The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-11

| CrS of the world have followed Bum
vans Christian in his "Pilgram's Pro-
Eress." Now they see him to his jour-
ney's end. He has come to the dark
river that flows before the Celestial
| City-and crossed it. The passa ge
contains some of the finest thought
| and language in Bunyan's immortal
work. 1t is good center for Thoughts
concerning the inevitable experience of
everybody. Death is one of the ines
capable things; to prepare for it is a
matter of common prudence.
Amos r. Wells paragraphs some
| oints on the topic thus
As the Christian approaches death,
lie sees what he thought to be the
darkest of experiences is SO bright that
re cannot LOOK fairly upon it.
| The Pilgrim has a vast host that
are going toward death with him, but
not one of them can bring him into
The City; only his own faith, and He
| on whom that faith is reposed.
For no one except Elijah, not even
| Christ, has bridge been provided over
| the river of death.
As the Red Sea and the Jordan be-
anne easily fordable when attacked by
faith. SO the river of death.
Even Christian, after all his expert
ences, sank in deep waters as he came
to die; but he pressed on.
I When the thought of his sins un-
Saviour buoyed him up. s,
The Shining Ones attend us all the
way, but we cannot see them until we
approach the light in which they dwell
The city's foundation is higher than
he clouds, above all sorrows and
:empests.
In heaven the former things are
PASSED away-at least. those that we
shall desire to have passed away; but
al beautiful things will remain
The converse of heaven will be one
uf its chief joys-to have free inter-
&C urse with all the wise and lovely ones
Of all time.
Heaven is place of rewards; and
The rewards, we are glad to know. will
be far beyond our deserts.
Heaven is a place of service, which
| is the chief joy of earth; and there it
Will be unimpaired by any imperfec-
ton
One of heavens happinesses will be
RECEIVING the throngs of happy spirits
| continually arriving from earth; nay,
from all earths
One of heavens chief satisfactions
will be in the thought that its joys
| are everlasting.
Bunyan saw that it was all a dream;
md yet his dream is among the per-
| 'nanent realities of all time.
There is no bridge over the river of
ceath. King Edward might have a
royal road built for him from Cairo to
the Pyramids, and Emperor William
night have a road built to Jerusalem.
out no king on earth can have a bridge
over deaths dark, sullen stream All
" ust undergo that experience Even
Tor faithful disciples it is sometimes
hard, or it was for Christian, but the
ether shore justifies everything. r..
| Heavens gate may be entered only
through the narrow outer portal of the
| K NIB.
One of the sublimest passages in
HUMANS great book, and. indeed, in
III the rich literature upon the sub
lect. is his description of the Pilgrims
pproach to heaven and entrance
therein. 1t should be read in every
Christian Endeavor meeting. The most
eloquent pens of all time have been
turned to the theme of eternity. For
centuries the lines of an ancient monk
have brought comfort to weary pill
grims:
30 Mother dear, Jerusalem,
When shall 1 come to thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end
Thy joys when shall see?
Social problems perplex most earn
tst persons today. But there are no
social problems in heaven.
Heavens best is heavens Host. To
know God-that is the brightest bliss
of eternity
THE King there in his beauty
Without a veil is seen;
1t were a wel1-spent journey
Though seven deaths lay between.
o Christ, He is the Fountain.
The deep sweet Well of love,
The streams on earth I've tasted,
More deep I'll drink above;
There to an ocean fitness
His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth,
In Emmanuels land -
What heaven holds is no more
reason for rejoicing than what it lacks.
There are no tears there, and no night
Workers are not weary and unappre-
riated there. Love is never unrecipro
Gated. Misunderstanding do not ex
list. Enmities are barred out. Pain
mas never had an entrance All that
hurts and binders in this earth life will
be lacking in heaven.