common Lord; those who were good and true and faithful ana loving, known and highly esteemed oX us for their works sake: those from our own households-fathers, mothers, husbands. wives, sisters, brothers and little ones, lambs of the fiock-when we think of these. I say, the question instantly takes shape In our hearts, surges to our lips, as those dear ana familiar forms seem to hover around us; where are they now? The answer is: Delivered from the burden of the flesh. they are partaking or the 9oy and felicity of Paradise Having fin ished their course In faith, they do now rest from their labors and await their perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in Gods eternal and everlasting glory.
 Yes, that great multitude whom no man can number, "who are departed in the true faith of Gods Holy Name" are at rest and peace in Paradise. There they are awaiting the general resur- rection and the final award at the last great day when they and we shall give an account for the deeds done in the flesh, that day toward which each one of us Is speedily and certainly hasten ing moment by moment. There they partake of sweet and holy repose in great joy and gladness. Moreover, the tolls and trials, the troubles and tribu- lations, the sins and sufferings of this mortal life are left behind forever. For they are still conscious, rational, re- hecting beings. They are not dead 10 themselves though they be dead to us. ''The dead are like the stars by day.
 Withdrawn from mortal eye,
 But not extinct. they hold their way
 In glory through the sky"
 You remember how St Paul speaks of those who have adorned the doctrine of God our Savior with good works and are now at rest, describing them as n ''great cloud of witnesses" How sug- gestive and striking in this connection the word Cloud" Let us recall its function in the natural world and ap- ply 1t here. The attractive force, you know, of the suns rays, draws up a ClOuQ rom lilS tdIlus put lhAS ID hCs all. After awhile, the cloud returns to the earth in fruitful showers to mako the grass to grow upon the mountains and herb for the use of men," So 1t is with those who have gone before us to the abode of the blessed. those who by the help of Gods grace have lived holy and self denying lives, have fought bravely the warfare of earth. we've the choice vessels of Gods grace and the Ifuhfz Of world in their several generations, and now make up the goodly company of the faithful depart ed. They have been drawn up into Paradise by the Sun of Righteousness, the worlds Redeemer. Their good ex- amples. their holy and righteous lives. come doyn to us who are still upon earth. They are like gentle rain and help the seed of the Lords sowing to bring forth much fruit
 Again, we ask of this "great-cloud of witnesses" this mighty host of the redeemed in Paradise, Do they know
 1Nr