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L'axampiaira fiimA fut raproduit grica A ia ginAroaltA da: Naw Bruniwidc MuMum Saint John Laa imagaa suhrantaa ont ' ^ -^ ■ UOSj iliiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiif (iiUi:iV:'.-!v-'''--'-'''''---;':;:'i:i''i':':': '■:. |:C'ii iii llji. iiii|||ii,v'. i:fcf !:;■■' .'.itWtliU!!'. .mm. 1% IN Yd'' >•■' • z >3i«l Stew. 'I^Y TSAt- - I, . E. WALLACE WAITS. B. A. pASToik or Sir, Anokrw'* ^Hiriioif, Ciuti|»m, N. B, / ,f^ CHA.TII ATSt* K. II.: Ttet Wfl|iii\;1^^i> .Ton pBisiftxo K*TAW.wii>^Wt^ Witkr St. •' p» %*^ lass. n >;j. "X* ' I'.i /.'^Vi ry. K^l- ■I ^,^:. |:;.:!ii-::-i!:i5iijKiii;,:i;i;rji;:;i;;:iji|J*™"''''" ..1 It 6 k *"'^^^'-' i . § 1- ^>,/ TO J; • MEMORY OF ^; MRS. WILLIAM MUIRHEAD; TO WHOiK I'lOCS AXD LIFE-LOXO ADMONITIONS M m -^^IPill » ,' ^ COUNSKLS AND KXAMTLB, ST. ANDRKW'S CHURCH OWKS, UNDER GOD, MORE THAN WORDS CAN REPRESENT; AN'D AI^O '^ "■,f*'ii •(*■ 3 » TO » THE IIOX. SENATOR MUIRHEAD, /■^ AS AX EXPRE.WIOX OF TEXDKR SYMPATIIV, AXD WITH THE EARXBST HOPE OF ITS COMFORTING IX HIS GREAT GRIEF AND SOLITUDE, THIS PAMPHLET,' THE OFFERING I I OF A FRIRNt) AXD PASTOR's LOVE, IS AFFRCTIOXATELY IXSCUIBEI). ir • ■ •■ ■■ ■ ' ^ «? f t^-ry^- •v.,*: ♦ . Vw-/ f^k > V fe- *fe/-i* ,:-*'^ > 4 I" 11 J PREFACE. ^ The following pages form the substance of several discourses delivered on occasion of the visitation of God's providence by death to families connected with St. Andrew's congregation, Chatham, N. B. Composed at intervals between the sick cham- ber and the study, the author cannot claim for them, nor will the reader expect that they should possess, the depth of a profound, or the grace of a finished, composition. But such as they are, — thoughts for the season of sorrow, — ^he presents them as a tribute of heartfelt sympathy to those who may be passing through a season of solitude and sadness. Nothing need be added but to commend this humble effort to the blessing of Him, "without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy." ''Go, little book! from thia my solitude; I cast thee on the waters; go thy ways; And if, as I belieTe, thy vein be good, The world will find thee after many days. Go, little book! in faith I send thee forth.' I ., ii iSr. Andrew's Manse, Chatliam, X. H., Octot)er4th, 1882. Southey. v.. 4,r \m- T}i/> H'ixp ."ihall inherit fftotif; hut »hame sMitl be the ptotiiation of/iots.-^ t'rov. III. 35. f- ■^-^^^M4\ '^ And he carried me away in the spirit to a gredt and, high mountain, and ahoieed me that great city, the hohi Jerusalem, descending out (f Heaven Jrom God.''— Rev. XXI. 10. "A homo in Heavent What a joyful thought. As the poor man toils in his weiEuy lot, His heart oppressed, and by anguish driven, From his home below to his home in Heaven. tv A home in IleavenI As the sufferer lies On his bed of pain and uplifts his eyes To that bright homo, what joy is given, With the blessed thought of a home in Heavon. A home in Heaven! When our treasures fade, And our wealth and fame in the dust are laid. When strength decays and our health is riven, We are happy still with our home in Heaven. A liome in Heaven! When our friends have fled To the cheerless gloom of the mouldering dead, We rest in hope on the promise given, We shall meet up there in our home in Heaven.*' #1 m? m I r . ' > li ,f . ' ' t J 1 ; .; to ' ■■■-; 1 .5 V: i;-* •: -iif ':<:- • I.! ■; iM Chapter 1. ; . Jii V.., Heaven, the Metropolis of the Universe. .M -» >» ♦-- '* Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."— Rev. XXII. 14. . . ._jf,< • m ,!-■- Every kingdom has its Metropolis — its political centre, the abode of its royalty, the place to which all its streams of wealth flow, and from whence its com- merce, laws, and literature flow to remotest provinces. Heaven is the Metropolis of the Universe, the bright abode of Grod, the glorious centre of creation, and the place from whence the streams of His blessings cease- lessly flow to all tvorlds. It is the home of the good. All the noble and sainted men who once poured their light on this world, and whose memory is sw^^;?t among us yet, have met there in loving, visible, aii 1 eternal fellowship ; and godly, earnest souls, now on earth everywhere, lend their steps towards its gates of light and endeavour to catch its divine harmony and inhale its quickening and sanctifying spirit. To it our purest aspirations always ascend, and our brightest hopes centre in it. "We dwell with unutter- able rapture' on its king, its glory, and its life. The moral wealth and glory of all worlds flow into it as rivers do into the sea. It is the one city in the unf- verse which the curse has not touched, and from which no sound of mourning and death has ever ascended in the countless ages of its history. John, the banished Apostle — banished for the ■■i.:;^*^V^'i <^ ■^.^ 6 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. ./^ testimony of God and the word of Jesus — had a glimpse of Heaven from his rocky home such as no mortal beside ever had. God always gives special revelations to those of llis servants who are called to pass through special sufferings for His name's sake. They are never nearer Heaven than when they are walking through the depths of trouble. John on; Patmos, severed from his associates, and hindered from preaching the gospel, had Heaven opened to him under thenmage of amagnilicent city, liaised to an exceeding high mountain — carried in spirit to the purer and loftier heights of the universe— he saw it reposing in its uncreated splendour. Its shining streets, casting back the glory of a cloudless sky ; its crystal river, unstained with a human tear;, its massive walls, resting on foundations of costliest gems ; its gleaming gates of pearl, opening towards every point of the compass, and its innumerable in- habitants walking in the light of the smile of the King — all were present to his eyes. And what he saw he has put on record for our instruction and encouragement. I ask you now to look away from this sinful earth — this clouded scene of your sorrows, conflicts, and trials — to that home of souls in which you are hoping to live through eternal ages. ;,t "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." LET US CONSIDER THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. God has given commandments to man. They are the substance of the Bible. God's will is revealed in the natural world in actions. In the Bible His will is revealed in letters, syllables, and words. The Bible contains our rule of practice ; it gives us a complete system of practical religion. Man requires a rule, a m «r 4»f- OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 7 guide, that ne may know and fulfil his duties towards G-od aiid man. It is designated " the law of the Lord," and the commands contained therein are bind- ing upon man. Man is a moral agent and as such he has always been considered capable of performing moral actions; which are voluntari/ actions, haying re- spect to some rule or law. And thus man is a fit subject of moral government, and has a capacity to appreciate these commands. A wonderful argument this for the native dignity of the soul, -yiir, 'if Dr. Wayland says: — "It may be seen that there exists in the actions of men, an element which does not exist in the actions of brutes. Hence, though both are subjects of government, the government of the one should be constru( ted upon principles difter- ent from that of the other. We can operate on brutes only by fear of punishment and hope of reward. We can operate on man, not only in this manner, but, also, by an appeal to his consciousness of right and wrong, and by the use of such means as may improve his moral nature. Hence, all modes of punishment which treat men as we treat brutes, are as uuphiloso- phical as they are thoughtless, cruel and vindictive. Such are those systems of criminal jurisprudence which have in view nothii\g more than the infliction of pain upon the offenders. The leading object of all such systems should be to reclaim the vicious. Such was the result to which all the investigations of Howard led. Such is the improvement which Prison Discipline Societies are laboring to effect." (See Wayland's Elements of Moral Science, page 9.) : .-/, Grod's commands are authoritative in their import. They are the commands of the highest i^ossible authority, of that sovereign who possesses, in the high- est and most exalted manner, a right to enact laws tbr the government of mankind. The law of God is m n p f 8 OUR IIO:\[E IN HEAVEN. SO authoritative that it is the binding *lQrc^ of the universe, material and moral. It keeps in or^r alike the stars of heaven, and the angels beforfe the throne. On all within and on all without is the inscription of Divine law. His authority to give commandments arises from Himself — from the glory of His majesty — the greatness of His nature — and tne moral rectitude of His character. He is the standard of moral rectitude throughout the universe. It arises also from His being the creator, upholder and preserver of all things, all beings, all forces and all worlds. Law must emanate from Him. Man intuitively looks up to a moral standard; and what is that moral standard but Grod? See with what glory and authority God came down to Sinai and delivered the decalogue to Moses the great legislator of Israel. And when His proph- ets and Apostles come forth after having received the word from His mouth, with " thus saith the Lord," His commands are as binding as if you were to hear a voice from the excellent glory. God's commands are also reaaonahle in their demands. We are aware that many think them unfriendly to their comfort. But this is a mistake; they forbid nothing but what must ultimately destroy all com- fort; and enjoin nothing but what is really necessary to your happiness. The heavenly teacner has re- duced all the demands which the Eternal Governor makes upon us to a two-fold command. (1) " Tlmu shaft love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, &c." His demand is our supreme love. Is this demand reasonable? This depends upon three things, (a) "Whether we have the power of loving anyone su- premelv. (b) Whether God has attributes adapted to awaken this love within us. (c) Whether these attributes are revealed with sufficient clearness to our minds. The affirmative to these things must be ad- ■1 • ;->•':' »4 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 'ft mitted by all. All men do love some object supreme- ly.' Tne Eternal has attributes suited to call forth the piEgrl^mount affection. Nature and the Bible radiate th:o%B attributes in every variety of aspect and attrac- tion.' Tile heavenly teacher has reduced the demands to aiicrthex command — (2) " WhatsoeMr yc would that men shoflild'do unto you." Not "whatsoever men do unto you;" that might be sinful; but whatsoever ye wotdd that men should do unto you. Would you have them false, dishonest, unkind, tyrannic, toward you? Whatsoever ye would that they should be to you, be so to Ihem. Can anything be more just and reason- able? God's commands are easy to be understood. The style of the Holy Scriptures, when the subject requires it, is wonderfully sublime. God, the humaii soul, the atonement of Christ, death, judgment, Heaven, hell, &c., are subjects which are grandly described and graphically portrayed. But while the most sublime imagery is employed to set forth these vital truths, there is a beauty, simplicity and instructiveness about them that imparts light to the darkest mind and ele- vation to the most degraded intellect. God's com- mands are a revelation from the Infinite, shining as a ray of glory from the " Sun of Righteousness;" — there is no obscurity in it. Spoken as an oracle by the lips of the True Witness, there is no falsehood in it; set forth as the wisdom of the Infallible One, it is without ambiguity. The sun climbing the heavens in the early morning makes visible what was before wholly hid from view, or indistinctly seen under the feeble light of stars; so the commands of God clearly reveal what was before wholly unknown, or only dimly conjectured. Interested men, in every age, have told the people that God's commands are hard to underetand. But B :^h ■■■■:»*r3V.-l "^^h 10 OUR HOME IN Iff AVKN. thb is not the case, human language cannot make them plainer. "And the Lord answered me, and sflid, Write the Vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." (Habakkuk ii. 2.) *' They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge." (Prov. viii. 9.) *'Th« y ay- faring man,though a fool, shall not err therein^.*' "And that Irom a child thou hast known the Holy Scrip- tures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. iii . 15.) To understand them requires no great acuteness of judgment, no extraordinary depth of research, no intensity of application, no great power of penetration. God's commands are applicable unto all. Before Him we all are equal in moral sense. We all came from the same dust, have all sinned, all stand in need of the same mercy, and are all placed under the same moral government. God is the moral governor of all rational beings that exist in the universe : men and devils, angels and principalities, thrones and dominions, are under His sovereign control, and must imbmit to His almighty authority. But our remarks must be understood as relating principally to man, and the government which God exercises over him in the present life. Every individual who duly con- siders the subject must be convinced that God, who is the creator of the universe, must be its moral gov- ernor; and we may also remark that every man jeems to carry in his own heart evidence of this important fact. His nature and the laws of his being are so framed as to convince him that he is responsible to God for his conduct; and no man can readily throw off this conviction. I am aware that there are many who try to do so. E. G. Pharaoh said to Moses, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voic€ to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let w OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. n Israel go." But this assertion did not free Pharaoh from obligation to hearken to the voice of G-od." Man is a finite being, therefore he must receive law from the Infinite. Why can I not be independent of la'w? Sim]|^ly» because there cannot be two infinites; and where there is an infinite and a finite, the finite must receive its regulations from the infinite. This i(g a fact; the law is broadly marked upon every man, its great claims and requirements are strewn upon the whole expanse of society. Hence the commands extend to high and low, rich and poor, learned and illiterate, master and servant, mistress and maid; to parents and children, husbands and wives. To the king on his throne and the beggar on his roundis, to the nobleman in his mansion and the x)easant in his cottage, to the philosopher in hi^ study and the savage on his wilds, to the mariner crossing the ocean and the husbandman ploughing his field. To each climber of the steep and rugged path of honest labor. To each faithful servant of the Lord— from palace or from poorhouse — from cot or castle — who struggles in Almighty strengt;h with the events and storms of life. Our security is in the universal appli- cation of law. You cannot get away from this principle ; it lies at the very root of all individual discipline, it is the prime necessity of all social life. To this rule there are no distinctions, no restrictions, and no exceptions. "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves : which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another." (Romans ii. 14, 15.) But let iw now consider — The Obedience Required. Not u legal obedience, n OUR HOJrE IN HEAVEN. »»■ by which we merit eternal life. This is impossiUe, for we are sinners and have forfeited the favour of Jehovah, and "present for past could ne'er atoitte" — even had it been possible for us perfectly to keep the commandments of God. We are not in tji^e' same conditicm as Adam was in his primeval stat^; ^e do not start where he started. To him it was said, — "Do this, and thou shalt live." But Adam fell from his original righteousness, and the law provided for no failfire on his part. What the law aimed at, it could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, through the depravity of human nature. Men sinned, and they became unrighteous in fact, and were treat- ed as unrighteous by the government of G-od. They were brought into condemnation and they felt an impassable gulf between them and their Maker. The law could do nothing for them; it could neither rectify their errors nor reconcile them to God. Its bright flashes reveal to them their wickedness, and its rumbling thunders prophesy to them their doom. The more profoundly they felt their condition, the more profoundly they felt that by the deeds of the law no flesh living could be justified before God. Such is our condition as sinners in relation to law. "The likest thing to it in human experience is," says Dr. jOhalmers, "when a decree of bankruptcy without a discharge hr 3 come forth on the man who has long struggled with his difficulties, and is now irrevocably sunE under the weight of them. There is an effectual drag laid upon this man's activity. The hand of diligence is forthwith slackened when all the fruits of diligence are thus liable to be seized upon, and that by a rightful claim of such magnitude as no possible strenuousness can meet or satisfy. The processes of business come to a stand, or are susponded when others are standing by ready to devour the proceeds M. OUR IIO^IE IN HEAVEN. 1 o of biiBiuess so soon as they are realized, or at least to divert them from the use of the unhappy man and the gopd, of his family. The spirit of industry dies within him, when he find^ that he can neither make aught for himself, nor from the enormous mass of his obligations make any sensible advance towards his liberation. In these circumstances he loses all heart and all hope for exertion of any sort; and either breaks forth into recklessness or is chilled into inactivity by despair. And it is precisely so in the case of a sinner towards G-od. If he leels as he ought, he feels as if the mountains of his iniquities had separated him from his Maker. There is the barrier of an unsettled controversy between them, which, do his uttermost, he cannot move away ; and the strong though secret power of this is a chief ingredient in the lethargy of nature. There is a haunting jealousy of God which keeps us at a distance from Him. There is the same willing forgetfulness of Him, that there is of any other painful or disquieting object of contemplation. God, when viewed singly as the Lawgiver, is also viewed as the Judge who must condemn, as the rightful creditor whose payments or whose penalties are alike overwhelming. We are glad to make our escape from all this dread and discouragement into the sweet oblivion of nature. The world becomes our hiding place from the Deity, and in despair of making good our eternity by our works, we work but for the interests of time ; and because denizens of earth, we, estranged from the hopes of Heaven, never once set forth in good earnest upon its preparation." At this point the provisions of th(». Gospel come in. What are they? We have them in the language of St. Paul: " For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Crod sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful iiesh, and fur sill LUU" OIJB HOME IN HEAVEN. demned sin in thft flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not After the flesh, but after the spirit." We need a Saviour, and it is only on the grounds of His merits that wecah be accepted of G-od, and at last reach glory. Faith in Christ is the means of bringing His own Spirit home to us, and giving us a new heart and a new life. This is the power to make men righteous — 'the power by which man obtains pardon for his past offences, and an effective influence enabling him to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with G-od. You clearly preceive that it is an obedience produced by the grace of God. God gives grace not to be turned into lasciviousness, but to enable us to do His com- mandments, and we are thereby laid under such obli- gations as no power can dispense with. You should do His commandments affectionately. Iy>ve should be the principle. " If ye love me keep my commandments." You cannot love God until you know that He has first loved you — and you can- not kliow this until you have believed in Christ. "He that believeth not is condemned." "If any man love me, I will manifest myself unto him." "The Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved me." "Where love is wanting, all is wanting; it is, so to speak, the faculty by which we apprehend God, without which we can never know more of Him than that He is a dread mystery. I^ove is the fulfilling of the law : "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy strength." The obedience of love is not grievous, but cheeriul, delightful, and active. "I delight to do thy will, O my God, for Thy law is within my heart." He who delights in the Divine law, loves it, not merely because it answers to his intuitions of moral propriety, nor merely because '* ^= designed and fitted to yield happiness to Ab AO OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. all who obey it, but mainly because of the glorious character of its author. To delight in the law you must love the lawgiver. Supreme love to the great Lawgiver is the motive and inspiration to obedience. We will illustrate this: — ^There are two sons, chil- dren of the same father, living under the same roof, subject to the same domestic laws ; one has lost all filial love, his father has no longer any hold upon his affections. The other is full of the sentiment, the filial instinct in him is almost passion. How dif- ferent is the obedience of these two sons ^ The one does nothing but what is ibund in the command, and does that merely as a matter of form ; he would not do it if he could help it. The other does it not be- cause it is in the command, but because it is the wish of him he loves. He goes beyond the written law, he anticipates his father's will. Obedience is grievous in the one case, but delight in the other. Love is the strongest force in the soul. If love pre-occupies the soul, temptations are powerless. No one can draw us astray unless he enlists in some degree our affections, and if our love be centered on G-od we are immoveable. Love builds around the soul a rampart so invulnerable that the attacks of the enemy fall on it but to rebound. All the energies of the soul grow under its influence as nature under the sky of spring. It is the breath of God, the brightest purity, the atmosphere in which spirits revel in the vigor of undying youth. U>n «o Thou who keep'st the key of love, I J Open Thy fount, Eternal Dove, ' * y And overflow this heart of mine/ W'-C ii« Enlarging as it fills with Thee, *" ■ » w Till in one blase of charity ii n xJ-rf. H •■ifUi'riif fit'. If' Care andt -iM '\''^\^i,^nu\ Whole years of folly we outlive,' jft <>f«t$Hifil( ju // 'i // In his unerring sight, who measures life by love|»" > t'l j . You should do His commouditieilts unreservedly. " Cursed is every one that coutinueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." To talk that you do not break this or that command is folly — or to break one under the pretence of keeping another. For unless you have respect unto all the command- ments you may be assured that your obedience is not genuine. All the divine commands are established by the same authority. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in onepoifU, he is guilty of all. (James ii. 10, 11.) Love is so essentially the basis of moral law that it is impossible to violate love without being an infringer of the whole law. Law is a chain that is dissolved by the loosening of one Jink. Hence it matters not what wrongs love, that wronging is the loosening of the link. All selfish- ness is antagonism to love, and every selfish act or habit is a rebellion against the whole law. There is a solidarity about this law that does not admit of its being broken in one part and yet kept in the whole. In its every point it expresses the same spirit, and so at the point that is disobeyed the common spirit of the whole is dishonoured. You must, therefore, if you would enter into life, like Zacharias and Elizabeth, walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. You must keep back no part of the price, nor divide between religion and the world. Men cannot have a little of religion and a little of self, — in other words, true men cannot combine pub- OUR HOME m HEAVEN. 17 lie profession ajid.privat;e self-gratificatioii. Men are not permitted to make a mere convenience, of Okrist. " Ye cannot serve Grod and mammon." There axe too many persons in the present day trying to do this-^ they, would like to have religion if they could have .the world as well. But this cannot be. They-r-j/jji l.tf»:,'\i 4r. " Contrive to svit frail nature's crazy caae .| - '^'Wtiffi S' And reconcUo tiieir Juats with savioj^ gracfe^j , , * <, ,/ j ..jt •ff^b 1 Mil % this, wit^ nice precision of design, . wi i . -^ib v! •kj^,i4 m Qan draw upon life's map a zig-zag Un«v , , ■ | ^ - , ,j j^, •» H ini 1 ^***^*' shows how far His safe to follow sin, , j^^f ,'. ^^Ji i*vr«l Hf I i ^f^ where ti>eir danger^ wid, Gpd's wrat^ begin.''. P You should do his commandments comtantlff. 'To them who by patient continuance in well doing, ;seek for gloiry and honour find immortality, eternal life." (Kom. ii. t.)i "And let us not be weary in well* doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we £ptint not." (Gral. vi. 9.) Constancy is a very important element in this obedience* \i must be an everVfday work. The obedience of, yesterday will not do for to-day, and that of to-day will not do for to-morrow. Some are very exact in their obedience when under any dai?k dispensations of Providence. Some when they are in the company of the righteous. Some when in the sanctuary, and oyx. the Lord's day, assume the temporary appearance of obedleni subjects. But "their goodness is as the morning cloud, and the early dew which passeth away." You must guard against thi^ evil. At all times, in all companies, in all places, on all days, you must be obedient to God's will. Constancy is the condition of religious life, growth, strength, expansion, beauty, fragrance and fruitfulness, in every individual family and church. Meteors flash and darken again, but planets burn steadily in their orbits. There is a twilight that to noon-night, there is a tv/ilight that ends in ^^^ jt'" 18 OUR HOMB m HiiVEN. ^ooU-light. The evening twilight deepens iht!b the dairknfess of toidnight, the niorning twilight btoadien^ intd th^ brightnesit bf nobnday. Hence, Would We not bitly secute present but permanent Well-b^ttff, but twilight iiiust be the xnorning obk OUr life must rJBsemble the ^un iu hift coinmehc^ihent, coii^ tinned course, and oonsuihmation^ We must tr^T^l onward and upward to " the perfect day" of know- ledge, the perfect day of purity, and the perfect dtnr of joy. The mor6 we know of God the more stead- fast and petfect should be our obedience to Him. We should '^6 forward, cohformihg ourselves to His laws, With ttiore care aUd ei^\^ith i^efined error and mystic neretiy. Know W^U your doctrinefs: be not decoyed by the igiies fikiU of shailn-philosophy, but fii your eye eaniestly oh the beacon-lights oif divine and ininiuiable ttkth! It is^ hdt great to be . ciulried aWay in an etheteiil tmd uhiiitelligible tn^hscendentalism. Truth is simple,— it^ cardinal principled are soon elicited and mitoteYed, -^it does hot deck itself in the vaingloriouis habili- ih^nts of Scholastic refinement, and utter the preten- tious jargon of inflated pedantry; its gtath is sublime as its own simplicity, and its speech as rentle and winning as a pareht's love. Nothing will give the moral manhood of the €hurch such power as coHshnt adhesion to divine truth. Let the enemy once see that the Church is wavering, that it is exhibiting signs of •decad^hcie, and the day of ruin will ouickly daWli ! Such decision as we advocate, intteaa of being dp- posed to progress, is one of its essential conditions. No 9ian ^^8, finished his studies; &od is an infinite prob- OTJE UdMK IN HEAVEN. 19 lem. lA.Bnmx\BtBti\\ ''inquire in His teniple.''^ Th^ eye openis coitiinually on erer-widening realms ioi' thoulB^htt'^the imagination wings its imperial flight over xeg^oiis of beauty ^-^the intellect is oirerpoiyeTed by the innumerable fflobes of trutii whicii TV^kitl tl^e'ir revolutions round the state-throne of the tmivefee; progress is therefore the inspiring watchword 6f monil manhood. Onward! my brother^ diT^e into the dbepest waters of life's great sea. Upward! Sirs, where the air is balmier and the prospect wi4er- Havenward! Christian pilgrim, there is thy abidin:g home. The blessedness promised. "Blessed are they/' &c. They are hin>py while obeying. " G^reat peacS have they which lov^ thy law: amd ndthittg shall olT^nd them." (P)b. czix. 165.) "And the work of righteous- ness shall be peace : and the eiSect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isa. xxxii. 1*7.) But " they shall have a right to the tree of life,'^ &c. An authority founded on r^A^:— this right founded On obedience ;— and this obedience produced by the grace of God working in them. The tree of l^$ seems to be an allusion to the tree of life in the paradise of man. (G^en. ii. 9.) As this tree is stated to be in tlie street f of the city, and mi each side of the m>er, tree must here be an enallage of the singular for the plural num- ber, trees of lifej or trees which yield fruit by which life is preserved. Bight to the tree of l^e — to all the blessings signified by it. When Adam broke God's command he was driven from the tree of Ife. They who keep God's commandments "shall have a right," through his gracious covenant, to the tree of Itfe. The fruits of this tree are abundant. Twelve manner of fruits. Heaven's joys are so many that they cannot be numbered, so copious th^t they cannot be defined, so precious that they cannot be valued. Every month t'S'-'C^' 20 OUR HOMi: IN HEAVEN. nn - -' i m irrt t b I I ii:.i — like the lemon tree, which ever and anon isendeth forth new lemons as soon as the former are fallen down with ripeness. Such plenty, that rip« fruits ' are yielded everif month — so that all may freely par- take of them at all seasons. As there is a great de- mand upon the resources of these trees, it mig^ht have been supposed, perhaps, that, according to the com- mon method in which fruit is produced, there would be sometimes plenty and sometimes want ; but the writer says not so, the supply is commensurate with the demand. The fruits of this tree are various. The idea of . variety may be taken from the phrase, — " twelve man- ner of fruits." Barnes says the passagein its correct rendering will not admit of this. But the common interpretation' of the passage at least suggests the thought; thv^refore, we avail ourselves of it. There will be variety in the occupations and joys of the heavenly state. It cannot be otherwise; for Heaven ;iis not a stationary community, but a world of stu- pendous plans and schemes, ^nd of mighty efforts for its own improvement. Its inhabitants are a society passing through successive stages of development. An eminent author says, "Celestial genius is always active to explore the great laws of creation, and the - ^everlasting principles of the mind, to disclose the beautiful in the universe, and to discover the means by which every soul may be carried forwards." And in Heaven the universe will be seen as one ^^ boundless sphere of discovery, in which the soul will "eternally career, enlarge its capacities, and derive new and various sources of enjoyment. T The fruits of this tree are continual. There ever V watered by living streams, under a brighter sun, and in a nobler soil, the trees bear fruit continually — ^everi/ month. No failure! They are ev^ry month OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 21 richly laden with immortal fruit. The joys of Heaven stand in instructive contrast with the joys of earth. Mail has his earthly inheritance, but it is corruptible — he seizes a joy from the hand of time, but it is defiled, — he plucks a flower from the coronal of spring, but lo ! Ufadeth away ! You may have seen a bright-eyed child gathering the early primroses, and binding to it the young violet, and scampering home right cheer- ily with its prize of beauty ; all day long the little wanderer has joypd over tne simple treasure, and at night has carried it to rest, — in dreams the flowers have been gathered over again, and the heart of the dreamer has quickened its beat for very joy, — the morning has come, but alas ! the primrose and the violet have drooped their heads to revive no more : blank amazement has marked the countenance of the child, — his prize is gone ! Sirs ! leani wisdom from the simple incident. How uncertain is health ! The eye which now sparkles brightest with the fire of life may be soonest glazed in death. How fickle is friend- ship ! A look, or a word thoughtlessly spoken, or a deed undesignedly performed, may change the friend of our bosom into our bitterest enemy. How transient are riches ! They make to themselves wings and fly aAA^ay. The wreath of fame, for which the student toils, the poet sings, the warrior fights and the states- man argues, withers before it is well bound round the winner's temples. Nay, the time is coming, fast as the revolving years can bring it on, when the i)re- sent order of things will be broken up, and the great world itself, the scene of so many great events, shall pass away; but this city presented in the text, the bright centre of the universe, the abode of redeemed humanity, will continue firmly fixed on its immu- table foundations for ever. And, let it be remem- dered, this city is not of yesterday, + lim 22 orJR HOME IN HEiVEN. ill' t^artl'e oldest, grayest city, older than the earth it$elf. litfcCFTB ever our earth haa been hung in its sphere, or time llnul begun its swift, paiii»^less march, or the %Ui angel hod commenced his song, it existed. It is Iroiki eternity. And when the last earthly city shidl have fallen and faded into a dim memory of the past, this city will be as beautiful and stable as now, and ^iW ring with the hymns of sanctified millions. Be* motest eternity will see no dimming of its ^ory, no weakening of its foundations. Its spring is everlast- ing; its flowers are un withering; its verdure is ever luxuriant and bright. Beautiful gardens of paradi£i<)! no wintry blast sweeps with desolating fury through its beautiful trees or over its iragrant flowers: no scorching sun burns up the shrivelled lOot^ — ^ho pelting storm assails the tree of life ! Amidst its amaranthine bowers there walks the second Adam awaiting the arrival of the sm)ttd Eve, who is yet in the wilderness adorning herself with bridal purity and grandeur, and in due time she will be ready to meet her Lord, and walk with him through the un- blighted groves of Paradise Eegained ! (Rev. xix. 7.) The very leaves of the tree of life are medicinal. They are for the preserving of spiritual health. "They are for the aealing of the nations." — /. E. For the preserv- ing, not the restoring^ of spiritual health ; for i.o sick- ness or infirmity of mind or b, dy is, or canbt tr-^r?*: beneath the salutary shades of these trees .'.^e^ae can ever invade any individual of the nations of the redeemed- but perpetual health shall exist and flourish in them al . This world, smitten with the blight of the curse, is fni^ A disoi-se. It is everywhere to be seen withering rh^ b^^juty of youth and drying ui> the strength ol "tiiiiihood. Bin iiiis city is a region of perfect and eternal health. There is health for souls in every breege which fills its streets with music, in the tight ' -». OUltHOME IN IlPUVEN. ory, no i«^ ever ara4iae! lirough ers: no )ot — no idst lis I Adam J yet in I purity etidy to the un- xix. 7.) I They hey are preserv- ::o sick- liiflrtjase s of the Sourish it of the be Been up the L perfect n every ie light which beautifies its sky, and in all seiMces the puri- fied and emancipated spirit is called upon to perform. It is the home of eternal youth. Fancy has often sketched such a region in some sunny land of this world, and men, allured and fired oy the dream, have ^^' -i li n J 24 OUR HOME TN HEAVEN. through the medium of material things, which we can see and in some measure understand. The em- ployment of material images to set forth spiritual things is one of the characteristics of the Bible. Heaven is pre-eminently the region of the spiritual. Its wealth and enjoyments are spiritual. Our views of it are often far too low and sensual. We dwell so much on the imagery employed to set it forth, that we lose sight of the great spiritual truths which lie beneath — we mistake the shadow for the substance. It is a kind of Persian paradise, a place of sensual delights, which our imagination pictures to us, rather than a Christian Heaven, whose charac- teristics are purity, spiritual freedom, and Christ-like love. When we reach that bright abode we shall have done with the material in the universe, as we now see it, for ever; we shall never again be clogged with its fetters, nor burdened with its infirmities. Spiritual wealth, consisting in knowledge, holiness, humility and love, is far higher than material or in- tellectual wealth. It makes a man rich in spite of his outward circumstances, and, though his homo may be in the lowest quarter of the town, it lifts him to a place among the aristocracy of the moral universe. Let us improve this subject — Bt/ enquin/. There is a groat deal of profession in the present day. Much talk about religion. But the (pn^stion is not whether you talk about, or read, or undt'rstand (jrod'.s commandments, but w^hether you do them. There are many who say " Lord, Lord, without doing th^ will oi' the Father which is in 1 leaven." Does your religion consist in mere mechan- ical acts, empty words, spiritless strains? Be assured if it has not taught you to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, your religion is vain. If ye know these thiniys, happy are ye, if y(» do them. "lie thai ^'^■'i OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. m 1. hich we The em- spiritual Bible, piritual. Our lal. We to set it b1 truths 7 for the , a place pictures charac- irist'like ve shall e, as we clogged irmities. holiuess, ial or ill- spite of lis homo lifts him iiniverso. ?8sioii in But the read, or ther you d, Lord, Lch is in mechan- assured iiess and )W these He thai heateth these sayiUgs of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." Christ's disciples should act consist- ently with their professions. There should be a per- fect harmony between what they profess to be and what they are. Let creed and conduct be agreed, " live as becometh the Gospel of Christ." The dis- crepancy between the creed and the conduct cf Christendom is at once amongst its greatest crijnes and curses. Look into our own country as an ex- ample, and what do we see ? The millions by pro- fession calling Christ "Master and Lord," and ypt in daily life denying His doctrines and disobeying Hia will. He denounces war, they practise it ; He de- nounces worldliness, they practise it ; He denounces selfishness, they practise it; He denounces subjection to the flesh, they practise it. Thus — - ,/, ,-i»i.. vm' ■I-,,, iM'iM " With lip tiioy call Him master, •' : iifj.-7/i«»l <•'; In life oppose His word. ii ; ji In //»; .hit* They every day deny Him, And yet they call Him Ixird. '•No more is their religion, Like His, in soul or deed. Than painted grain on canvn.s Is like the living seed.'' Bi/ encovragement. Ye servants of God who have another spirit in you, go on from strength to strength. The prize is before you — angels are wait- ing to bind the laurels about your brows. Fear not ! Those who profess to know (but their works deny them) will call you legalist and puritan, and will do all they can to oppose you. But God is for you; therefore, my beloved brethren, fear not. " If God be for us. who can 1)0 against us?" He is faithful who hath promised to keep you unto the end. The D 26 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. best banks of earth may break, and we may lose our all, the finest fortresses may be reduced to ruins, and our lives destroyed. But nothing can touch the Christian's wealth; nothing can hurt the Christian's life; for they are " hid w^ith Christ in God." Christ says, " Because I live, ye shall live also." It is said that the natural sun once stood still; but we know of no one who can ajQUrm that Christ, "the Sun of Righteousness," has ever failed, even in a single in- stance, to keep His promise. Did such a city as I have attempted to describe exist on earth, what a mighty exodus of the nations there would be to it ! But though not on earth, there is such a city, and we are all invited to the privileges of citizenship. Here we have no continuing city, but let us seek that which is to come. Let us take our staff in hand, and shak- ing ourselves free from the delusions of earth, let us go forward towards its open gates. A glorious wel- come awaits us there. iii t-i^-ji** '•.ii«T . .*,.,.U ni l}'ri\y rl'ii't >;f<^y ■ ' ' ' , i. '>'<>■» 'I'' ft'"' HI . ',( f ,. J'.l . , , ' Mv-. -;•;!•: f.' ii/ wVA -' 't n.\* **iJ I*/ [»<•»' \n ■■■ f fjij / 1 ."■ >{ .\v\ **,\'v;:',i', ' 1 ';/.n.i i;j«,>/ )jt<.ii.' -i'.iji;;! tit! I't«!»I ■.-. -jij.! i,i if/;> < tilj ;i i'M«) ll . i"j| t»>- " '•'=li? V"ln'' ^"f^iv^^ ;,*atUtj^4^. nh^^.-r-fi- ^ j-SK^'^Jf^r^i;"',/ " ■ 'T-: . : < . •■ >1 :»viv^.'] ■::•:, ■"V'', .■•v,0 "1 .. # I), f, I . 1 . ' ( I 1 ' I •«-:t' I « . > I ! ,"" "' .'«'»' r.M.J "'■' ■ /•..; , . .,11'., .,1 ",„Ui''^i '■■ * , M-. ,'. ,'1 .,'• i , .4;.* Il/ii '/-mI I "•U?f: ;■ - .:^;.>^ ■if*' - " How much less in them that dwell in houses oj clay, whose foun- dation is in the dust, which are crushed before the mothf" " in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall how themselves, and'4he grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows are darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the streets^ — Ecclesiastes xii. 3. Jv ■'.f ■ Ji* -H'l' •i.t' "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we s\all alio hear the image of the heavenly. — 1 Cor. xv. 49. , , ..^ ,. " Like leaves on trees the race of man is loun;l, Now green in youth, now withering on the groun I; Another race the following f^pring supplies; They fall successive, and succensive ri«e: So generations in their course decay: So flourish these, when tho»ie are pass'd a^'ay.'' I Xal/7..-IH /.t Ji^**H T>;>^,» '^4' f>'iiM;q'tb /^ui If* sni: Chapter 11.*'*''^ .tt''iT'fn'>il^fr»Mf£i ' ' The Christian's Burden and Desire. ! ''U0'T'''ly''f'T 1WU I «»> ♦- ^if^'p't-w^'^^^^y^^ ^^ *. Memorial Sermon Preached in St. Andrew's Church, Chatham, ' •»• on the Occasion of the Death of Mrs. J. McDougall. '< For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mor- tality might be swallowed up of life." — 2 Cor. v. 4. ^ \fi. ■ ... . The doctrine of the resurrection is a doctrine of revelation, not of reason; pointing to its great preacher with undisguised contempt, the philosophical Athenians asked with a sneer, " What will this bab- bler say ?" True, there is in the human breast a hope of immortality vhich leaps into life when e,voked by the word of God. But, apart from the Gospel, all that unaided man could reach concerning that life beyond the grave was a feeble, fluttering guess. The tomb was covered with darkness. For many ages Chris- tians loved to carve upon the stones that memorial- ized the dead the butterfly — the beautiful symbol of the resurrection. Once a creeping worm, it wove itself a shroud, and dropping on the earth found there a grave. But when spring returned, breaking away from its earthly covering, it rose into the air, in form and habits entirely new. Men, exalted by the Gospel, loved to trace in this an emblem of the resur- rection of the body. It is no more than an emblem — a beautiful picture. It can never become an argu- ment. The chrysalis never was dead. There was no gap in the existence such as occurs when the body 30 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. committed to the grave crumbles and mingles with its native dust. Nature's most beautiful symbol fails to furnish the feeblest proof of the resurrection. The ancient heathen, gathering the ashes of his departed friend into the sepulchral urn, could only murmur the dark soliloquy, " Is this the sorry ending of all life's affection and purpose? Is the loved voice hushed for ever ?" "^ ■- "Fond man, Behold thy pictured life J pass some few years Thy flowery spring, thy ardent summer, thy • Sober autumn, fading into age, and ' ,' Pale, concluding winter comes at last , ,,|.,.j , ,, (,, And shuts the scene." No ! not until we come to the Bible does the dark- ness of the grave flee away. Looking into the empty tomb of a risen and enthroned Redeemer — ^listening to the divine promise, "All that are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of Grod and shall come forth." Believing on Christ for a present and eternal salva- tion, 80 that in a soul risen from sin we have an earnest of a body risen from the grave — all doubt and hesitancy vanish. Casting the light of revelation bnyond the veil Ave can joyfully exclaim, " We know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle were dis- solved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." It was by the contemplation of Heaven the Apostle was sustained to endure the trials of earth. AVhen wave after wave of trouble broke over him, threatening to overwhelm him in despair, the hope of Heaven lifted his head up above the roaring sea. " Persecuted, but not for- saken ; cast down, but not destroyed." And it is well for all Christians sometimes to survey their future prospects. The survey will keep them from becom- ing weary in well-doing, and even render them more OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. e dark- j empty stening 7e shall J forth." L salva- lave an iibt and ^elation r ' J.'l'A!"W i t I.I. r. 'l IM) !'l }.i«! . .*• , .1 -i-ij '. i >\ !r ' !',f ',r >( " Soon shall this earthly frame, dtssolvM, , , , , . . i • <( i ., In death and ruins lie; . , ■ , j , ^ , , But better mansions wait the just, * 1 1 / - = i Prepar'd above the sky. . , : , , . . , , i " An house eternal, built by Goil, Shall lodge the holy mind ; When once those prison walls have fall'n By which 'tis now confin'd. aj u r ■ > /i- , .'•''" < ' ' With life that cannot die. ''-'^ / |v : ft 82 .f OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. '•' Such are the hopes that cheer the just ; These hopes their God hath given ; j , , His spirit is the earnest now, , ;.• ., And seals their souls for Heav'n. . s . ; f j . 'O' .If m ' <; I ill. ':f'-\! <.t! • V ,;!• r, .!!'•(( ii »! ,1 We walk by faith of joys to come, ^ i i' Faith grounded on His word ; ^.iLiiiil But while this body is our home, - .Ii vYtli '^We mourn an absent liOrd." •/ Let us consider the Christian's present resi- dence. "This Tabernacle," or, as amplified in the first verse, "the earthly house of this tabernacle." It is his physical structure. The mind occupies the body. Holy Writ often speaks of the body as the soul's resi- dence. For the body is to the soul what the dwell- ing- is to the tenant. For the soul the body was first created, and in all its marvellous arrangements is adapted to the tenant within — to its will, its imagin ation, its memory. The eyes — the windows of the soul, w^hile the eyelids, ever rising, ever falling, keep the living windows clean. The ears — like open porches, taking in the world's babbling speech. The hands — those versatile workers that build or plough, that paint or write, as the implement is put into their grasp. The tongue — the eloquent ambassador to tell forth the beating thoughts within. "Tlie ivory palace of the skull" — where the soul makes her cen- tral abode. And this fabric — so "fearfully and won- derfully made" — is not the man, but the house in which the man dwells. Do what we will, we can- not save the tenement, but the tenant may be saved. Therefore does Christ meet every man in the pathway of this world with the startling question, "What IS a man profited if he gain the wnole world and lose his own soul ?" The smil is the man. Trite as the remark may appear, how many live as though orR HOME IN HEAVEN. 88 f I'M IV T RESI- in the ae." /if ,e body. lI's resi- dwell- yras first leutB is Imagin s of the Qg, keep ke open h. The plough, put into bassador lie ivory her cen- tid won- louse in we can- may be in in the question, e world n.^ Trite J though the converse were true — that the body was the nian ! Their profession or business is not a sacred steward- ship; it is a busy toil to supply the body's wants, nothing more. To the adornment of the body hours are devoted. At the least touch of pain the physician is summoned. When d^ath approaches, directions are given as to the body's final resting place, whilst the deeper craving, and the keener pain, and the loftier destiny of the soul within, are unheeded and forgotten. I repeat it: the soul is the man. The body has no power to shape and mould your eternal future; the soul has the power. Cherish and shield it as you may, the body will die ; the soul never dies. And though the body shall on the resurrection morning be restored, the soul will determine its character and destiny. What your soul is, your body will be for ever. This fiouse is earthly. It is formed from the earth and drags the spirit, its tenant, down to the earth. Wonderful as is the architecture, the materials are but dust. From the earth the body first sprung ; by the earth it is now sustained; to the earth it shall one day return. For the earth it is adapted: to engage in its pursuits, to perform its duties, to share its joys. Nowhere else in the universe, probably, can such a body be found. Not in Heaven; for the rush of glory and light would overpower its frail faculties. Not in hell, for what of dignity or beauty distinguish it now will have no existence there. It is an earthly house, and when the soul leaves the earth, the house is left behind. By the inclination we feel to the things of sense, we perceive that our body draws our spirit down to sublunary objects. " My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word." "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the E 84 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. ,'■ •I'll 5 t'if ir •I •■•K .J:!4 breath of life; and man became a living soul." .'."', '/ ' ■ " Naked as fi-om the earth we came, ' _ ' f ; And enter'd life at first ; . - . " • .^ ^ . , t '''. .'" '■'.' Naked we to the earth return, % ,- ■ • And mix with kindred dust. ' Then the Apostle reminds us of the uncertainty of its tenure ! "The earthly house of this tal^ernacle." A tabetnacle or tent is a. temporary dwelling, erected for shelter, when the stay is expected to be so short that a more substantial edifice would be too costly. A roof without a foundation, a few posts, a few cords, a few strips of canvas, it is quickly set up, quickly taken down again, easily torn or destroyed. The companion of travellers and soldiers, it speaks of a journey that may suddenly terminate, of a battle that must constantly be fought. Such is life to the Chris- tian. Marching forward each day from the cradle to the grave, leaving old scenes, old companions, behind him, he has to fight at each step he advances. Sweep- ing back the hosts of hell, "fighting the good fight," he looks for the day when, the warfare finished, the tent shall be finally struck, and he shall pass into the "building of God, eternal in the heavens." "Yea, I think it meet, so long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance, know- ing that shortly I must put off" this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me." This house is decaying^. The term " dissolve" means properly to disunite the parts of anything. As ap- plied to a building, it denotes throwing down or destroying. "When used, as here, in reference to the body, it signifies the dissolution of the body in the grave. The human frame gradually grows old, decomposes, and returns to earth. Seeing that the body is so perfect, why is it so frail ? Doubtless it ail tri OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 35 I .. . linty of le." A erected short costlv, V cords, quickly " The ks of a tile that e Chris- radle to , behind Sweep- l fight," Led, the iss into ' "Yea, lacle, to know- ernacle, ae." ' means As ap- lown or J to the in the ivs old, hat the )tiess it is the noblest form into which God has fashioned matter; yet in longevity it is surpassed by the trees of the forest. More glorious than the stars, it is as fading as the summer flowers. , , '• Behold the emblem of thy state, • ;- > 'i* • ^J In flow'rs that bloom and die, i Or in the shadow's fleeting form, i" ' ' That mocks the gazer's eye." A day's sickness, the touch of fever, the crashing of an accident, and it falls lifeless to the ground. Why is the body so feeble ? To teach us oitr dependence an God. A. stout healthy body, covering a stout sinful soul, would nourish a proud, self-reliant temper. The antediluvians found strenth for their rebellion in the length of their lives. After the flood, God made the span of human life the shorter, that men might not err so vilely. Some of us would never think of God, of judgraent, or of sin, unless through suffering in the body we were compelled to think. To remind us this world is but our pilgrim home. "We build our nests firmly and strong, as though we were to live here always. God shakes them to pieces to prepare us for our future flight. We devote to the creature the soul's worship, which of right belongs alone to God. Te deliver from idolatry God destroys the idols. When sermons and sacraments. Sabbaths and services have failed, in some little trial, some trailing sorrow, God teaches, " he builds too low who builds beneath the skies." The first step towards the health of the soul has frequently been physical affliction. The grave of a child has been the treasure- house from which the bereaved jSarents have taken the "wealth without wings" that never flies aw^ay. Ah ! my brethren, with a finished atonement, and an omnipotent spirit, and a universal gospel, it is difii- -<;* QUR HOME IN HEAVEN. '•- iH cult, sorely difficult, to get a sickly, dying world to Christ. Of a stout, healthy, undying world, we should utterly despair. To qukken our desires for the permanent home. "When down the mountain side the storm rushes, beating the tent of the traveller to the earth, scattering the canvas to the winds — then, if not before, does there steal into the heart of the storm- beaten one a wistful desire for the fire-lit hearth and the fond faces of home. The tent trembles — disease weakens the body, accident lays it low in pain. The tent trembles, the arm falls weak at the side — the raven tresses are streaked with gray, the eyes grow dim, the ears become dull. ye aged believers, ye dwellers on the slope of life, feeling in yourselves tne approach of death, think of the home that awaits you ! A home where the walls of jasper, and the gates of pearl, and the streets of gold will be surpassed by the glory of Grod, and the presence of Christ, and the companionship of loved ones gone before. In the prospect of that home rejoice ! " Heavenly home ! heavenly home ! , ,^ Precious name to me ! I love to think the time will como, ' - ... When 1 shall rest in thee." .< ;■-■ " I've no abiding city here ; I seek for one to come | > And though my pilgrimage bo drear, ' I know there's rest at home."' There is the pressure of trial in this tabernacle. " Being burdened." My youthful friends will perhaps find it difficult to believe this is a description of their con- dition. Upon them the burden has not yet descend- ed. Youth is joyous. The future is bright with hope, and if in the present tears come they are sudden and short as April shovv'crs. The gladness of a heart un- «;,' I } OrJR HOME IN HEAVEN. 3t burdened with care breaks forth in the dimpled laughter and sportiv' play. We would not have it otherwise, G-od has a purpose in that joy. The bud would not blossom into the fragrant flower without the influence of the sunshine. And the boy would not become the man if on his childish heart the cares of old age were laid. The spirit would be crushed and the body dwaj'fed. Let the gladness nestle with- in the child, but let it be wisely shielded by parental counsel and prayer. "When the limb has grown strong for toil, and the heart brave to endure, then God brings the burden down — lightly at first, gradually it increases in its pressure, growing with his growth, a burden that can be shaken off* only with the earthly house itself There are burdens Christians endure in common with all men. Family cares, when children sicken and die, or, more heavily still, when children turn their back on a father's God, and their follies pierce a mother's heart. Business perplexities — when markets are un- certain, when trade droops, when best-formed plans fail, and disaster falls on the conscientious tradesman. Burdens of false friends and busy tongues — when motives are misread and actions are misunderstood. Bur^'^ns of poverty, when the life is held in a cease- less drudgery of toil, with scant time for rest or cul- tivation of the mind. There are many such burdens that make the supports of this earthly tabernacle to bend beneath their weight. But each trial, wisely used, is a friend as well. The heaviest burden of life has love — the love of an infinite Saviour — in the heart of it. "Cast thy burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain thee'' — not thy burden only. Though "ark adversities, or bitter sorrow, or death robed in lackest garb meet you, by all the might of His ivinity, and all the mercy of His atonement, Christ # ■il W 'i m 38 OUH HOME IN HEAVEN. ?rn promises to carry you and your burden too. "Am I drooping ? Thou art near me, Near to bear me on my way : • . • Am I pleading ? Thou wilt hear me, " i . . Hear and answer when I pray. . . , ( rr ■■-} Mil »»'.'/ I,' ■ if. ;t .7 »k "Then, my soul, since God dotli love thee Faint not, droop not, do not fear ; For though His Heaven is high above theo. He himself is ever near ! ■i \ "Near to watch thy wayward spirit, Sometimes cold and careless grown | , . , But likewise near with grace and merit. All thy Saviour's, thence thine own." There are biinlem peculiar to Christians. Strange as it may seem, when sin is lbr jL n 0^ t l!« i OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. m 1 1 1 ' .'I age as it est upon w madly believer lilt, and ent, yet on the ithes its t. Never it which Grecian ir hands hey ap- d foot is ;eession, mailed I in that t when subjec- self is ! Now pers we ».' t 7 •ire wise already, so we lose the favored seat of Mary when she sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His words. Now sloth rocks us in her cradle to sleep, whilst golden hours go slipping by that might have been hlled with holy service for Christ, or perhaps some sinful thought, swifter than a weaver's shuttle, passes to and fro, weaving a web that shuts out the light of God, and " we walk in darkness, because our deeds are evil !" How vigilantly must the watch and ward be kept lest we be utterly destroyed ! The armour must never be doffed, and sword never be sheathed, the shield never be cast aside, but be constantly wielded against foes without, or turned against foes within. Who can wonder that at times we wish to scape from the burden of the conflict ? I am not surprised that Dr. Watts once sang — ' «-- •- ' "Could I command the spacious land, And the more boundless sea; For one blest hour at Thy right hand rd give them both to Thee." I am speaking to some who would gladly give more than that. Not land or sea, but life would some of you give if by laying it down you could at once gain Heaven. Were God to proffer the honours and glories of Heaven on the stern condition that we this day bade adieu to earth and all its joys, not a few would be fouu4, ready tp make the excftauge, 8helley said, i . , - 1 ' .;;■, , i, , ,^, , "I could sit down like a tired child, j^i- / m-,, . li , I And weep away this lite of care." , {. I...1 >r-<> ■•■- "Life," said Charles Dickens, the gTeat novelifct, "seems to me the saddest dream that was ever dream- ed." ''Vanitaji vanitatum'' — such are the words with which Thackeray ended his most famous work. Ijwuther, at one period of his life, cried, "J am v/earv ! n v.ili; ■■'•<.. t u \ i»' f I i 40 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. of life : if this can be called life, there is nothing much worse; I am utterly weary ; I pray +hee, O Lord, come forth and carry me hence." And Cow.per in pensive sadness prayed — ■' "Oh, for a lodge in some vast wilderness, ' ' - -"''•'I Some boundless contiguity of shade, ^ " Where rumour of oppression and deceit, Of unsuccessful or successful war, t ' Might never reach me more.'' , ' i I I M Hi The old historian said that no man had ever lived yet without coming to the day in his life when he cared nothing if he were to see no to-morrow. But not thus, dear brethren, can you reach your rest. Step by step you must fight your way there — rising sadder but wiser from painful falls ; finding real foes in fancied friends ; curbing evil tempers ; watching against besetting sins : thus only can 3^ou reach the Kingdom of God. And he that enters upon that war will understand the Apostle's lament, "We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being bur- dened." Are you tired of this world .<* It is a sad thing when man becomes really tired of earth and earth's duties. "VVeary and sometimes irksome as they are, we should gather strength to encounter the task. Yours is no conqueror's heart if you quail in the pre- sence of hard labour. Do not imagine that the mean- ing of the expression "heavenly-minded" is being too holy to do the cold severe work of this planet. Huch "heavenly-mindedness" would soon loosen the moral securities of the world, and plunge society into the heathenism of the dark ages. It is sentimentalism ; a maudlin, half-hearted existence ; part of the man is in Heaven and part of him on the earth. lie is not a robust hero in the race or fight, but a dizzy-headed dreamer resting himself on ihe pillow of sell-ease. t ■m lead the i OtJll HOME IN llEAVliN. 41 nothing hee, O Cow.per ' I . lived yet he cared aeh your r there — ; finding tempers ; can you it enters s lament, ling bur- md thing d earth's they are, the task. II the pre- he mean- being too Bt. Such the moral into the ^ntalism ; le man is lie is not sy-headed seii-ease. The Bible does not hold out Heaven us an induce- ment to cease from earth-work, nor as a prize to be seized unconditionally. My brother ! are you talking so much about the joys of Heaven as to overlook the duties of earth ? Is it your highest wish to enter Heaven yourself, and to leave your fellow-creatures to do the best they can for themselves^ Is there no moral work to be done before you enter on your pro- mised restY Have you not to dive under the black rocks of sin and ignorance to lilt up some poor lost one? Is there no prodigal to reclaim — no wanderer to '\voo — no aching heart to comfort — no grief-deluge to assuage? We must work till the last iroment of our •earthly sojourn, if We Would really enjoy the rest of |Heaven. We must add labour to hope, and patience to ifaith. It is in this fashion that we j^rove the practi- ipal value of Christianity. Men talk as though re- ligion was only intended for higher worlds and serener climes than ours. It is a grievous and mis- leading creed, lleligion can mingle her songs with the wintrv temi>e8ts of disappointment and sutfer- ing, and she c*an do her work on the hard rocks and iftesert places of the world. Do not then forget J)resent duty however difficult, nor shrink from the next struggle however formidable ! You may be jnaimed in the strife; be it so: it is better having one hand to enter into Heaven than possessijig both to be turned into hell. AVhen the warriors return from l>attle, who is it that is praised and honoured^ Is it lie who has been poetizing on the glories of the con- flict, or uttering sighs of pity over the dead and the dving^ No. Look at that poor, shattered sol- dier who has mingled in the hottest strife fnd shed his blood for his country's cause: he it is ^ho is greeted on his native shore with tears of sym rthv and thunders of applause Ho sliall it be moi- _x» ■L : 42 otili uomK in HEAVEK. w i: lis ^^B '.^ ^^H H ''**' m ^■"3 |h My 1 1 I 1 )»fc~^ ally. Those who have passed their lives ill senti- mental quietude may ''hardly enter the kingdom of Heaven,'' but those who have struggled, bled and triumphed shall have an " abundant entrance" amid the acclaims of the blest, into the "inheritance incor- ruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." We have here the Christian's future resi- dence. The saint's future building will be the re- surrection body. " "We have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." The redeemed soul's final domicile will be the clay tenement in its changed and beautified condition. You have an exquisite description of it in the fif- teenth chapter of Paul's first epistle to the Corin- thians. It is there shown that the natural, weak, corruptible and dishonoul-ed body deposited in the tomb, shall be raised a spiritual, strong, incorruptible and glorified body. The godly man's future dwell- ing will be the very opposite of his present one. Doubtless it will be in every respect more in keep- ing with his views and feelings, and more thorough- ly adapted to his immortal spirit. The glorification of the body is a part of God's original purpose; and the Gospel is a perfect remedial scheme. It restores all the blessings that were lost in the first Adam. Orig- inating in the boundless love of God, it comprises ii complete salvation for man, and provides for remov- ing entirely the curse and eftects of sin from all those who accept its blessings, and for fulfilling in their iinal destiny the original purposes of Divine benevo- lence. Now, as the curse of sin affects man's physi- cal as well as his spiritual nature, it seems reasonable^ to suppose that if the Gospel be a complete remedy for man it will ultimately remove the curse from his body, as well as from his soul; and hence it may be predicated that the resurrection and glorification ol nm& OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 43 111 seiiti' tgdom of )led and ?e" amid ice incor- >» RE RESI- e the re- God, an eavens." the clay ondition. the fif- le Corin- al, weak, ed in the irruptible re dwell- seiit one. in keep- horough- rification pose; and 'stores all ti. Orig- nprises ii )r rem ov- al 1 thoso ill their * benevo- I's physi- »asonabl(» 5 remedy from his t may be cation ol he body must follow as an effect of the perfection nd completeness of the G-ospel remedy. The immortality of the soul has been held with ore or less tenacity by the popular mind in all ages, nd heathen philosophers have elaborated arguments give the doctrine a scientific and logical basis ; but br want of a m^re solid foundation, and a more auth- ritative oracle than human reason, their conclusions ad not sufficient force to sustain their own confi- ence; and a future existence was with them, after 11, a subject of wavering speculation rather than of S(>lid couAdction. But of the resurrection of the body, the most penetrating and sagacious minds seem to have had no conception as a thing probable or pos* isible. Though the shades and names of the dead frequently flit before us in the mythologies of the heathen, in the reveries of their poets, and the specu- atioiis of their philosophers ; and though various %ystems of metempsychosis had been propagated, we earch in vain among the records of pagan literature nd religion for the least trace of the body's resurrec- ion. All their hopes respecting the body were en- tombed in the gloomy sepulchre, or expired at the funeral pyre. Often, when the body fell into the arms of death, affection embalmed it with odorous gums, or preserved its ashes in the sacred urn, or perpetuated its form in marble and bronze ; but no expectation of its return to life, and its reunion with the immortal spirit, ever soothed the bosom of the bereaved, or cheered the moments of the dying in the heathen world. A darkness covered the grave, un- "^'^elieved by the faintest ray. The farewell, at death, as final, and for ever. Some of you mny have seen 1 one of the exhibitions of paintings the delineation f a funeral procession from the steps of the Colum- aria at Rome. There was Jiot one ledeeminir fea- u OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. f «^-l ■'m li ture to relieve the sadness of the scene. There was not a single thing to indicate that one ray of hope had pierced the gloom of the mourner's heart. One almost fancied, as he looked at it, that he heard the shriek of the despairing widow, " Vale ! vale ! Eternum vafeT — "Farewell, farewell; eternal farewell." Thank (rod, the Christ has come since then. Yes, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, has brought life and immor- tality to light by the Gospel. He went into the grave and passed out at the farther end, leaving the door there for ever open ; and so that which to the pagan was a dreary cave with no possible outlet, is ior us and for our loved ones only a tunnel through ^vhich we pass to glory, changing the mortal for the immortal, th^ corruptible for the incorruptible, on th(^ way. " r know that my Kedeemcr lives ; , i'. What comfort this assurance gives ! » . ]Ie lives, lie lives, who once was (lead : . Ife lives, mj' over-living Heatl. " He lives, trlinni:>hant from the grave. He lives eternally to save, He lives all glorious in the sky, He lives exalted there on high. '•He lives , all glory to His name ! He lives, my Jesus, still the same ; Oh the swe^tjoy the assurance given, I know that my Itedoemer lives!" In the volume of revelation, this doctrines has a conspicuous place, and appears even amid the shadows of the patriarchal dispensation. The translation of ]i]noch was a glorification of man's whole nature, and 51 confirmation of a truth which had probably a place in the earliest revelation given to man. Job," though a G^entile by birth, and probably a contemporary with '#-p- ■«>■* OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 45 ;re was of hope One ard the Eternum Thank es, our immor- ito the g the h to the itlet, is through for the ible, on ! has a hadowH ition ol' ire, and a i^lai^e though ry with the later Jewish patriarchs, could exult amid the anguish of a diseased and emaciated body, and the desolation of all his earthly hopes, in prospect of a glorious resurrection, exclaiming, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth : and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God : whom t shall see fo . myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another ; though my reins be consumed within me." Isaiah, addressing the Jewish Church in the midst of her afflictions and calamities, comforts her with the hope of a resurrection to ever- ilasting life : "Thy dead men shall live, together with [my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye [that dwell in dust : for thy de v is as the dew of [herbs, and the earth shjiU cast out the dead." Daniel, lanticipating the closing events of time, and the final [destiny of men, says, "And many of them that sleep [in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlast- ling life, and some to shame and everlasting "ontempt." Sustained by this hope, the Hebrew hvorthies endured with fortitude and joy the jtortures of martyrdom, not accepting deliverance, [that they might obtain a better res;urrection. In the time of our Lord's ministry, the doctrine of |the resurrection was one of popular belief. Martha )nly gave utterance to the prevalent sentiment when fehe said to our Lord, concerning her departed brother, r I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." In 'he New Testament this doc- trine, freed from every vestige of obscurity, stands out with constant prominence, both in the teachings of our Lord and His Apostles. tSays the Kedeemer to the disconsolate sisters of Lazarus : " I am the resur- rection and the life: he that believeth in me, though were -dead, v^t shall he live; and whosoever liyeth ^*f^ \ff^m / w m m OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. -f , 1 V II and believeth in me shall never die." And again, lie says, "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life ; and I will raise him np at the last day." " Marvel not at this: for the hour is com- ing, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear ^^ His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, nnto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." The Apostles proclaimed this doctrine with the same con- stancy that they declared any vital truth of Christi- anity. They preached Jesus and the resurrection, and the one theme was inseparable from the other. Their oral ministry and their inspired epistles beam with the glad tidings of a resurrection, and manifest the solemn importance in which it was held by them. When enforcing great practical truths they open the solemn realities of a future world, declaring that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. When attesting the efficacy and power of the Redeemer's atoning death, they declare its potency in abolishing death, as well as in crush- ing him that had the power of death, even the devil. In asserting the fact of our Lord's resurrection, they adduce it as an evidence and a prototype of our re- surrection, and regard the general resurrection as an event so certainly connected with the resurrection of our Lord, that to deny it was in effect to deny that our Lord himself had risen from the tomb, and thus to undermine the whole Christian fabric. " For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ risen: and if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ arc; perished." (See 1 Corinthians xv. 12 — 22.) Such is the clear and explicit form in which this doctrine is revealed in the sacred volume ; such is the solid fotindation of the believer's hop 1 gro sub par the is s poi ele: ha^ ofi hilo we bo( the an] ed. pos pai Th C01 ber po is ca tr( ail i£^ c/ pun HOME IN HEAVEN. 47 h5 again, leth my up at is com- |all hear e done at have The e con- 3hristi- rection, B other. ;s beam lanifest y them, pen the ig that h of the acy and declare L crush- e devil, •n, they our re- n as an 3tion of iiy that id thus " For if and if I yet in leep in 2 — 22 ) 'h this L is the The present objections of mc' .rn unbelievers are grounded on the dissolution of the body, and the subsequent assimilation and transmutation of its particles. It is alleged that, immediately after death, the human body, like all other inanimate substances, is subjected to the laws of chemistry, and its com- ponent particles become resoh'ed into their primitive elements or constituent gases. Let this objection have its full force, but it proves not the impossibility of the resurrection, because — Decomposition is not anni' hilation. If it were, then the objection would have weight, at least against the restoration of the same body ; but so far as scientific tests can be applied in the examination of matter, it is found incapable of annihilation under any process to which it is subject- ed. Neitlwr does the dissolution of a body involve tlie ini- possibility of the recomposition of its parts. As all the parts of the whole still exist, they may be reunited. Tlie fact that the particles of a human body after death be- come scattered, can present no difficulty with God, simply because He is God, and, tlterefore, lies both wisdom and power to execute the purposes of His will. Because God is omniscient He knows where they are ; and be- cause He is omnipresent, they are under His con- trol. His eye is on every part of His work, and the smallest atom as well as the largest globe, is equally under His notice — nothing can escape His observation. Jehovah is also infinite in power as well as in knowledge, and, therefore, while nothing can be too diminutive or complicated for Him to know, nothing can be too hard for Him to do. Did He at first create it, and create the atoms, too, out of which it was formed, and can He not fashion it again out of the materials made already to His hand? Reason says He can, and Holy Scripture says He will ; and folly herself may bo ashamed to ^xi^l S'Vv-' m OVil llokE IN llEAVliN. I'il :.']m :i* m mm.' doubt Mib ability. Those who object do greatly err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of Grod. But the Apostle, in the passage under consideration, says, '• Not for that we would be unclothed." He drops the figure of a tent for that ot* a garment. The abrupt transition may be accounted for by remem- bering his occupation. To a tent maker, the Cilician haircloth would equally' suggest the idea of a tent and a vesture, for it was capable of being applied to both uses. To be unclothed is to die. " Not for that we would be unclothed." Even Paul, burdened with a worn-out body, prematurely old through the suf- ferings he had endured, knowing that a crown of righteousness awaited him in Heaven, even he shrinks from the dissolution of the body. For that frank confession I admire the Apostle. Gr«nerally there is such a grandeur about the man, that we find it difficult to realize he was one like to ourselves. He stands on the deck of a sinking ship, tossed on a roar- ing sea, his cheek alone unblanched by fear. He stoops beneath a dungeon doorway to wake the prisoners at midnight with his song. Fettered, a prisoner at the bar, he makes the judge tremble be- fore his terrible appeal. But now Paul lets us into his inmost heart. Speaking as freely and as frankly as we do, or ought to do, in our communion, one with another, he tells us that to him death wa« not a pleasant thing. As we listen to his confession, we too can tell how oft we wish we could thus reach Heaven: " Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon." Christians love life. The body is ])eautiful, and death separates from it. In common with men who do not know the Saviour, Christians love the bright blue sky, the song of birds, the undu- lating landscape, the society of friends, the shelter of fami [that ;wit; [men I for t I the life Chr littl trus it m :^in -v I to J I ruii igoo I it d ifieL § Sa;v ■I U 31 Ch "M utt '% of ■■f pa] f'. ev( f fin ou ■ 4 tu: M ha it ho pe ' tu tr( an homo, the sleeii of night, the cheerful ■I »■• r^*-\r* \Jl l/lXl.- OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 49 atly err, fOod. leratioii, d." He it. The remem- Cilician a tent plied to for that led with the suf" rown of 'Ten he ^r that fcmerally we find ves. He 1 a roar- ?ar. He ake the tered, a nble be- us into frankly on, one was not sion, \Yv Ls reach ed, but body iis ommon ristians 3 undn- lelter of ;§' Ui *• the i'amily circle. It is a mischievous error to suppose that religion postpones real joy to beyond the grave. With a deeper and more intelligent joy than worldly men know do Christians pass along the path of life, for to them each object is touched and hallowed by the merciful hand of a Father God. Christians love life also for the occasions it furnishes for working for Christ. Once I heard a Christian say, "It matters little whether I die now or ten years hence, I hope I am trusting in Christ alone for salvation." What ! Does it not matter whether or not we have ten more years in which to discipline ourselves and grow the riper for Heaven — ten more years in which we may labour to point sinners to the cross, and rescue souls from ruin — ten more years of ceaseless endeavour to do good and increase the glory of our final reward? Yes, I it does matter. Christians love life, because it is a field of labour in which they may work for the Saviour. Moreover, death is an awful evil, from which even Christians sometimes shrink. It was a frequent utterance of Dr. Conyers, we are told, "I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid of dying." To be down in pain, to count the slow creeping hours and wish for evening dusk or morning dawn, to grow confused, to find familiar faces fading in the distance, to be carried out from the home of many joys and laid under the turf To drop into oblivion, and, ere the headstone has crumbled, to be forgotten ; say what men will, it is a solemn, awful thing to die. I do not know how you can calmly think of it whilst you live unre- pentant and unbelieving. I wonder you do not tremble at the thought that one day you will have to tread the solitary pathw^ay up to the throne of God, and stand with all your sins upon you before that nniscient eye. What imaciniition can picture th« V m OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. /' i S-, overwhelming prodigies connected with this day ? "Whilst withering from the vaults of night, " ^ . ' J ';',''•* " The stars will pale their feeble light." '^* '• /» '^ ^^ '!'*''' irf' it'^fl'id If''!!' I beseech you, put away your sin. Bow your Knees in prayer. Cast yourselves on the atoning sacrifice of Christ. "With strong crying and tears seek the pardon of your sin, and rest not until you have ob- tained it, or death to you Will be a tremendous curse. Is Christ your Saviour ? Then why should you yield to nature's shrinking from the thought of death ! Dying strength is not given until the dying day. Think that one tomb in the history of earth has been found empty, and give thanks for all that empty grave implies — sin's penalty endured, a risen and now glorified Saviour. Think of the promise of Christ, most fulfilled in the hour of death, " Fear not, for I am with thee." But, Lord, the stream is deep and dark and chill. " Be not afraid ; when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflpw, ^hf^Q •. for I am thy God, thy Saviour." ^ ./, , "Jesus can make a dying bed ; j,; ,; ' Feel soft as downy pillows are, ' .,,j, 5 j. And breathe my life out sweetly ther ■]■ ii( if//i f )uld al- 3. The 1 be of Christ. B : "If olved." en we ^ht up Lord in obtain- ed fuller views respecting the coming of Christ, and lie wrote to Timothy, "I am ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand." But at present his hope is, not to die, but to be able in his upward flight to meet Christ in the air. He did not wish to be unclothed by death, but "clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life," as gently as the day swallows up the dawn. Very re- markable is it, that in the whole of the epistles to the early Christian churches I cannot find one exhortation to prepare for death. At a period when martyrs not a few had perished, and many had "fallen on sleep," the constant note sounded was not prepare for death, but {)repare for the coming of the Lord. "Stablish your hearts, unblameable in holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." "Be patient, brethren, to the coming of the Lord." " What man- ner of persons ought ye to be, looking for and hast- ing unto the coming of the drv of God." Ought we not look for the day wh .i He, who shall come, will come? "Yet a little Avhile:" long it looks to us with our petty cares and littlo turmoils. The centuries go wearily by. G-eu» rations are laid to rest. The Church is still weak in the world. But to Him who sits in the heavens it is a little while. Suddenly will the day of His coming break. From the ledger thj merchant shall lift up his head to look on ;i grand- er account. From his desk the student shall turn to a light before which problems and mysteries shall vanish. From the altar the bride shall go to look upon a grander bridal than ever earth had seen: for the end of the world is the Church's marriage day, when the Lord shall take home his bride. Seeing that Christ will come, how ought you to make your plans, to deny yourselves, to live a holy life from day Then if you are ready for the Lord's coming, in — J • m OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 'S,i should death be your lot, you will be ready for that also. He who is prepared for the archangel's voice, the trumpet of judgment, will not be found unpre- pared if the summons come in a gentler tone. If you can meet Christ amid the thunders and flames of an expiring world, you will be able joyfully to meet Christ should he come to you in the quiet chamber, where soft hands smooth the pillow and wipe away nature's last bitter tear. Clothed upon or unclothed, Christ will be your sure defence. * '» ' : " That mortality might be swallowed up of life." "Wo can only see one side of a Christian's death — the setting on earth, the expiring breath, the vanishing life, the still cool chamber. We cannot see the rising on the other side — -the angel convoy. Heaven's open gate, the Saviour's welcome of the rapt spirit. Yet none the less is it real. Death to the Christian is a birth into life — a life more sweet, more calm, more I)ure than could be realized on earth. Nor is the body forgotten. In the quiet cemetery we lay the dead one. " Dust to dust, ashes to ashes." The world in its pleasure and business sweeps by and thinks not of the sleepers lying there. But God forgets not. Over' the side of the ships at sea the dead form plunges, and it sinks to rest in the depths below. The ships sail merrily on, and few dream of the silent sleepers far, far below. But God forgets them not. Marble vault and crypt do not more sacredly guard the remains of royalty than do the deep, deep sea and the dai ^ cold earth cherish the dust of God's faithful ones. So, mourner, dry thy tears. The devouror shall be devoured. The resurrection shall restore to you all that death snatched away. And then, oh I joyous hope, "death shall bo swallowed up of life." Just for a moment consider the succeeding verse: " Now Ho that hath w^routrht us for the self-same thin; JSt wi iea"v roui roui )ror [Hob [felt ■ [to an "bu IS n( pen: f the , not I will Ideal Iblac (be t . 11 yea inn anc life ; spi ^1 mo 'mm: OrjR HOME IN HEAVEN. 53 J for that [s voice, unpre- Ifyou les 01 an Ito meet jhamber, )e away fclothed, of life." ith — the inishing le rising n's open rit. Yet dan is a m, more )r is the lay the lie world i thinks gets not. ad form ? below, he silent lem not. ly guard > sea and faithful levourer 38tore to lien, oh ! t'life." g verse: 3lf-same hing is God, who also hath given unto us the earn- st of the spirit." Have you the earnest of this eavenly life? Has Grod wrought in you, pardoning our sins, sanctifying your nature? If not, upon ourself the guilt of forfeiture lies. Often has God rompted your conscience to speak. Often has the Holy Spirit moved upon your heart, and you have felt that salvation was within your reach if you chose to accept it. Everyone that wishes to possess the " building of God," must be meetened for it; and there is no way of securing the necessary meetness but by I penitentially and believingly yielding himself up to the Father through Jesus Christ. To those who will not come to Christ the converse of St. Paul's words will apply. Death will be swallowed up in a deeper death — the banishment of the soul from God into blackness and darkness for over and ever. Can you be content to live on from day to day, from year to year, imperilling your soul, insensible to a Saviour's infinite love — rendering your personal salvation less and less probable? Turn to the Saviour now: live a life of faith on the Son of God. He will redeem your spirit from sin, and your body from the grave. You will doubtless see the application of this sub- ject to the present occasion. This morning we meet to do honour to the memory of one of the oldest and most respected members of this congregation, Mrs. McDougall, relict of the late John McDougall, Esq., who was born July 13th, 1810, in the Town of Stron- tian, Invernesshire. Scotland. Mr. McDougall came to this country soon after he was united in marriage to the subject of this sketch ; and they first settled in Pictou, N. S. Thence they removed to Newcastle, iuid there, for fivt» years, he was engaged in teaching, during which time th(»y were both active members Church, On rcraovinj? to Chatham, - Oi. ^mmi' ■ .1* c'l '' t 4 m! t f ■' ■ 54 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. they identified themselves with St. Andrew's congre- gation, in its infant days. Mr. McDougall being a successful businessman, and of deep and ardent piety, as well as a staunch Presbyterian, the church found a liberal supporter, and a true friend in him. He was ordained an Elder during the incumbency of the Rev. Mr. Archibald, and served in that capacity until his decease, about sixteen years ago. Mrs. McDougall's interest in the welfare of the church continued through the whole of her widowhood ; and her zeal in every good work was unabated to the last hour of life. She was a lady of rare excellence, and great public spirit. Adorned with the beauty of holiness she was kept unspotted from the world. The influence of a godly home and regular attendance upon a Presbyterian ministry, in all probability led to that entire conse- cration to Grod which influenced her whole life. Her reputation was never sullied in the least degree. Everywhere and alway.s she was the loyal servant ot the Lord Jesus Christ, the large hearted lover of mankind, the sympathizing friend of the poor, tho sick and the bereaved. The young and the old, thn rich and poor, regarded her with reverence and affec- tion. When I visited her last Saturday week (Juno ^rd, 1882), on my return from the Synod, she was glad to see me, and enquired when I came homo. She was then patiently waiting for the call of tho Master. Her expressions were (?alm and confident and characteristic of the person. She assured me all was well. Sh.^ felt confident she would /soon bo where the weary are for ever at rest. On Sunday morning, June 4th, in perfect consciousness and assurance ol immortality, this ])U\s8ed servant oi' C^hrist woke up to (Morlastini? lite. ii >"' flh.if '.-f -i): !>^''«li4'> ,1 s congre- 11 being a ent piety, rch found He was f the Rev. until his iDougall's d through 1 in every life. She blic spirit. v\ras kept of a godly esbyteriaii tire conse- life. Her it degree, servant of 1 lover of poor, the le old, tho and afFec- oek (Juno , she was me homo, ill of the confident rod me all . soon bo n Sunday snesH and t'rvant of OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. ♦Kione beyond the darksome river ; Only left us by the way ; Gone beyond the night forever j Only gone to endless day ! Gone to meet the angel faces, Where our lovely treasures are ; Gone awhile from our embraces,— Gone within the gates ajar t "There's a si.ster, there's a brother, Where our lovely treasures are ; There's a father, there's a mother, Gone within the gates ajar. 55 The> ' ne, they go before us ; iding like the dew ; But we know they're watching o'er us. They the good, the fair, the true 1 They are waiting for us, only Where no pain can ever mar ; Little ones who loft us lonely. Watch us through the gates ajar. " Gone where every eye is tearless. Only gone from earthly care : O, the waiting, sad and cheerless, Till we meet our loved ones there 1 Sweet the rest from all our roving, I^nd of light and hope afar ! liO ! our Father's hand so loving Sets the poarly gates lyar t" M •V.Kjaj4 :aM kiin /' f :-i i' •■V, .rn (III II rj,.t ' r>•? '.1 hil A •Uf! : SI ,1 >>■■> A\ ■ V- 'fi '-ill -i;hl ■^j^iiifj^t "-t^ V'idT *r ! 4^1 t(',\ (tsli .^fiit 'fill 1 ► W ..^i i*.K.'l"'W »J;^i ci^« i^-hi( '.•»!? J i»t ,\^ /ti'.' ,.r It.."! "And /, if t he lifted vp from the earth, will drrtie alt men viiio ie."^Tohn xii. 32. "Seek ye the Lord while he may he found, call ye upon him while ' ie is near.'-^lsAv. &. ^.. <■. n^ „ ^m* ^t^rr^-r.-.^.-.^.--'^ '■*'^-^- .'X'^; -o. p, - / "The cross ! it takes our guilt awayj Tt holds the fainting spirit up ; It cheers with hope the gloomy day, And sweetens every bitter cup. " It makes the coward spirit brave, And nerves the feeble arm for fight «, J t takes the terror from the grave. And gilds the bed of death with light. " The balm of lite, the cure of woe, The measure and the pledge of love, The sinner's refuge here below, The angel's theme in Heaven above." , r ■,■: ,-j'. , t ;--v. .;,'■. r\ ' s.^,, I , ■ .r . I'M I': Mm .\SSV »\S'iV.i iv\ "■»>' -I ^ H > M .k ■.,-<.•. '. s\ \. "• \ \'','i>' I '1 \ «' ,(u:!.".i 'i.i- a !i i' » fi .!-,il 111. 7 -f f ' ill/ lu ; >. (il !(!'•(' "If <■• ).i.i.t H'l .liH iii.;i i<; // ,{] ;i l>r •>■:' ;/ :< . -1 .111 ■111: ' I < 1 ti •t-! ■. I! I I ti ' 1 1 i I 'ill O] ./.a / j'ih '/A. :iy*>ii ;rir fe*' 1m>1 r f' caveh the Mbme of the Pferiitcrit Believier. .[f .'jni; 'r/i'j ij[jrnffH yr'-n'-jf -tr ■ vf'rrhu') ^^linl H .''i^Hf I. \ ■.•>'Jk \\'. 'Sjf t <«1l! " To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." — Luke xxiii. 43. The conversion of the dying thief was not neces- larily sudden and immediate. Perhaps it was not he first time he had seen Christ. Perhaps while on |ome iniqi^tous and plundering expedition he had ^^ een arrested by the voice of the great prophet of 'azareth as He was addressing some assembled crowd f listening thousands, and the truth, long working n his heart, needed only the scene of divinely patient ufFering he witnessed now to produce, by the bless- ng of God, this miracle of grace, his conversion. We hall not attempt, in dealing with this incident, to aint pictures. I have a far more important thing to o than even to try to bring vividly before your minds the scene on that little hill of Calvary. It is the meaning that we are concerned with, and not the mere externals. Let no one imagine that this was a superficial change. Look at the elements of his re- pentance. There is reverence for God. "Dost not thou fear God ?" he says to hrs companion. "The fear fcf the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." The dying I man in his agony begins to see dimly, as his soul closes upon earthly things, who this is —patient, 'loving, mighty there in His sufferings. -| There is a consciousness of guilt. "We receive the ^iJue reward of oiir deeds ; and we indeed justly." Nq .m ^ 60 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 1e*i penitent man ever approached God on the side of His justice. Can the insolvent debtor appeal to the equUi/ of his creditors with any rational hope of being ab- solved from his obligation? Such an appeal would betoken moral insensibility or intellectual obtuse^ ness. The only hope of guilt is in mercy. Failing there, it fails entirely : if mercy should give way, the dependent criminal must fall into tho abyss of hell. There is z«al for the other's salvation. He "answer- ing rebuked him," and sought to convince him of his sins. The Psalmist says, "Then will I teach trans- gressors Thy ways." Mark the connexion between true personal conviction, and true V\^orld-wide bene- volence! This is how true conversion operates. When man has received benefits immediately from Grod, his first impulses are intensely grateful; he must evangelize ; the good news of his own pardon must be told to all who come within the sphere of his influence ; he would bring others to the altar at which he met his Heavenly Father and received messages of moral conviction : hence no regenerate man can be careless respecting the spiritual interests of those by whom he is surrounded. There is admiration of Christ's purity and inno- cence. " This man hath done nothing amiss." I am a sinful man ; all punishment that comes down upon me is richly deserved ; but this man is pure and r>hteous. He is the "Holy One, and the Just." The 2r t ingenious and eloquent sceptic of our times, in ' last line of his book, all of which denounces Christ, .4yc, 'All ages must proclaim that among the sons of men there is none greater than Jesus;" and this most notorious criminal on the cross, in his last words, says, "This man hath done nothing amiss." There is here also a confession of Christ betbre men. The other reviled him ; the penitout thief declared %.** ^ t? .i deofHis he equiti/ )eing ab- al would obtuse ■» Failing way, the of hell. answer- lim of his -ch trans- bet ween ide bene- operates. ;ely from eful; he a pardon sphere of > altar at received generate interests id inno- I." I am wn upon aire and St." The imes, in s Christ, e sons of tiis most words, )re men. declared OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 61 lie hath done nothing amiss." In the Sanhedrim hey decreed that He was worthy of death. The 'ying thief testifies, "He hath done nothing amiss." ilate sentenced him to the scourge and the cross, he dying thief confessed, "He hath done nothing miss." The multitude cried, "Not this man, but arabbas." ' *: ' " ' '^ ■."/'•'._ ^■■■: '■■;■ •y,, .;.,-.'-'; ".'; ' '" "To us our own Barabbas give, ', '^ ' < . ■ A waj' Avith him — they loudly ciy-^ • ■-''''' A ^ay with him, — not fit to live, — ' ' ' ; ' - . The vile seducer crucify." The dying thief cried, "He hath done nothing amiss." pe was dying as a malefactor on the accursed tree, and ket the penitent thief acknowledges, "He hath done liothing amiss." , ' Next we see his faith. He turns to Christ and says, J^ord, they are crucifying Thee as a criminal, but *rhou art the Lord. Thou art even now in the arms pf death, and yet Thou art the Lord. "Lord, remem- ^r me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." What ^aith ! What a confession ! A king ! where is His hrone ? That cross. A king ! where is His sceptre ? "he hand that wields it is nailed to the tree. A king ! where is His crown ? That wreath of thorns. A king ! where are His subjects ? A mocking multi- tude, a reviling crowd. A king! wk'"''3 is His power ? A holpless sufferer, a dying victim. Yet ibr all Thou art a king, and "Lord, remember me ^^hen Thou comest into Thy kingdom." One does not xactly know by what steps or through what process his poor dying thief passed, which issued in faith ^-whether it was an impression from Christ's pre- bence, whether it was that he had ever heard any- thing about Him before, or whether it was only that :- Vvisdom which d\'y ells with death was beginning clear his eyes as life ebbed away. But however he m. # ■' ■ lf!lf/i'* 62 OUR H03IE IN HEAVEN. came to the conviction, mark what it was that he be- lieved and expressed, — ^he recognizes in Jesus the King of the Spiritual world. How much he did know — whether he knew all the depth of what he wa,s saying, when he said, "Lord !" is a question that we cannot answer; whether he understood what the "Kingdom" was that he was expecting, is a question that we cannot solve ; but this is clear — the intel- lectual part of faith may be dark and doubtful, but the moral and emotional part of it is manifest and plain. Faith has in it the recognition of the cer- tainty and the justice of a judgment that is coming down crashing upon every human head ; and then from the midst of these fears and sorrows, and the tempest of that great darkness, there rises up in the night of terror, the shining of one perhaps pale, quivering, distant, but divinely given hope, " My Saviour! my Saviour! He is righteous. He has died — He lives ! I will stay no longer ; I will cast myself upon Him !" We see also his humility. Ilemember ME. This is all I ask. If my Lord will then but think of me, it is enough. Just as Joseph in the prison asked to be remembered by the butler when it should be well with him in Pharaoh's court. The i>enitent's vague prayof is answered, and over answered. He asks, "When thou comest" — whensoever that may be — 'remember me." I shall stand afar off; do not let me bo utterly forgotten. Sinner, it is enough for thee. That thy Lord remembers thee in Heaven, is all that thou requirest. He is pleading for you ; your names are written upon the palms of Hirs hands. Some may think that the more earnest a suppliant is the more he will ask for. Hardly so. Instance the beggar who demands bread to save himself from immediate starvation. The pra^/er of the wife of Zebedee, il' '*» ( '■'••;! r ;!i/cai :i :• it he be- 5SUS the lid know he wfis that we vhat the question le intel- tful, but ifest and ' the cer- coming md then and the p in the aps pale, )pe, "My He has will cast • This is )i' me, it is :ed to be be well it's vague He asks, nay be— not let ifor thee. is all that ur names ome may the more ? beg-gar nmediato bodee, il' . ,. otiit Home iNitEAVEK. .,, ,. ,*. ,. *ered by this man, would not have proved the ex- tence of any deep yearnings for mercy. "Was the 'agdalene in earnest? The Syrophcenician ? The lublican ? Even more so the man who asks — not a rone — not even a place — but merely that the aviour will cast back a passing thovight to the poor retch who perished at his side. : r . . '■; How many the wonders of the Crucifixion! Darkness iVered the earth, the rocks were rent, the dead arose. l^oW much greater this miracle of grace, when this Head soul arose to spiritual life, when darkness was dispelled from this benighted mind, and the heart of tock was changed to flesh. ^^■ " Christ's reply next claims attention. He turns to e dying thief. The penitent did not cry in vain, 'he Lord forgot His dying agony in His love for Ving souls. "Verily I. say unto thee." Yerily. The pying thief had spoken no doubt in trembling tones. JIhrist dispels every doubt as he answers with the voice of God. "Verily I say unto thee." The dying fhief had addressed Him as Kinc:- He acknowledges the title. "Verily I," the great "I am." He had Ipoken directly to Christ. Christ speaks directly to tm, Verily I say unto Ihee. Christ answers — Remem- r thee ! thou shalt be tvith Me, close to my side. Jemember thee when I come ! this day shalt thou be ith Me. Sinner ! He speaks as directly and in- dividually to THEE. And what does He say ? "To-day ghalt thou be with me in Paradise." .^ ., ;>^ There are three things to be considered here :— - iPlace, — Company, — Time. 1. Place — "Paradise." AVe shall not enter into t critical consideration of this word. It could not be •Contained in the corner of a discourse. Be it suincient o say that Paradise always has reference to a state of leasure. Literally — a region of surpassing beauty <■. 64 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. —from the Sanscrit paradeslui. It is put for the abode of the blessed after death, Abraham'^ bosom, Heaven, where the spirits of the redeemed dwell with God. It is a place of safety, plenty and pleasure. Not as the Paradise which man lost. There the tree of life grows, but we may taste its fruits. There is happi- ness beyond all conception, but we shall never lose it, its pleasures are evermore. " Is it not reviving to hear this ? that etx^nal life may be had, if be not our own fault ; that, whereas upon the sin of the first Adam, the imy of the tree of life was blocked up, by the grace of the second Adam it is laid open again. The crown of glory is set before us as the prize of out high calling, which we may run for and obtain. Every one may have it. This Grospel is to be preach- ed, this offer made to all, and none can say, "it be- longs not to me;" this everlasting life is sure to all those who believe in Christ, and to them only, "l/ie that sees the Son, and believes on Him, shall he saved^ Thou shalt be in Paradise. Thou art dying as a criminal, but thou shalt be in Paradise. The body shall be laid in a malefactor's grave, but thou shalt be in Paradise. Thou art passing from earth with ex- ecrations and without regret, but thou art going home to Paradise. The mysterious Cross on Calvary was but the chariot in which Christ "went away" to "prepare a place" for the redeemed of all ages : His bleeding hand unlocked the door of Heaven to all believing humanity, and the cry which cleft the rocks awoke in Paradise the everlasting song, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." The savage and infatuated Jews, who made the Cross, little imagined they were rearing a ladder to glory — a ladder on which angels should evermore ascend and descend in missions of love to the sin-smitten planet. So it ever is : lio man understands the final he abode Heaven, th God. Not as ee of life |is happi* ver lose iviiig to be not f the first I p, by the in. The e of our I obtain. >e preach- , "it he- re to all ily. ''He yedr ing as a ^he body u shalt be with ex- irt going 1 Calvary away" to ges: His en to all cleft the ig song e savage »ss, little to glory e ascend i-smitten the final 6UR HOME m HElAVflN. s I f 65 .L .III. .i /!...! ;: ' c f * ^ • ■ • f "Ciing to the Crucified t .%■'. •i'lii " f '' ^ I i' /! I' J. 1 'S possibility of any uttered thought, or of any special or incidental deed. An idea may revolutionize a world, — one deed may widen a circle of results that shall touch the sea of the infinite. Such was the issue of the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus : those facts have floated on every breeze, and are able finally to subjugate all rebellious powers, and to elevate humanity to this glorious Paradise ! " His death is life to thee : , ' ; , Life for eternity. His pains thy pardon seal ; •"^ '*?'»■!• > ; jiig stripes thy bruises heal j "' f'^ f'" His Cross proclaims thy peace, ' ^ , , J » -7 bL Bijg every sorrow cease. '" J w ;. w i ► H i ' • ' '^ • I ' * His blood is all to thee, ; *••''!*' It purges thee from sin ; "■' ' ' ' i i • i i ) It sets thy spirit free, :f if : '^ I It keeps thy conscience clean. ! t rnU ' . ^-. t Cling to the Crucified I ■ V ^' "' '-Cling to the Crucified ! Vi' ' '' J'*' ' ^ ''^'1'^^' His is a heart of love, '■ *'^";'!^-^' '* '^ ^' " Full as the hearts above ; '"; ' ; f ' I ! ; j^g depths of sympathy ' ;.^^H' • '• ''"^ Are all awake for thee: "' * ^t : * 'ft' ' His countenance is light, '''' ' ' '/ " Even in the darkest night. ' ' • ' •- ' j ;. t n' i • ; » i ! That love shall never change^ i < . ' . i n H t ! T^iat light shall ne'er grow dim | !• ;i u i ; I' Charge thou thy faithless heart "Mi'n'ifi.i To find its all in Him. » ' • I » f f I • CUing to the Crucified !" i ■^■. i lit <,>(i>|-;'f);' i -ul! ^! il-.ji< Who ©f US have not often wished we could hav0 I j; if M 111 D! f* ■ ■' ^I'i' >i 66 OUR HOME IN HEAVfiK. sung what we called certain tidings from the spirit- world ? Bishop Simpson says : "I remember well, in a little company of young men who commenced a religious life about the same time I did, often to have conversed with them ; I remember how, in some of our. seasons of close converse, we said to each other: If some one of us is called away, if it be possible, we will come back and tell the others something of the unseen — the spirit-land/' Ah, I think there is no one of us who has lost a friend but has thought in some way it might be possible for that friend to come back and speak to us. Oh ! what would we give just for one glimpse of a loved face ! What would we give to hear just one utterance from ii sweet voice hushed in death ! And then when cer- tain thoughts reach the bosom, what would we give if some dear one we have known could come back and tell us there is a Heaven ; there is the throne of God ; there is the song of Angels; there is the tree of lifft ; there is the throne of glory ; there is the gath- ering of loved ones who have walked together in white, and now surround the throne of God ! Oh ! what would we give ! And yet, Jesus Christ, "who came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which is in Heaven," said : " To-day shnlt thou be with me in Paradise." "In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were not so, I would have told you." It is no poet's dream, no fictitious realm. Christ is too intelligent to be mistaken. He knows every part of the universe. He existed before the creation. He knew it in archetype. "I was set up from ever- lasting." He is too truthful to misrepresent. In him there is no motive to deceive. He is truth, unerring and unerrable truth. He is too kind to delude. "/ imuld have told youy Such is the Paradise of God — a wcenc of undoubted reality. m^ A OUR HOME !>• HEAVEN. 6t spirit- »?r well, leiiced )ften to in some to each )ossible, ? of [there is hought lend to uld we What from a hen cer- we give ne back irone of e tree of he gath- ether in I! Oh! it, "who II which be with re many Id you." 'hrist is s every •reation. m ever- In him merring Lde. '7 God — a Ill,, ar{-> "!(■.■ •;' T'i ;l ; . ; ! \ r 'if ! 'ft }" ; . « ''There are no dreams beyond the tomb; The night of dreams is o'er ; 'Tis only here they go and coaxe, f •! f • i' On this dull, shadowy shore. !;.,!> / "Then shadows flee I the invisible Rises before our view ; On every side comes up the real, The certain, and the true. ' i 1 >> )> <'■ ' *, ety .••-'.>', if"' r r- ) '{ <-■■.•, f.r ¥i . - ' > "Kow true and great that world must be, , ■ How false, how little this ! Man sees not what he seems to see^ ... He seems not what he is." ' ^,? 2. Company — "With Me." This renders it quite unnecessary to discuss the question of the locality cf Heaven. It is Heaven enough to be with Christ. When you see the Royal Standard floating in the breeze which proclaims the presence of the Queen of the Dominion you know that there is safety, plenty and pleasure. And when you know that you go to be with Jesus Christ, you know that you go to be in Paradise. I think Heaven would not be complete if r Jesus were not there. One prolific source of pure enjoyment in the future life will be the personal pre- sence of Christ. The Psalmist says: "Thou wilt nhow me the path of life ; in Thy presence is fulness of joy : at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore ." The blessedness of departed saints is that they are with their Saviour, who loved them and washed away their sins in His own blood, and thereby made them meet for Heaven. To this penitent malefactor Christ said: " To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." And to His disciples He said: " I go to prepare a place 'for you, that where I am there ye may be also, and behold my glory." St. Paul speaks to the effect that the happiness of departed saints is to be present with ^ i] : OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. the Lord. Heuce he expressed " a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better." This simple consideration assured him of analterable feli- city. A Christless Heaven to departed saints would be an eternal blank. In this life Christ is the joy and glory of His people. They prefer Him to their chief good. They glory in His cross and triumph in His conquests. They reverence, admire, love and adore Him, above all earthly objects. And when they meet Him in the u^jper world they will see Him as He is ; not as He was in the days of His flesh — " de- spised and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" — but as he is in glory. In His glorified humanity, irradiated with the awful sj^lendor of Supreme Divinity, they will not only recognize His glorious presence, and enjoy the most affectionate intercourse with Him, as did Hi« disci- ples while He was on earth, but they will also have more enlightened and enlarged conceptions v>f His divine nature, and the infinite sublimity and tran- scendent beauty of His character. And when they see Him face to face, and from His lips receive the kindest welcome, their happiness will be "unspeak- able and full of glory." ' '^ : And let this be our answer to your fears on the ground of unworthiness. Fear not that thou shalt be as one that is sneaking into Heaven, and hast no right to be there, " for thou nhalt be with me." I may illustrate this by an incident related tome when in England. A captain in the British Army had risen from the ranks, but on account of his humble origin, the other officers of the regiment treated him with coldness and contempt. They did not associate, nor exchange friendly calls with him ; in fact they "left him severely alone." He bore this shameful treatment for some time, but being a man of sfniHi- *- ..» OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 69 depart This le feli- would joy and ir chief in His d adore n they Him as 1—" de- ws, and ►ry. In 3 awful ot only he most i« disci- so have 3 of His id tran- en they eive the n speak- on the m shalt hast no ne." I e when ny had biumble ed him soeiate, ct they ameful sensi- pve nature, he resolved at length to resign his com- lission, and made this known to his commanding ^fficer. The commander would not entertain such Ui idea, and endeavored to persuade him to recon- (ider the matter. He also promised to do what he )uld to reconcile the other officers, and bring about friendship. AVhereupon, on occasion of the first "full >arade," he paid this aggrieved captain remarkable Attention ; consulting him in all the manoeuvres of le day; introducing him to military magnates who '^ere present. The officers noted this, and from that ["ery time there was no want of calls and cards, lid every respect and kindness shown him by Us brother officers. So thor. shait not feel ashamed enter Paradise ; holy angels will not despise thy iegraded origin, ibr "thou shalt be with me." I (hall receive you. I shall address to you the words #f welcome home to Paradise. Come in, thou blessed, tjome home to be with me in Paradise. Absent from the body and present with the Lord. O, it is indeed, fer better. >, , . ^- " Forever with the Lord ! !,, ito- ; ; Amen, so let it be : , .;...,'• ! Life from the dea'l is in that word, ,, ,, • ^ 'Tis imniortahty."' < . . < Then^ is a remarkable passage in the Epistle to the ©olossiaiis, where the Apostle speaks of (xod recou- eiling to himself by Jesus Christ things in Heaven as well as things on earth. What need of reconciling things in Heaven ^ The explanation is very easy. Just suppose that (hiTi'tome an order from 1 he Home StH'retary that all our prisons should ))♦' thrown op(Mi, -that every prisoner nhould ])e let loose, that every chain should be dissolved, and that all the criminals flow I'ondemned to imin'isonment should be let loose iJopon society, so that we who seek to be honest should (! 70 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. be exposed to their depredations, to their insults, to their cruelty, to their dishonesty. Well, I think we honest people who try to keep the law would have a perfect right to go and knock at the door of the Home Secretary, and to ask the meaning of all this reversal of the order of law — to ask, how is it that criminals are treated like innocent people? How is it that men who have violated the law and deserve to suffer, how is it they have their liberty as if they had done no- thing? "Why is it that we innocent and loyal people are to be subjected to all the insults, and the cruelty, and the depredations of this vast mass of criminals let loose upon society? We should want to be recon- ciled, should we not? You would want some little explanation before you were reconciled. Look at those spiritual myriads upon myriads of beings once guilty, once deeply polluted with foulest stains of sins, yet admitted into the society of Heaven, and there associated with beings who never sinned — ad- mitted into the immediate vicinity of the throne to share in the blessedness of the skies. I ask you, have not the sinless inhabitants of Heaven a right to go to the throne and ask for an explanation, and to say, How is it that beings who have sunk so deep in degradation ana evil, that have manifested such hos- tility against (he rule of the King — how is it that beings like these are admitted into our societies, and into all the privileges of Heaven? Well, there is only one explanation, Jesus exhilits His garment dipped in blood, and He shows to them His kingship written on the blood-stained garment, and seems to say to them, virtually, Well i.ow, it is not an arbitrary act of soA^ereiguty that has brought these people hore. I do not admit them into Heaven simply because 1 will it, I do not admit them into Heaven without any respect to character at all. No, I died for these souls. 1 shed OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. n my blood for these human beings, and they have availed themselves of the atonement which I have offered for them, they have all been cleansed in the * atoning blood, and now if 5'^ou look on them, though they were full of stains and faults and evils, there is not now a flaw in them: they are without spot, and Grod has pronounced them without fault ; and they are here because they have a character dtting them for the society of Heaven, fitting them for the privi- leges of Heaven — a character which they have ob- tained by means of my A.tonement. Thus the King, in his sovereignly, ruled the hea:t of that penitent man from his Cross, and while the Crown shone athwart the smoke and the agony of the death, the King " opened the gates of the kingdom of Heaven unto all believers" when he said, " To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." 3. The Tlme— "To-Day." It is not to be a long sleep from which you shall wake up after many re- volving centuries, to find yourself in Heaven. No, "to-day shalt thou be with me in Pararlise." Absent from the body, present with the Lord. The blessed- ness of the good tiikes place immediately after death. "From henceforth ; yes, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." There is in Kome a little altar over which is written that whosoever should tliere repeat a certain prayer would receive the indulgence of having eleven thousand years abridged from his appointed period in purgatory. Now. if an eleven thousc<.iid years re- prieve could be so easily obtained, I wonder how ma: y millions of years must be required to prepare p sinful soul ^or Paradise. It any man ever needed purgatory it was this thief, for he had always lived an abandon- ed life, and never had an opportunity for lengthened preparation. And yet Christ says to him, "To-day 72 oru s]''M:^ IN HKAVEN. shalt thou bo with me in Paradise." The Shorter Catechism teaches that ''the souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immedi- ately pass into dory ; and theii bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves.till the resur- rection." ' ' ■ -*' ' ' ' "To-day !" Jlow near is Earth to Heaven, ti-^ie to eternity, this scene of sin and sorrow to Paradi.io ! Let this assunuiio comfort yon who havr beeu be- reaved of Christian frieu li^>.s ceased to speak, and the insensibilify oFdefitii glazed those eyes which had looked thei r la^?t on earth and you, and there in V^itterriess and anguish you said — ''Lead." No! in Paradii.i\ \ou met iu the house of mourning, you followed h\ mournful ] rocession the bier to the burial, you laid ti- member me." ^-?^^- ^-i^-*^^ :**-'-'-^ ^--'^^^^ -*'>^*'.-. v-- ■- *- ,*j*jP ; «( ^*^'*The (lying thief rejoioe^l to ?ee v* t ; - 'iir . ?i. r? • i ** Tlxat fountain in his (lay ; * ^■■' i .i)-^* •. v.^ --^-i .And there mav I, thouizh vile as h<*. '■■'-'' '' _^, ^ '::u Wash all my sins away. .:...;_ "Dear (lying Laa:b I Tliy precious Moo* I Shall never lose its j>ower, . _^: .^ * '" " " ■ Till all the ran?omeon his (^xumple as justiiyiug your delay: "one was saved upon the eross, ' as the old divines used to tell us, "that none miirht despair; and only one, that none miirht preMime." "Ao/r is the accepted time. and Hov is the day of salvation." Do not wait until you rome to die, to repent. You may die in a momeiw. bo not wait until you are ill. You may never be ill. — or you may be too ill lo rejxMit — too ill to think at all. Mv broth»'r. I V>esee<;h vou not to trust to a death- bed repentanri'. I have stood by many a death-bed. and few indeed have they b*^en where I « ould have believed that the man was in a condition physically (to say nothing of anythinir else) «learly to see and irrosp the message of the Gospel. There is no limit to the mercy. I know that Gods mercy is boundless, I know that "whilst there is life there is hoiK\" i know that a man, ;aoin;ii ^ new and happier story. Thy bitter t „ f earth now told and done : These oute'* shadows for that inuer glory Exchanged for ever, — thrice blessed one !'* i k < >^i„-t^ ■ is* J-' ^ ■ fw •n. . ; Mf/ I f "•! f .^'>' ' ' I r. ! i? K <' li i) wall with the child? It /a- (rplf U. Kin-'n iv, M, *^ Jnhall I/O iohimyhuthe shall not retinn to mc.''^ — J I. .Sainuol XU. 'l'.\. **And tht'i/ .shall be mine, saifh the Lord of llvst.'<, in that da>j when I make n> my jewel s." — Mftlachi iii. 17. « — A i^iiiiplo child, Thsit li^/htlj' draws its breath, And i< I uS its lifo in every liiiih, What -should it know of death ?'' **WI1. M-CXKU THAT I'l.OWKK ?*' ♦ Cried the Gardener, an he ivalked throiii/h the yarden, Jfin J'ellou'-seri'ant answered, " THE ^FASTER !"' And the i/ardener held his peace, ^f.A ♦ i 1 ^^„f ; Chapter IV. r , u,; It . Heaven, the Home of our Children. " But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to corae unto me ; for of such in the Kingdom of Heaven." — Matt. Xix. 14. ;' W ! I ii-'iw- i\i:. ■■ \-u-r ^ ifii>'.-i ;•/••!• i: f-,,'- In reading the Old Testament we are impressed with the mournfulness which was felt, in the early times to which it refers, with regard to the death of all except such as were gloriously slain in battle, or such as were old, and went out like an extinguished light. There was then no illumination of the act of dyijig. Men did not die with the rising sun. They died, as it were, with the setting sun, when darkness rolled toward midnight. But the moment you turn to the New Testament the whole atmosphere changes, and there is comfort — but not such comfort only as mere philosophy tries to administer to us. The com- fort of the New Testament belongs to the whole realm of the mind. It includes the better and purer life, and the certainty of re-union beyond the grave. Since the death of dear children, which took place in the autumn of 1880, I have felt a strong desire to express my views on the subject of the relation of children to the kingdom of Christ ; and to give such instances of early piety as have come under my own knowledge and observation. And it is my earnest prayer that any such incidents which may be related in this chapter may be a solace and a blessing to some hearts in the great household of the sorrotving. This is HO OUR HOME In llEAVEN. the largest household in the world. There is hardly a dwelling in w^hich there is not one dead. " Death has come up into our windows, and entered into our palaces." He strikes at the dearest objects of our affections. Into the homes of the bereaved I have been called many times. I have sat down beside the afflicted father and mother, and tried to comfort them. I have read to them the heavenly message of conso- lation, and earnestly prayed that God would comfort their hearts ; but there was one thing in this world that I never could understand until I felt it for my- self, — and that was the sensations of a parent over his or her men child as it lay in the first awful silence of desth. Now, bereaved parents, I can speak as one of yourselves. I can preach to you a Clospel not only of salvation, but alro of consolation. I know what it is to sit day by day and night by night beside tln^ couch of dying children, to witness the sutferings »vhich soon wasted what was bel'ore a robust frame, to listen to the shortening and struggling breath, to see the bright eyes grow dim in death, the lovelv countenances changing, the body sinking, the angelic spirits departing; to feel a surge of heart-grief which though felt, cannot be described ; to lay two beauti- ful boys in th(? cold grave, and then to return to a desolate home, only to see the empty <'rib. cast-off clothes and useless playthings. 1 know all this, for 1 have felt it all. ()ur little ones are gone, and \v«' miss them very much. No longer will they gladden us by their smiles, or enrich us a\ ith their love, ar run to meet us at the gate, as they were wont, on our return from labour in the Master's service. •• We slmll nunn tluMu wIumi the Howors conio. In the garden where tliey i>hiye(l ; \Ve shall nii.ss them more by the lire When the llowers have all dej-uved. t. e OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 81 • " We shall see their toys and their empty chairs, And the horse they used to ride j And they will speak, with a silent speech, Of the little boys that died. "We shall all go home to cur Father's house — ' To our Father's house in the skies, ' ' Where the hope of our soul shall have no blight, And our love no broken ties 5 . ^ ' . " We shall roam on the banks of the Eiver of peace, , And bathe in its blissful tide ; And one of the joys of our Heaven shall be The little boys that died." , There are few who will read these lines, that do not know where there is a little grave, which, to them, is as an urn that holds the asnes of a faded flower. Every home has been made happy, sometime, by the glee of little children. They enter refined homes as the rays of sunlight that make the mornings beau- tiful in the spring. To fond parents they are the morning light and the evening star of their lives. A. R. Elliott says : " I have visited often a quiet little home whose father is a busy man of the world and whose mother's joy was in the happiness of her children. The light of the home was Bella, and little Nellie ; her father called her his little 'Jim.' Wht n I would enter the cottage they would come to me and tell me of their childish sports, I was not long in learning to renew my visits, for the parents gave me welcome, and the little ones, with their golden curls, always met me at the door. " One would come to me freely, but the other was timid, because her nature was more delicate and re- fined. I remember a Sabbath that I spent at the cottage when the little girls romped with me more 82 OtjR HOME IN HEAVEN. than upual. Timid little Nell climbed to my knee and told of her tiny bank and of her 'Trismas tards,' "When I left that evening, she kissed me a sweet 'dood night !' How often have I thought, since, that I did not know then, that I should never see her bright baby face any more. " A messenger came to me, one day, and told me that little Nell wos sick. He came another day and told me that she had passed into that long and peace- ful sleep. I went to the little cottage again, but it seemed as though part of its sunlight was gone — gone back to Him who gave it — gone back to the Son of Grod. "The grief of the loving purcnts was very great. I went with them to the grave of tlieir little girl — to the grave of little 'Jim' — to the urn that was to hold the ashes of a sleeping object of love. "They buried her where the open grave v/as shadow- ed by the barren limbs of an over-hanging oak, where fallen autumn leaves rustled at our feet. The waves of Michigan's waters rolled along the distant beach, and a white winged vessel, just visible at the horizon, looked, I thought, as the pliantoin ship that makes no return trips from the unknown shore. " As I saw the members of the household at the cottage, stand sorrowfully at the grave of little Nell, and realized that I, too, had learned to love the little one, the first tears that owv came to my eyes at a baby's grave came then. "This is but an instance. The world is full of graves. Places where fond hopes are decaying — where love lingers to wave the last sad farewell at the exit door of the world. Oh, the grave ! The grave ! The low and quiet wayside inn, where all at last must sleep, and where the only salutation is—good night ! good night ! ■=••:- OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 88 ''■ "When the birds return again to sing their songs in the Northern meadows, and the spring buds bloom where rustle now the dead leaves of autumn, those who cared for Nellie will go, sometimes, to her little grave, and leave there some floral tribute of their love." *• >■'"'' '■;"■'. '"■ • ''•"'' •'■' There is a ministry of children which works in in- visible vTays. I can conceive of an artist who should paint, as some people write, with invisible ink. He goes through a newly builded or newly appropriated house, and works, and seems to be marking the walls; but from his pencil nothing comes, no fresco, either on the ceiling or on the sides of the rooms. He con- tinues to work for days and weeks and months, dur- ing the winter weather, and then departs. And on some beautiful day in June, when the air comes to exactly the right temperature, and the constituent elements are happily coincident, by some chemical actio: V the artist's work is disclosed, and that house is lilled with exquisite pictures, above, on either hand, all around. We walk in a trance of beauty ; that which we behold is like the reproduction of a dream, or the incarnation of a poem. Thv^ house glows. Now, our t^hildn ii are little artists; and by their quips and pranks, by their mirth, by their earnest love, by their strange manner when know- ledge dawns upon their minds, by their moments of devotion, by their little pattering prayers, by the ten thousand ways in which they carry their daily life, th(^y are filling the house, they are filling the air, with pictures which are never so beautiful as after- wards when they ire n:one. Then the dress that they wore, the book that their fingers thumbed and from whirh they got their first instruction, the place where they sat and looked up witli a merrj'' laugh, the couch which was theirs, the hymn that they sang OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. — all these things, which were transiently remarked by ns, but which we had, perhaps, forgotten, begin to blossom out. Our memory is frescoed with the rarei?t and sweetest and most delicate of all conceiv- iible thoughts and feelings. They sai3ctify every place where the departed loved ones have been. A golden mist seems to h-^ve been let down from Heaven upon it ; and it never can be other than sacred to our eyes. And here we get the meaning of a sacredness which no ecclesiastical hand can impose on material. It comes from the life itself that is associated with all the scenes in the midst of which we walk or live. What a mystery the death of little children is ! Wo exi)ect the old to die ; but our hearts cling tenderly to the young, while we almost refuse to contemplate the possibility of their being taken from us. Some might say. why are they given at all, if they are so soon to be taken from us. The enjoyment of our little ones, while they are with us, is a blessing, and for that we should be grateful. That is a profound utterance of Tennyson, when in lines of condolence to a bereaved friend he says : " God gives us love | something to lovo He lends us ; but when love is grown To ripeness, that on which it throve Falls oflf ; and love is left alone." In our grief, is it not natural and right that we should attempt to look forward, and ask, what has become of our children? Where are they now? What is the ministry toward them in tho life to come ? and what is thm ministry there ? Soon after the death of our childien, a dear ministerial friend called the attention of certain members of our family to Bickersteth's ''Yesterday, To-day and Forever y We read it with great prolit and comfort, in those days of our darkness and sorrow. We subjoin hero a '"^m^ OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 85 somewhat lengthy extract from the book, on children in Heaven: "A babe in glory is a babe for ever. ' ^ ■ ''"'■' Perfect as spirits, and able to pour forth " • Their glad heart in the tongues which angels use, These nurslings gather'd in God's nursery For ever grow in loveliness and love, (Growth is the law of all intelligence) Yet cannot pass the limit which defines Their being. They have never fought the fight. Nor borne the heat and burden of the day. Nor stagger'd underneath the weary cross ; . Conceived in sin, they sinn'd not ; though they died, They never shudder'd with the fear of death : These things they know not and can never know. Yet fallen children of a fallen race. And early to transgression, like t?io rest. Sure victims, tlioy were bought with Jesus' blootl, And cleansed by Jesus' Spirit, and redeemed By His Omnipotent arm from death and hell: A link betwixt mankind and angelhood: As born of woman, sharers with all saints In that great ransom jiaid upon the cross: In purity and inexperience Of guilt akin to angels. Infancy Is one thing, manhood one. And babes though part Of the true archetypal house of God Built on the heavenly Zion, are not now. Nor will be over, massive lOcks rough-hewn, Or ponderous corner-stones, or fluted shafts Of columns, or far-shadowing pinnacles ; But rather as the delicate lily-work By lliram wrought for Solomon of old, Enwreatlo'l upon the brazen oliapiters. Or flowers of lilies round the molten sea. l«)numerablo flowers thus bloom and blush In heaven. Nor reckon God's designs in them 86 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. r. ' Frustrate, or shorn of full accomplishment: The lily is aa perfect as the oak ; The myrtle is as fragrant as the palm ; And Sharon's roses are as beautiful As Lebanon's majestic cedar crown. ■■ \ .. "And when I saw my little lambs unchanged And heard them fondly call me by my name, ' Til en is the bond of parent and of child Inuibsolute,' I exclaimed and drew "ihcin closer to my heart and Avept for joy." ] W. M. Taylor, who lost a dear child, asked him- seii, -.11 the hour of his greot grief, "What do w.^ desire Ic ^nr children ? I had to answer this, that and the oth«^.r earthly blessing, if God should see fit, but, in any event, Heaven at hist, and if need be, at the sacrifice of all the rest. Heaven at last. I then said, I meant to give my flower to God when it was full blown, ^ut, if he preferred it in the bud, why should I murmur, since it is thereby only the more surely His ?"' That our children are dearer to God than they could ever be to us, and that they go quicker than a shooting star into His presence when they leave us. we are not left to doubt ; but what is their ministry theie, about which our thoughts in- quire more than aoout their ministry in the pa^it, we know not. AVe know that in the surrounding throng the children were more to Christ than all the othvTs. We know (whatever it may mean) that their angels stand in the prc'sence of the Fatlun* and liehold His face. Now, whatever our relations may be in life, when we stand at ihe grave, and have buried cur friends, vre long to see them again ; whether our de- part, be parents, ^ enerable gathered as a shock ol corn, or our companions and equals, taken in mid- life, or our little children, we fain would behold them OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 87 in their new life; but we cannot. And what do we get instead ? 'We get this : when God shall bring- again the Lord Jesus Christ, He shall bring them with Him. The Apostle sa^'s that we shall be to- gether with them. "And so we shall ever be with the Lord." Who can understand the grandeur and the fulness of the meaning of that ? Who can take in the horizon which it opens to our thought ? The eternal presence ; the wonder and the mystery of the heart of Grod ; the very solar centre of the moral universe — who can form any adequate conception of these things ? And yet it is to enter the realm of these things that our little children depart. There they are safe ; there they are nourished. They will wait in that harbour where no storm comes until v^e go uj) thither ; and they shall be gathered to us again; not as they were when they were upon earth, not set?ming to us as they did then ; but truly ours, truly together with us. and we and they together with the Lord. Concluding a discourse on the words, " of such is the kingdom of Heaven," Henry W. Beecher said : " I think our dying children go to Christ. I have been called to give up dear ones. Not once, nor twice, nor thrice, alone, but many times. I have sent my children on before me. Once, wading knee deep in the snow, I buried my earliest. It was March, and dreary, and shivering, and awful ; and then the doctrine that Christ sat in an eternal summer of love, and that my child was not buried but had gone up to One that loved it bettor than I, was the only com- fort I had. If I thought my children, dying, went out to wander little pilgrims in darkness ; if I thought that they went wandering, they knew not where, in all the realm of spirits, I could not bo consoled, and only stoicism could cover the wound which it could 88 OUR HOME IN HEAVENT. i\>i not heal. But since I know that God loves children, and that He has said, " Of such is the kingdom of God," and that He wants them to ^be permitted to come to Him, though it is with pain and sorrow that I yield them np, it is not without^ hope and consola- tion. Parents, whose children have gone from you, God has token them, and He is a better father and mother to them thnn you could have been. Be of good cheer, and you will meet them by and by, if only you yourselves are like little children in Christ." The Saviour's Invitation to little Children, recorded with slight circumstantial variety by three of the evangelists, furnishes one of the most affecting scenes that adorn Ihe wonderful history of Christ. The deep solicitude of Jesus respecting the spiritual welfare of children is clearly manifested, as also is the faith and confidence of the parents or guardians in His love and power to do them good ; and, we may add, that the disciples, by aiming to be very religious, became unnatural, which was frequently the case, and this arose from the false ideas of devo- tion which they attached to their master. The scene is tender and touching, and the aspect in which Jesus, the world's redeemer, here appears, has at- tracted and consoled parenkil hearts through long successive ages. Who icere brought to Jesus? The young, or according to Matthew and Mark, " little children," the original term signifying not youths but the diminutive denoting mere children or infants. Luke uses the term rendered infants or babes. It is the same which he had used for " the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger," and which Peter in his lirst epistle uses when he speaks of "new born babes.'' They were infants appar- t^ntly brought in arms, and which Jesus took up in His arms. I call special attention to this point I- 1 1 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. because a popular preacher in England, and an amiable writer in the same coir try, have recently at- tempted to show, or rather assUiae, that they are not mere infants, but little children capable of instruc- tion that are referred to in this passage. There does not appear the shadow of a reason for such an in- terpretation of the text or context. Everything said and done by those who brought them, by the dis- ciples who opposed their being brought, and by Jesus to whom they were brought, as well as the plain im- port of the terms by which they were designated as "little children," infants or babes, forbid such an idea. It is a notion brought to the text and not brought OUT of it. God's interest in hunum life be^ns at the earliest pos- sible period. This is an argument for " Infant Bap- tism" which I have never known to be touched, mucii less shaken. The narrow critics who have taken upon themselves to settle that question, haA^e beeii fighting each other with Greek derivatives and grammatical inflexions, as if anijf moral quest^'on could be settled by such means! I make this que- ion one of life, not one of grammar ; and I put this direct and urgent inquiry, namely, when does God's intercBt in human life begins When does Christ's heart begin to yearn in pity over all human creatures? When do compassion's tears well up into the Redeemer's eyes? When does He feel the kindling o^ love to- wards human beings? Is it when they are five years old, or ten; — does He shut up His love until they are twenty-one? The question may appear qurint, but I press it ; I urge a distinct answer — When does Christ's interest in human life begin? I contend that His interest relates to life, not to ago ; to birth, not to birth-days. As soon as a child is born, that great redeeming heart yearns with v iug lo\e. 90 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. What has Christ to do with what we call age ? VHmt is age? It may be useful for us to keep a recci'l of anniversaries, to tabulate for statistical purposes, to call one man twenty and another forty, though forty, in reality, may be less than twenty ; but will you presume to reduce Christ to a commercial agent, who deals with men according to their ages ? No ! I hold it as a sweet joy, a most delicious and enrapturing thought, that Jesus Christ interests Himself in me, that my name was written in His heart ere it fell from my mother's lips, and that before a father knows the mystery and pride of parental life, Jesus ex- periences the travail of the soul which yearns to make the child an heir of immortality. Hence I see a beauty in Infant Baptism which is unequalled ; in Christian parents bringing their loved little one unto the temple, and having poured upon it the clean water — Christ's ov n f ymbol of purity — and having pronounced over it lhi» GREAT threefold name in which we live n.ji in-jYe and have our being. It is said, however, that the child cannot understand the deed, and consequently cannot receive any good from it. Shallow, indeed, is such reasoning ! Understand ? What is understanding ? Does the child understand the mystery of drinking life from its mother's bosom? Does the child understand the sublimer mystery of the clasped fingers and uplifted eyes with which the mother supplicates the benediction of Heaven V Bo it known unto you that all our blessings do not come along the narrow highway of our poor umlerstandin m OUE HOME IN HEAVEN. leave alone. It is often rendered let alone. Suffer is scarcely the proper term. The Saviour does not ask His disciples' sufferance. Neither does He ask them to condescend to the little ones. Permit, too, is not strong enough. Jesus was speaking authoritatively, though no doubt with mild authority. "And forbid them not," literally, and hinder them not, "to come unto me." These words are to be connected closely with the immediately preceding expression " hinder them not," but Jiot with the foregoing expression ; and hence it is an error in punctuation to insert a comma after " and hinder tltem nof^ as if " to come unto we" were to be co-ordinately connected with the two clauses. Mark says here, " He was much displeased"— literally very indignant. This marks the deep and tender interest He felt in the infants, and the beautiful ap- propriateness of their being brought to Him, and His grief and anger that the disciples should have so for- gotten His well known character, and the grand de- sign of His mission. The severity of this public re- buke is the highest proof of the depth and tender- ness of His love to the infant race of man. ■ •" " Pointing to such, well might Cornelia say, ' ' When the rich casket shone in bright array, - ' " 'These are my jewels !' Well of such as he, When Jesus spake, well might His language be, ' Suffer these little ones to come to me I' '' ' '^ 'A'y — Rogers. Notice the grand reason for inviting the infants to His firesence and to His arms. " Of sudi is tlie Kingdom of Heaven." Mark and Luke have it the Kingdom of God. Let us first examine the phrase " Kingdom of Heaven," or the kingdom of the heavens, which, so far as the New Testament is concerned, is found in Matthew alone. As has been well observed, in the other gospels and in the epistles, it is replaced by the If; A 4M^ OUil HOME IN HEAVEN. 97 e e corresponding expression, "the Kingdom of God,'' and in certain isolated cases we find the modified ex- pression the kingdom of Grod's dear son, the kingdom of Christ and of God, the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God's heavenly kingdom. The kingdom referred to in all these expressions is a real kingdom : a community, that is to say, consisting of a king and his subjects. The king is God, and hence the expression, " the Kingdom of God." But God is in Christ and Christ in God, and hence the kingdom is the kingdom of Christ and of God. Christ spoke of it as belonging to Himself ; "my kingdom," said he, " is not of this world." Christ is thus the king — the king of kings. In the great economy of mercy He is the Father's vicegerent. " Behold," said Daniel, " one like unto the son of man came with the clouds of Heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages, should serve him ; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not bo destroyed." It was doubtless to this kingdom John the Baptist referred when he cried, " it is at hand," that is, the time is at hand when it shall be established. It is well called the kingdom of Heaven. Its primary characteristic is heavenli- ness. Its origin is in Heaven. Its end is in Heaven. Its King is heavenly. Its subjects are heavenly in character and destiny. Its laws are heavenly. Its privileges are heavenly. Its institutions are heaven- ly. Its own culmination is in Heaven, and is indeed Heaven. Its institutions on earth are earnests of the glory of Heaven. Thus, the kingdom on earth and the kingdom in Heaven are one, — the one Kingdom of lleaven. There is one side of it, or one sphere, as it M f'i i ■>•• 98 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. were, on earth— the under side or sphere : there is another side of it, another sphere, in Heaven, — the upper side or sphere. This kingdom has had exis- tence in essence throughout all past ages and dispen- sations. It underlay the whole Jewish economy, which, in its forms, was a hieroglyphic outcome or type of the heavenly reality. But when John the Baptist made his appearance in the wilderness, it w^as ahout to be inaugurated in a purer and maturer phase, by the personal appearance of the heavenly king. Hence the heraldic cry of this kingdom. Jesus said, " Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of Grod." " My kingdom is not of this world." •' The kingdom of (rod cometh not with observation." " The kingdom of God is within you ; or among you." Of it Paul said, " The kingdom of G-od is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy. in the Holy Ghost." In its widest acceptation it comprehends the mediatorial economy. It is represented in various aspects and phases in the New Testament, especially in the gospels; and by our Lord in His parables. " For of such is the king- dom of Heaven," that is, to such the Kingdom of Heaven belongs. The Kingdom of Heaven is looked at, for the moment, on the side of its privileges. The privileges, the blessings, the joys, the glories, the honors of the kingdom belong to such. Such, that is, such little children as these. As a recent and eminently learned and candid commentator. Rev. Dr. Morison, of Glasgow^ well remarks : " This is cer- tainly the most natural interpretation of the 'such.' Some would interpret the such as referring to those w^ho in voluntary character are like little children. But (1) the word (toioutos) such does not naturally e:s.- clude a demonstrative reference to the children them- selves. Jesus evidently means, ' Yet of these is the \ OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 99 Kingdom of Heaven.' The kingdom belongs to little children. This will appear by comparing the follow- ing passages, viz.: Matthew ix. 8, 'But when the multitude saw it they marvelled and glorified God which had given such power unto men' {this power). Luke ix. 9, 'And Herod said, John have I beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear svch things' {these things). Luke xiii. 2, 'And Jesus answered and said, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they sufier such things' {these things). John i v. 23, 'For the Father seeketh such to worship him.' John viii. 5, ' Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such should be stoned.' John ix. 16, ' How can a man that is a sinner do such (these) miracles?' Romans i. 32, ' They that commit such things are worthy of death.' Acts xxii. 22, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth' {this felloiv). Romans ii. 2,3, ' But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that com- mit such things (these things). And thinkest thou this, man, that judgest those which do such things' (these things). I Cor. v. 1, 5, 11, ' Such fornication ' ' With such an one we are not to eat' (loith this out v' one of this sort). I Cor. xvi. 16, ' That ye submit yourselves unio such' {unto these). IL Cor. iii. 12, 'Seeing that we have sui^h hope' {this hope). IL Cor. x. 11, ' Let such an one think (this one, or one of this 'sort). II. Cor. xii. 1-5, 'And I knew such a man' (this man). 'Such a one' (this one). 'Of such a one will I glory' (of this one loilt I glofy). Galatians, v. 2, 3, 'Against such there is no law' {against these). (2.) It does not naturally point to persons who w^ere merely like children. The word is only once translated Hike' in the New Testament, and then freely, inexactly and imperfectly. See Acts xix. 25, ' Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation' (ofUiis or the same occupation). (3.) I mm 11 ^:^ ll!.lf Ii 100 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. It is not the case that little children are incapable of belonging to the kingdom of G-od. In all earthly king- doms there are little children ; and why should there be none in the heavenly? Little children must be under some spiritual sceptre or other as soon as they exist. Some one must reign over them and have a right to them. They must be either in the kingdom of darkness or in the kingdom of light and of Hea- ven. In which of the two shall we say ? If they should die while little children they must go some- whither; — either upwardly or downwardly, whither? Some king or other must claim them, and accord to them th,e rights and privileges of incipient citizen- ship. There can be no doubt that they belong to Grod and His Christ. And indeed it is this fact that they'do belong to Grod's heavenly kingdom which constitutes one of the distinctions of the Kingdom of Heaven^ pro- perly so called, from the Church, properly so called. It is true, indeed, as is indicated by Meyer, that the de- veloped traits of moral character, which distinguish full grown subjects of the Kingdom of Heaven are not present in little children. But then it is equally true that there is the absence of the character of those who are rebels and enemies. And assuredly the favour of their natural Sovereign, the King of kings, will not be denied them until it be morally forfeited. (4.) It is altogether unnatural to suppose that our Saviour had no interest in the little children them- selves, but was exclusively interested in older per- sons of child-like character. Can we suppose that his state of mind, if fully unfolded, might have been thus expressed? — ' Hinder not these little ones from coming to me. True, I have no interest in them whatsoever. I am interested only in adults ; I have to do as a Saviour only with adults. My kingdom has no real little children in it. I am not their king. 1:' OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 101 I have no claim on them, no crown for them, and no favors to confer on them. I have no place for them in my kingdom. But yet they are living and lively pictures, as it were, of the persons in whom I am in- terested. They serve as mirrors to reflect that char- acter of my subjects which is pleasing in my sight ; and by this association of ideas I feel so far interested in them.' It is impossible to suppose that our Saviour thought and felt in this manner. His interest in the little children was real, and for their own sakes. It was primary; and not merely secondary, and because of the child-likeness of His subjects. If they who are like little children belong to the kingdom of Hea- ven, why should we for a moment doubt that the little children themselves belong to the kingdom? Doubtless they all do. And if that change which men call death happen to them while they are still little children, we may rest assured that to the little ones it will be life everlasting^. They will not be shut out from the higher province of the kingdom of Heaven, when they are snatched away iJom the lower." Let me now point out some features of early piety; and give a fkw illustrations of this BEAUTIFUL GRACE. The beautiful portion of the Gospel history connected with the text under con- sideration, I always read at the baptism of infants, and when parents and children together hear it, the interest which the Saviour feels in them cannot be doubted. " O mother," said a little girl, on returning from church, and running into her mother's sick- room, "I have heard the child's Gospel to-day!" It was this very passage. Another, about seven years old, heard the same read when she was near death, and, as her sister closed the book, the little sick one said, " How kind ! I shall soon go to Jesus. He will 1st m ilijIH J 4 102 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. take me up in His arms, and bless me, too !" The sister tenderly kissed her, and asked, " Do you love me, dearest V " Yes," she answered, " but don't be angry, I love Jesus more !" "Why does the Saviour show such tender affection for children? I shall give you several reasons for it. Because they have a confiding trust in God. It has been left for grown men and women to be guilty of unbelief. A child was asked what faith was, and promptly replied, " It is doing God's wmII, and asking no questions." Could any definition have been better? A lady said to a little daughter of the missionary Judson, " Were you not afraid to journey so far over the ocean?" " Why, no, madam," returned the believing child : " father prayed for us!" During a recent hard winter, a poor widow, with seA^en helpless children, was almost re- duced to her last crust of bread, w^hen one of the little boys, w^ho saw her distress and anxiety, said to her, 'Please don't cry, mother; I will w^rite a letter to the Lord Jesus to help us !" The w' oman was too much occupied wuth her troubles to notice his singu- lar remark, and so, taking her silence for approval of his purpose, he sat down and scrawled on a bit of paper, torn from an old w^riting-book, these words: " My dear Saviour : my poor mother, and my little brothers and sisters, have had no breakfast nor din- ner to-day; please send us something to eat." He then signed his name wnth the street and number, and, running to the post-office, dropped the letter in- to the box. When the letters w^ere assorted, the clerk's attention was attracted by one directed, in a child's hand, " To the Lord Jesus Christ." In his perplexity, he showed it to the postmaster, and he in turn handed it to a good C-hristian man, who came into the office for his letters. "I will take care of it!" said the gentleman. And so he did. He went '^:W OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 103 directly to the place designated in the boy's note, and I need hardly tell you how much pleasure it gave him to help the poor family, for the Saviour's sake. Children have a Iwlyfear of God. A wicked man, who was in the habit of going to a neighbor's field to steal corn, one day took his little son to help him carry the bag. Handing the bag to the child, the father climbed up on the fence, to take a good look about him, to see whether any one was coming that way. Satisfied that all was safe, he began to pluck the ears of corn and put them in the bag, which the boy held open for him. "Father," said the child, looking up at the hardened man as he spoke, " you forgot to look somewhere else.'' The father was ter- rified, and asked, " "Which w'ay, child?" " You for- got to look up to the sky, to see if God noticed you!" The reproof was too well deserved not to be re- ceived with patience, and father and son went home with an empty bag. When the child is introduced to Jesus three things take place. He believes in tfie love of Jems ; he reciprocates the love of Jesus; lie imitates tlie love of Jesus. It is impos- sible to behold the love of Jesus, and have faith in it, without returning it in various ways. The child will not only become amiable, but lovely and loving. A mother was telling her little child about Christ, and that He had not where to lay His head. The child instantly said: " Oh! mother, I wish I had been there, I would have given Him my pillow." The Lord Jesus is tenderly devoted to little children be- cause they have the spirit of love. The punishment inflicted but a moment before, for some childish of- fence, is forgotten, and the arms of ajflfection are ready to embrace the father or mother whose painful duty it has been to administer it. Indeed, it would often seem that love became stronger after such reconcili- * ■ 4 104 OUll HOME IN HEAVEN. atioii. The love of children for their Saviour in Heaven is a real thing. Is it any wonder, then, that He loves them so devotedly in return ? " Children's prayers lie deigns to hear ; Children's songs delight His ear." Human wisdom says to a child, " Be a man !" Divine wisdom reverses the process, saying to the man who would secure God's favour, " Be a child !" Little children have no false shame. Many grown people, who arc mindful of their prayers and other religious duties when they are by themselves, would hesitate a long while before they attended to these things, if the eyes of their fellow-mortals should ob- serve them. Hundreds of passengers were prepar- ing to retire to rest, on board of one of the fine steam- ers of the Hudson, but no looker-on would have sus- pected any of them with being religious, so far as any outward recognition of God was concerned. In the midst of all this forgetfuhiess of Him, there was one person on board who was not ashamed to ac- knowledge his dependence on his Heavenly Father's care. It was a little boy, who, all unconscious that he was doing any unusual thing, kneeled down and prayed, as he was accustomed to do at home. Mr. Spurgeon said: " One Monday evening, I felt A'ery weary from the Sabbath's work, and I went into the Orphanage, where the infants were." They sang a little piece, and the teacher said, " Which little boy prays for Mr. Spurgeon every morning?" They all held up their hands. He said, " Do you pray for me every morning?" They said, " AVe always pray for you." He said, " I felt so A'ery happy, because, dear little souls, I am rich if they pray for me." There is something so beautiful about a child's prayer. Again Mr. Spurgeon says: " I once received into the church a little girl ten years of age. I talked OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 105 boy all 1110 for with her, and examined her carefully, more than I should like to examine adults, but as I looked into her face and saw that sweet simplicity, I thought that she never had doubts about the word of Grod at all. I saw her dear eyes so bright as she talked about Jesus, and her whole heart took it in as so real; yes, we must have the children, we must begin with the children." How heantifully and perfectly is the spirit of humility manifested in little children. When Christ wished to rebuke the selfish ambition of his disciples, he took a little child and "set him in the midst of them." From that child they weio taught a lesson of unsel- fishness and humility. So our heavenly Father now sets little children in our houses to be our teachers, as well as to be taught themselves. We may enlarge this incident so as to find in it a great principle of exquisite beauty, and of world-wide application ; that principle is that Almighty Grod is constantly teaching by children. Will you who are parents think of tnis? Every child in your family may be as a prophet of the Lord unto you. Grod does not despise the minute, and the obscure, and the weak, but hangs the dew-drop of the morning upon the simplest fiower in the mead, and when He has had occasion to speak to a prophet. He has declined the services of thunder, and whirlwind, and earthquake, and addressed the fainting one in a still small voice. Poor wovild the world be without little children. There is more of meaning in their little curious ques- tionings than wo ever apprehend. Why, the touch of a child has turned back the murderous intent of the parent who has slept with the little one in his bosom ! The request of a little child has again and again been the moans of turning the consideration of parents in a (lod-ward direction. In innumerable N ■■fin«R''im»< m OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. instances, the child-life which God has placed in a family has been the means of uniting that family in the holiest and tenderest bonds, and preventing de- velopments of depravity which would have involved the household in irreparable ruin. He is old indeed who cannot receive instruction from a little child. Our religious teaching has not always produced the amiablencss, the humility, the loveliness in chil- dren which it ought. But it is only when they have been spoiled by foolish flattery and over-indulgence, that they become proud. Naturally they shun obser- vation, and blush at compliments. It is painful to see sometimes even in Sunday Schools sad exhibitions of pride, and impetuosity, and want of submission. One of the principal intentions of all schools should be to make children exhibit humility and love. " lyjrd, forever nt Thy side * Let my place and portion bo ; 8tri]^ me of the robe of pride, Clothe nie with luunility. '' Humble as a little cliild, Weaned from the mother's bronst, By no subtleties beguiled, On Thy faithful word I rest." A FEW OBSEllVATIONS ON EARLY CONVERSIONS MAY SUFFICE. The moment children are capable of sin- ning — brea^:ing God's law — that moment they are capable of repenting, of turning to God, of under- standing the doctrines and precepts of the Bible, repentance, faith, and a holy life. Children, taught as the}/- should be from early infancy, know and feel " that it is an evil and bittt r thing" to sin against God, and that wisdom's " ways are ways of pleasant- ness, and all her paths are peace." " just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined." A ^JR HOME IN HEAVEN. 10^ A young lady in a Sunday School, a short time since, asked her class how soon a child should give its heart to God. One little girl said "when thirteen years old," another "ten," another "six." Then, at length, the last child in the class spoke : "Just as soon as we know who God is." ** I love them that love me ; and those that seek me early shall find me." (Prov. viii. It.) Parents, where is your faith? "According to your faith be it unto you." "All things are possible to him that believeth." " Seek first," for your little ones, " the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you." O it is a ' " Delightful task to rear the tender thought, > To teach the young idea how to shoot, ■To pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind. To breathe th' enlivening spirit, and to fix The generous purpose in the glowing breast." Samuel was a little child when he ministered un- to the Lord, and heard His voice. "And he grew, and the Lord was with him," and " the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel at Shiloh." A sweet picture ! A ministering child! Experience has taught me to have more faith in children than in adults. Children are more like God than men and women are. Children are unsophisticated, straightfor- ward, simple, truthful, joyous, loving; adults are often crooked, crafty, double-minded, selfish, moody, rancorous and vile. I symi)athise with the poet when he wishes that he could go back to God through his " yesterdays." Alas, there is no way to Heaven except through our to-morrows ; and as we get older by travelling through these to-morrows, we often lose the simplicity and beauty of childhood, and engross ourselves with engagements which tend rather to degrade and unfit us for the high society ot Heaven. I implore you, thorelbre, who have the \ II ! I ill ■'t*^|'!p^^ffl' tw^ '• x$«^^ 108 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. charge of juvenile training, to be careful how you exercise your function; never forget that even a child may be a minister in the temple, and that it is never too early to clasp young hands in prayer, and teach young lips to adore the name that is above every name. Paul, speaking of little Timothy, says, " From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." These are examples left on record by the spirit of grace, to teach us what may be done in the strength and wisdom of the Most High. The Holy Spirit never strives more i)owerful- ly than in early childhood. The late Countess of Huntingdon was only a little child when she gave her heart to Christ ; and she was not only rich in this world, but eminently " rich in faith, and an heir of the kingdom." Who can read the early conversion and life of the wife of Presi'^ent Edwards, and doubt her being a child of God? Or the thrilling narrative which is given of Phcebe Bartlett, a child but five years old? For seventy years she testified to God's love in re- vealing Himself to a child. In the late memoirs of the llev. Dr. Justin Edwards, it is stated that the heavenly conversation and christian spirit manifest- ed in her last sickness, were the means of spiritual life to this eminent servant of Christ. One who has long been a " Mother in Israel," and w^hose deep spirituality and holy life has given her an extended influence of the happiest kind, was wont to say "she could not remember the time when she did not love Christ, and find her greatest delight in doing His will." In her life and in her death she has given the most satisfactory evidence of religion, pure and un- defiled. Injmlgin^ of the genuineneas of rhUdnns ronversmm, vr must remember that they are but children. Do not expect OUR HOME IN HEAVEX 109 a converted boy to be a pious man ; he is yet only a boy. Like a boy, he loves to play, and ought to play. A little girl was walking home from church, holding on the hand of her mother, who was walking with a lady talking. The little girl heard her mother say, " I think Sophie is a Christian." She was astonished at this. Sophie a Christian ! She was a child very much her own size, and near her own age ; and this little girl played with her every day, and never knew that she was a Christian. She had an idea that a Christian child should be very sober and quiet, and not care for play — care only for reading the Bible and other good books. She thought to herself that she would watch Sophie and see if she acted like a Christian. Next day she found that Sophie was bright and cheerful and as much interested in play as ever. She helped her little friend kindly when she needed help. Her face flushed as she kept back the impatient word, as her little friend vexed her. And when her mother called her to do an er- rand which she did not like to do, she went without a word of complaint. So the little girl saw that Sophie was a Christian, and she longed to be one herself. " Come hither, little Christian* And hearken unto me | I'll teach thee what the daily life Of a Christian child should bo. "He should say when he ariseth, ' From evil and from harm, Defend Thy little child, O I/ird, With Thy protecting arm.' "In all his daily duties lie rd, . O, let it be to Thee ! ' tv- 0«m'f{>* «? 110 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. vr* '■,'!!! I ws'it ill /■ ,■,...( ( ■•.ll ■■ .- 1 • I " Is it wrong to mourn their absence Fi-om the parted household band ? Should we check the sigh of sadness, Though they're in a better land ? " Is it wrong to think them dearer - Than the many of the blest ? Who to us on earth were strangers, ' Must we love them like the rest ? ) • " And thou lov'd one who did'st leave us. In the morning of thy bloom, , ^ , Dearest sister, shall I meet thee, When I go beyond the tomb ? ^ " And 1 think me more of others, ; Of two darling little boys, * • ; Who went up among the Angels, E'er their life had scarce begun. " Oh, I long once more to see them, And to clasp them in my arms, As I did when they were with us. With their thousand budding charms." * These are the names of my two boys, who died on the 27th October and 11th November, 1880, at St. Andrew's Manse, Strat- ford, Ontario : the former aged 7 years, 1 month and 3 days ; the latter aged 5 years and 20 days. OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 118 There was a little boy, in one of our Sunday Schools, named G-eorgie McCallum. He was a thorough hoy, very fond of play. He was only ten years of age when he died. When the days of sickness came suddenly, and he was told that he would not get better, he said, " Jesus alone can save me, Jesus will save me, He has saved me. Don't cry, mamma, I shall go right straight up to Heaven." And then they gave him a glass of water to cool his hot lips, and he said, " I shall soon take a draught from the water of life." In those days "Rest for the weary," was a new hymn, and he had learned it; and in a perfect ecstacy of soul, in his last hour, he cried out : .. . . ^' In the Christian's home in glory, .' '/ There remains a land of rest, • Where the Saviour's gone before me To fulfil my soul's request." And turning to his parents he said, "There is rest for you, papa; there is rest for you, mamma." Then put- ting his hands over his heart, he said, "Yes, there is rest for me." And he asked them to read the twenty- third psalm, and then he said : " Now I wish you would turn the bed, so I can look once more out on the foliage and see the sun set." They did so, and he said : " I do so wish Jesus would hurry, and come and take me home to rest." They said to him : "Why, Georgie, are you not willing to await the Lord's time V" " O yes," he said, " I am ; but I would rather Jesus would come, and hurry, and take me." And so, with a peace indescribable, ne j)assed away to the " realms of the blest." Ah, I often think of his bright smile as he lay dying, andof his little grave. But he is in Heaven, in glory, and peace, in the Christian's home he loved so well. At the close of 1869, I visited a boy in his fifteenth year, who was gradually sinking into the grave. 1 ill ^ 114 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. shall never forget my first visit to him. As I told him of Jesus— how fcind and tender He is to the little lambs, and how willing to receive this' dear boy, and make him His child, and as I unfolded the way of salvation — how eagerly he caught at the truth that Jesus loves and died for the young ! I left Charlie (for that was his name) praying that Grbd would bless His truth, and lead by His Spirit this dear boy to give himself to Jesus. I visited him n^pxt day, and with a smile he welcomed me. "Oh," he said, "I do love Jesus ; I love you, and mother, and father, but I love Jesus best. Oh, to think of His loving me ;" and amidst his suffering and sickness, which was very great, he prayed so simply and beautifully, •'Jesus, you can do everything ; you can save me j you know you can. Oh, do give me a new heart, and take me to Heaven. Do, Lord, you know you can. Oh, do give me it, far Christ's sake. Amen." I said, "Do you think Jesus hears you?" His answer was, "Oh, yes, I know He has heard me. Before you came to see me I used to cry about death. I did not like the thought of dying, but I don't care naw; I don't want to get well. Don't cry. I can't cry, I am so happy. Mother, I hope you will come to Hea- ven, and father, and all. I want to see my little sisters ; they are up there," After I had given him some food, and moved him, he said, "Oh, thank you, do come again to see me." I said, " Yes, I will. See how kind Jesus is, He gives you friends, and those about you who love you." "Yes," he re- plied, "ain't he kind?" One Sunday I was with him; he was much worse ; we talked of the rest above, oi the joy of the Angels. "Oh," he said, "I am going to be such a bright little spirit up there ; O mother, do come too." Turning to me he said, " I wish you could go through death with me." " No, dear boy," I rn^rn' OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 116 I repjied, " I must leave you at the edge of the river; VQU -will find it all light, for Jesus will hold your haud and lead you safely through;" and as we prayed together that the G-ood Shepherd would be very near, and safely land this little lamb in the pastures of eternal bliss, he constantly joined his little voice with mine, saying, "Do, Liord; you know you can." As I arose he said, so quickly, " I do love you. I must kiss you. Do stop all night ; you can lie down here beside me; you must not go until lam gone." I said, "Charlie, it will soon be my tivn, I don't know how soon." " Oh," he said, " don't be long, I will come and meet you." •' ■■' " -• • Next day I visited him, and said, " Charlie, are you still happy?" " Oh, yes," he answered, "Jesus is with me, I shall soon be in Heaven, I want you to sing that hymn, ' Svin of iny soul, Thou Saviour dear ! ; ' . ; • ■ It is not night if Thou be near ; .' • ;v,i! ^ may no earth-born cloud arise, ? . ' To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes !'" <■■ ' and as I could not, he turned to his mother and said, " O mother, don't cry, sing my hymn^" Such a holy joy and peace pervaded his countenance, he seemed very near Heaven. On my going the next evening I watched through the window this dying boy. He was spreading his arms about, and praying so earn- estly; and, as he heard my step, he said, " O mother, here he comes, tell him to come quickly : I've got such a lot to say." " Charlie," I said, " you are bet- ter, I think, to see you from the outside." " Oh," he said, " the angels have been coming down, just like snow, all so white, and they are come for me ; I do so want to go ; don't you see them?" And his f^ce was lighted up with joy. Surely, had our eyes beCTi opened, wc should have seen that he was surrounded if III I: -fp«^^*iij .<^ J?e OUR HO\f R IN HEAVEN. bv happy spirits, waiting to carry him to their happy hone. Solemn indeed it was to watch by his bed, k^d wipe the great drops off his face, and seek to so^/fbf^ and cheer him, as h^ passed through the val- ley ot a«fl*h. The next eveMng I found him nearly gone; sleep had at last come, and soon all would be over. His voice failed him, and about eleven o'clock we thought he was gone. All at once he opened his eyeSj and, by signs, asked me to give him some tea. I held him up and he drank a cupful. I then laid him down and# said, " Charlie, you will go to sleep now, and perhaps wake in Heaven." " Heaveii \ Glory !" he whispered, and said no more, i'^^u riio • I felt sure his happy spirit would soon be in Hea- ven. He lingered on till next morning, Dec. 9th, 1869, and as I looked upon him still and cold, I thought of him up there, and how happy he must be with Jesus. Yes, he is gone, and the wish expressed, "Don't be long," often cros^ v. my mind. Soon, oh ! how soon we shall go ! One by one departs; not lost, but gone before. I followed the dear boy to the grave, and cast a last look at the coffin that contained all that was mortal of Little Charlie. * f. •' y "Around the throne of God in Heaven • ' • Thousands of children stand, - ■ " ' ' Whose sins are all through Christ forgiven, A holy, happy band, . ... ' ' Singing glory, glory, glory ! i ; •> ■ • " On earth they sought the Saviour's grace, , , ( ■ On earth they loved His name ; .' ; ;, And now they see His blessed face, r ' Afl stj^nd before the lamb , < , , ^, : ^'.^uigV^-^iy, glory, glory!" '' "Fatlier, lere am I, iieer straight to me." So cried the ^on of a gentleman in England, who for the bene- I m I OUR HOME IN HEAVEN^. lit lit of his health was on a visit at a well-known v;at- erin^ place. He left his littlv >on with the servant on a point of land, while he in a small boat took a short trip out to sea. Whilo absent, a thick fog had arisen where he had left his child ; for a long time he sought for his little son, but sought in vain. The sc>n, hearing; his father, but not able to se« him ih>ar;^h thick clouds of vapour, cried, "Father, here am I, steer straight to me." Soon after this incident tiie son died, and his spirit was safely landed in the port of glory. Some time after the death of the son, the father (who was not a Christian) imagined he could hear the voice of his child saying, "Father, here am I, steer straight to me.'' The fathei felt his need of pardon, and sought it through faith in Christ, and lived in the enjoyment of a bright hope of meet- ing his son in Heaven. Dear reader, are there not those who were once dear to you in Heaven ? It may be a mother, who, when with you, led you to her closet, and with your hand in hers, fell on her knees, and taught you to pray in the name of Jesus. Looking down from the region of light, she is saying, in effect, "Son, or daughter, here am I, steer straight to me." Or it may be a father, who watched over you in the days of youth. You stood by his bed-side when his soul was passing away to Heaven, and heard him pray that God would bless you with pardon. Hear him sav- ing, as he looks from his shining seat in the city )f the great King, "Here am I, steer straight to mo." It may be a child at whose death you wept as if your heart would break ; or the kind sister, or lovinj:^ l)rother, or Sabbath School teacher who instructed you, tbo minister that warned 3^ou — these are with Christ, and are saying to you in their past lives, "Come straiffht to us." In union with those, there is ■■'. a - 0* ,'.Mi.-. t -L 4 118 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. Grod upon the throne, Christ upon the cross, the Holy- Spirit in your heaart, all crying, "Come ;" can you, will you, dare you refuse such a united invitation? I beseech you to think about your precious soul ; think of the hell you will shun, the Heaven you will gain by going to Jesus: go to Him now* go by prayer, by faitn receive Him into your heart, and you shall prove what millions more have proved, that ;•,. . . « 'Tis religion that can give . ,» r* '' • ;;' ■ Sweetest pleasupes while we live ; f* ■' • * if- 'Tis religion can supply ii; '" "> • ' ' ' ' • Solid oomfort when you die*" •■'■■" • .; " • r ^ oly ou, )n? pvill yer, ball '' The Lamb which is in the midst of the ihrone shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes^ — Rev. vii. 17. " There remaineth therefor^ a rest to the people of God. Let ns labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief .-^ — TTebrewfi iv. 9, 11. -o- " Oh for that bright and happy land, Where, far amid the blest, 'The wicked cease from troubling, and The weary are at rest ! ' Where friends are never parted. Once met around Thy throne, And none are broken-hearted, Since all, with Thee, are one.'' ^-Monsell. ''That hour for brevity a moment seemed ; For benediction, ages. But at last Calmly He said. The night is almost spent ; The morning is at hand. Fearless meanwhile Rest thou in peace. Oriel, thy guardian spirit, Shall lead thee to those bowers felicitous. Where now thy parents and i\j^ babes await My Kingdom with the otlier Blessed Dead !'' — Biokcrstoth, r^ 1 :■ ■ ■ 1 _L I em, mil ihe i' h. ■ i .■ • ■ 1 1 ,1 .11 / ' ■ I ! ! , i 1 ] ''')! , ':i i ]<> /'li ■Hi III ■'. ii.. 1- , i;. M ! i '.I '"i; If:;.; ";'> / i !):i . i !»■; /oijil •;,, , Chapter y.!o ;;.,[<., ,;/ij vi.MM.i-.. ■All ''■ ■ Heaven's Description of the Character and !, ..Blessedness of the Sainted Dead. 1 u iMEeinorlal Ncrmon Preached in St. Andrew'tt Ciinrclu Cliathani, on the occasion of the Death of MrH. Mnlrhead, wife of 1 the Hon. Senator Xairhend. " And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead wliich die in the Lord from henceforth : yen, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow them." — Rev. xiv. 13. We are accustomed to speak of ourAvorld — and the expression is Scriptural and correct — as the land of the living", thus distinguishing it from the land of the shadow of death, where the darkness of death and the grave reigns in solemn silence and awful gloom. Our world, however, which we designate the land of the living, might, with as much pro- priety and truth, be called the land of the dying ; for what countless numbers have died in our world! How have "earth to earth, and ashes to ashes, and dust to dust," been accumulating through all past gener- ations ; and what instances of mortality do we wit- ness, what death-beds do we surround, what tolling bells do we hear, what opening graves do we see, and what bereaved mourners do we behold going about the streets ! Death is, indeed, making his destructive ravages amongst our f«dlow-creatures. lie enters our churches, and congregations, and faijftilies ; and he removes from the night of the eye, but not from the recollc',- I >} ■".,!; '«iiii^ 122 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. tion of our memory, or the affection of our hearts, our beloved relatives and friends. By his cold hand and relentless power, they are consigned to the gloomy mansion of the tomb ; and in the sorrow of our souls, like one in ancient times, we go unto their graves to weep there. But were they the followers of Jesus, the children of God ? If so, then we sor- row not as those who have no hope, for' we have the bright hope, the Scriptural assurance, that they are with Jesus. The angels of Heaven conducted their ransomed spirits from the death-bed to the throne, the mansions of Heaven have received them, the harps of Heaven are sounded by them, the songs of Heaven are sung by them ; and w^hilst we see the victorious palms of Heaven in their hands, and the golden diadems on their heads, — what is the voice from Heaven which we hear respecting them in the language of our text ? It is not the first time that a voice from Heaven on such a subject has been heard. David, the psalmist of Israel, heard the voice of inspiration from Heaven, and that voice said, " Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." The prophet Isaiah heard a voice, and it said, " He will swallow up death in victory." The prophet Hosea heard a voice, and it said, " I will ransom them from the power of the grave ; I will redeem them from death." The apostle Paul heard a voice, and it inspired his heart, his pen, his tongue, and he exclaimed, with ejacul- ation and triumph, " O death ! where is thy sting ? O grave ! where is thy victory ? Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." And the apostle John, in the cheerless and desolate Isle of Patmos, heard a voice from Heaven. What visions opened on his sight ! What scenes he tsrif itociao/1 f IT A*1.«V irr»nTH tfllilli!iili<' OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 123 what redemption songs he listened ! "What ransom- ed saints he beheld on Mount Zion, enraptured with joys, encircled with glories, their crowns radiant as the light,/ and their robes washed to snowy whiteness in the blbod of the Lamb ! There they stood before the throne of Jesus with perfection within them, Heaven around them, eternity before them, and glory all over them; and whilst John gazed on their glories, and listened to their songs, he heard a voice from Heaven, saying, " Blessed are the dead w^hich die in the Lord." i " Plow bright these glorious spirits shine ! Whence all their bright array ? ' '' How came they to the blissfal seats ' . • Of everlasting day ? • ' • " Lo ! these are they from suff rinj.s great, , Who came to realms of light, And in the blood of Christ have wash'd Those robes which shine so bright. ^ <' Now, with triumphal palms, they stand Lefore the throne on high, And serve the God they love, amidst • The glories of the sky. " His presence fills each heart with joy, Tunes every nxouth to sing: By day, by nigiit, the sacred courts With glad hosannahs ring." Notice the character of the sainted dead as HERE DESCRIBED. Their character was that of vital union with Christ. The Scriptures represent this union by a great variety of figures. It is compared to the union of a building with its foundation stone '—its existence depends upon it; to that of the bran- ches and the vine— the strength, foliage, fruit, life of i \ ^ ;'r 124 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. the one, depends upon the sap it derives from the other ; to that of the spirit and the body — the former being: the source of animation, the impulse of activity, and the guide of the movements of the latter. These figures confessedly indicate a union the most close and the most vital. Jesus has the first place in the Christian's affections. The glorious Redeemer reigns in the innermost shrine of his heart. To him, "He is fairer than the sons of men, the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely." He is enamoured of His transcendent perfections, and wishes forever to sit at the feet of the great Teacher. He loves His name, he glories in His cross, he triumphs in His grace. He inscribes "Holiness to the Lord" on all that he has. He devotes his time, his talents, his possessions, his money, his all to the glory of the Saviour. He presents his body a living- sacrifice, holy and acceptable, feeling that it is but a reasonable service. His hands w^ork for Christ, his pen writes for Christ, his feet run swiftly in the way of Christ's commandments. Let his tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth, if he does not plead for Christ ! Let his lii)8 be silent, if they do not utter the praises of the blessed Saviour that laid down His life, and shed his precious blood for the salvation of a perishing- world ! Let his ears be forever closed if they do not listen to the sweet voice of his Beloved ! Let his eyes be sealed in total blindness, if they are not turned to- ward Jesus in holy confidence, in child-like depen- dence, in gTateful adoration. The faculties of his mind are consecrated to the glory of the Saviour, and the advancement of his cause. His memory treasures up the Redeemer's last behest and parting promise. His imagination revels amid the unsearchable riches of his compassion. By the glowing imagery of the Bible, he is tauffht to associate ideas of Jesus with OtJR HOME IN HEAVEN. 125 the fragrance and beauty of the rose, with the grace and modesty of the lily, with the strength of the rock, and the splendour of the sun. His judgment is ex- ercised in devising schemes by which the gospel of Jesus may be spread, and the honour of Jesus pro- moted. His whole desire is that the lledeemer may see of the fruit of the travail of His soul. His busi- ness on earth is to do his Heavenly Master's will. He feels that there is nothing at all worth living for but this. He is ready to bo anything, or to do anything, if he can promote this great result. Listen to his soliloquy : ''Let the warrior fight for renown ; let the sensualist live for pleasure ; let the worldling struggle for wealth ; let the multitudes live unto themselves, and serve Satan: — as for me, 'I will serve the Lord.' Blessed Jesus, reign thou in my heart king supreme, without a rival, for ever." Such a character implies a judicial and a moral change. Men were not born in this state. They are not naturally " in the Lord." " If any man be in Christ he is a new creature." Hence the character ol the sainted dead, as here described, underwent a great spiritual change before they were prepared for the presence of their Lord. ; '^ ? < They die depending on the merits of the Lord^ and glorying in His Cross. In this respect they die as they lived. What is their life but a life of dependence on Christ ? They are conscious of their utter unworthiness — discover their depravity and guilt — cast themselves at the feet of Divine mercy, and their prayer is, "God be merci- ful to me a sinner !" (), how do they welcome Christ in their hearts, as their rock, their refuge, and their redeemer ! Nothing is so much the object of their desire as to Ix^ found in Him and partake of His righteousness. They trust in His wisdom for guid- ance — in His nower for I;. m . mi "it? I .111 TTi. TiorVifonnt:- 126 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. ness for justification — in His blood for pardon and salvation. They look to His cross as the ground of their hope, the theme of their praise, and the ob- ject of their glory. Their entire confidence is in that ''precious blood" which has procured for sinners the blessings of salvation, and has raised all the glorified redeemed to Heaven. It is thus they depend on Christ, feeling that they have no other foundation of hope. As they make progress on their way to Heaven, the more simple does their dependence become ; and the nearer they approach the end of their pilgrimage, the more deeply sensible are they of the need of Christ, and the more humbly do they rely on Him. They feel that the Cross, which is the source of their salvation, is also the means of their triumph ; whilst they listen to the voice of their Lord, " Conquer by this." And by that Cross they do conquer ; and when all their enemies are subdued, and their vic- tories won, they will come into His presence and sing, "Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the glory." This will be their song on their dying day. Their eyes then will be directed to the cross, for in that cross they glory whilst they live and when they die. Amongst the last expres- sions which they utter is the noble language of Paul, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of Jesus Christ." Nay, sometimes when they are dy- ing, not only do they have brighter views than they have ever previously had of the crown of glory, but brighter views by far than they have ever previously had of the cross of Christ. Oh ! never have they felt so powerfully the attractions of the cross as when they have been actu- ally putting forth their hand to receive the crown — that crown which had never bsen theirs but for that OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 121 blood-empurpled cross. < ;...;; .J. vr^ ,z.. ..,,.;..;[ r, fj. The last thing which they see on earth is the cross of their Lord, on which He died, and the first thing which they see in Heaven is the throne on which He reigns. Thus, as they live, so they die, depending on the merits of their Saviour, and glorying in His cross. Their departing spirits they commit into those hands which were once nailed to the cross, but which now wield the sceptre of the universe, and in those hands their immortal souls are safe for eternity; whilst concerning them the voice from Heaven is again heard, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." ■ ' '■• -'!'>!" **£I(m! '-(^'..'tnr VTh 1- -n-.H ' ' " Hold Thou Thy cross before ray closing eyes, ! n i « f . -.• Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies; mm . I-'' Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee: In life, in death, Lord, abide with me I" Thet/ die renewed by the Spirit of tlie Lord. They have the Spirit of Christ, and that Spirit was given to them on the day of their conversion. What a day was that, when "the Spirit first came to them ! What was their moral condition, their spiritual state? He found their understandings darkened, their affections depraved, their hearts at enmity against G-od — their sentiments and desires, principles and purposes, in opposition to the purity of the Dr^ine character, the holiness oi the Divine law, the nature of the Divine claims, and the demands of the Divine word. He did not, however, leave them in the state in which He found them. He taught them to mourn over their sins, to pray for pardon, to hunger and thirst after righteousness, and to depart from all iniquity. By His power they are raised from death to life, from sin to holiness, from the world to God. They were spiritually united to Christ, loved His name, obeyed His command and followed His example. They gave % M ■ m 128 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. all diligence to make their calling and election sure. What progress they made in the path of piety ! Practically regarded, and personally exemplified by them, was the exhortation of the apostle, " Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." They cherished and cultivated the graces of the Christian character, constraining all to take knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus ! Under the influence of the Spirit, who renewed their hearts, how they meditated on the truths con- tained in the Bible which he has inspired; how they delighted to attend the sanctuary where they co'ild hear of the unsearchable riches of Christ ; and how habitually they felt the attraction of that throne at which they could pour out their hearts before God, and hold fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ — a fellowship which they regard as one of the highest privileges on this side eternity and Heaven. How ardently did they love, bow devoutly did they adore, and how highly did they honour the Spirit, who regenerated their hearts and led them to Jesus, and who had implanted the principles of holi- ness in their minds, and commenced a work in their souls the complexion of which would open for them the pearly gates of Heaven, and minister unto them an abundant entrance into Christ's everlasting king- dom. Favored with His renewing influences, they also joyed in the rich consolations which He im- parts. From the period of their conversion to the day of their admission to glory, the Holy Spirit con- tinued with them, attesting to their adoption, help- ing their infirmities, aiding their devotions, and purifying their souls. The work of grace, commenced in their hearts. He carried on till their dying day > arrived. In that day they exchanged sorrow for joy, grace for glory, the Avilderness for Canaan, earth for OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 129 Heaven ; and the voice from Heaven said, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." ii .^.- -fiwdn- Dr. Norman McLeod said: "There must be in Heaven a countless sum of things I cannot compre- hend, conditions of being, memories and hopes, sights and sounds, panoramas of glory, a society vast and in- finitely exalted. All this I understand not now. Never- theless there is One whom I do know — Jesus Christ. He is the author of all, the ruler of all, the adored of all, — and is my brother, bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. The person is a real man, with human heart and affections. This person lived for years here, and knows me and all my nervous, infirm feelings better than any other. He remembers I am dust. This person once was grieved, and wept, and agonized, and prayed the cup might pass from him. This per- son sympathized with and comforted men like him- self, full of infirmity, saying, ' Let not your hearts be troubled.' This person lived and died for me, and I belong to Him, and His joy is one with my salvation as a believer. There is no such tender heart on earth, as His who is in that place ; and He is waiting to re- ceive me, just as He has received every one there, men and women, who once were anxious and con- cerned and filled with wonder as I am. He is Hea- ven ! O Lord, into thy hands I commit my spirit ; and into thy hands I commit my dearest, yea the ten- der child of my bosom. Take me to thyself, for where thou art there and there only I wish to be. It was thus that Jacob, when he had gone into Egypt, then an old man and an humble shepherd, who had lived all his life among the quiet hills of Palestine, was not awed by the great court of Pharaoh, the magnificent palace and all the splendor which surrounded the greatest monarch of his time. All was lost in thought: Joseph is alive, and he is there; n n 130 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. and when he entered those gorgeous halls, he saw nothing else, thought of nothing else, than his be- loved, as he fell on his neck with tears of unutterable joy. "And yet this simplest view of Heaven, on which all can repose, urges to the contemplation of what it involves. Our being with Christ evidently infers fellowship with Him. It must be so. Only think, — that you or I, or any one we love, shall, during the life of (rod, world without end, be like Christ ! And yet this is implied in going to Heaven, in being happy, in being with Christ ! and there is no neutral ground between this and a soul unlike Christ in everything, and full of all evil." Observe, also, Heaven's description of the con- dition OF THE SAINTED DEAD. They are blessed, for they die prepared for the presence of tlie Lord. They were the followers of Jesus while on earth, and they are now prepared not only for His presence at His solemn tribunal, but to stand before His mediatorial throne amid the glories of His Heaven. There is worship in His presence : and they are prepared to engage in that worship ; to serve Him day and night in His temple, and to sing glory, and honour, and praise, and power, unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever. In the hour of death He will come to receive them to Himself. His angels will minister unto them — the light of His countenance will shine upon them — breezes from the land of Beulah will refresh them — the glory-summit of Mount Zion will rise on their view, and, attended by the shining ones, they will pass over the river, and enter the presence of Jesus. It was thus w^th departed saints, and some of you have witnessed this, for you have seen the followers of Jesus in dying circumstances. How gradually OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 131 and peacefully you saw them sink into the arms of death ! They talked pf Jesus, and you heard them speak of His glorious name and precious blood. With a confidence unshaken, a mind placid and serene, a hope sure and steadfast, and prospects bright and animating, you have seen them pass away. They calmly waited for the signal of departure, for the moment of triumph, the crown of righteousness and the bliss of eternity. You secretly admired that grace which can form the soul for holiness and glory ; and you adored Him, the truth of whose gospel and the consolations of whose spirit can render His people blessed even in death itself. In the day of their death, Jesus says to every one of His saints, "This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." To that Paradise they rise, and into the presence of Jesus they enter, and in Heaven no trial oppresses their heart, and no sorrow sits on their brow. Multitudes of them went thither through great tribulation, under the weight of which in this world they had "fainted" had they not been sup- ported by the arm of their God. When, however, they died, they rested from their labours, and left all their tribulations on this side eternity, for not one particle of them have they before the throne of God. There is not a sorrowful countenance, not a troubled heart, not a rising sigh, not a falling tear in Heaven. There the rose of love has no thorn, the lily of purity no worm, the cup of pleasure no poison. The bliss of ransomed saints is as pure as the bliss of God. In Heaven the white robed choristers sing the new song of unmingled joy. Their difficulties, distresses and afflictions are con- fined to the present state. These are weeds which grow with the greatest rapidity and in the greatest abundance in the soil of earth ; but they can never m 132 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. grow in the happy soil of Heaven ; for nothing can grow there but the widespreading Tree of Life, the beautiful flowers of holiness, and the thornless Rose of Paradise. The saints above are forever delivered from the perplexities of the world, the temptations of Satan, the depravity of the heart, the inconveniences of pilgrimage, and the pains of affliction. God has wiped away all tears from their eyes — the days of their mourning are ended and the days of their re- joicing are come. The redeemed in Heaven are so perfectly holy that they are represented as "without fault" before the throne. Their disembodied spirits are so free from every particle of pollution, and their robes washed so white in the blood of the Lamb, that no one unacquainted with their history would for one moment imagine that those snow-white robes were ever stained with pollution or crimsoned with guilt. And in the presence of their Lord the perfection of their bliss is equal to the perfection of their purity. There they glide through the waves of life without one unpropitious gust ; their sea is a sea of glass, smooth and clear, reflecting evermore the moral glory of the upper heavens. They are all glorious within, and all glorious without. All is glorious above them, beneath them, and all around them. When they walk it is amid scenes of glory ; when they sit it is upon thrones of glory ; and as they sit, crowns of glory are flashing from their brows ; and the very sunbeams of their glory throw the radiant light of illustration on the expression, " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." *• Jerusalom tlio goltlcm, With milk ami honoy Itlost, Beneath tliy contemphition Sink "hoart ann the things which they have safferod, frequently, with a conscious gratification. But in all I 134 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. work, ill this world, there is the friction, there are the perplexities, there is the imperfect result, there is the mistake, there is the sin, there are a thousand hindrances. We are working with men who are im- perfectly sanctified, and we are ourselves their un- sanctified companions. We are in everyway work- ing in such a manner that the braver and more as- piring a man is, the more does he feel the checks, the hindrances, and the imperfections of his labour. Now, " blessed are the dead who die in the Lord ;" for they rest from that part of their labour which is time- worn, and which is imperfect from want of know- ledge, or from stress of temptation or of passion. Their blessedness is in the influence of their work. " Their works do follow them." AVhile Bunyan lived he was but as a mustard seed ; now he is a great cathedral tree, in which ten thousand voices are lifted up in laudator V and grateful song ! Is Shakespeare dead ? Is Milton dead ? Is Wordsworth dead ? Is Watts dead? Is Wesley dead? Is Dante, or Goethe, or Homer, or Virgil dead? They were never on earth as much alive as they are now, going up and down, to and fro, through the times and ages, still chanting their joyful strains, and imparting in- struction. The world was never so full of them as it has been since they ceased from their external work. They rest from their toil, and their works do follow them. " That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die !" No living man is complete. While vour heart throbs you are undergoing a process, rime will mellow you; age will tone your character. Do not urge society to give you a verdict just now. Society is too heated and confused to pronounce up- on you with the accuracy of deliberation and the diffnity of repose. Death will befriend you. A most solemn and rightcouK estimation of character is often OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 135 introduced by death. "We who believe that the wheel of retribution never pauses, that death does but give us new aspects of life, that there is a higher empire than the flesh, that the absolute and final adjudica- tion is yet to supervene, should carry ourselves with the patience, the calmness, the dignity of men who cannot die ! To-day is not the measure of my brief eternity; there is to-morrow coming, coming from the heart of G-od, coming from the clime of light, coming with justice in its hand and mercy on its lip. and to that better day I must commit my cause. Not only do our works follow us on earth, but I believe that they follow us into the other life. Our works of faith, and labours of love, shall not go un- rewarded. We shall receive full compensation for all our toil. He will graciously reward His faithful ones for that which, without Him, they could not possibly have done. Yes, he who applauded Mary's deed of affection, and declared it should be published in all the world, and will yet acknowledge it, when He comes to render unto all according to their works, will not permit a word spoken in season for Him, or a cup of cold water given in His name, to be forgot- ten. The Sabbath school teacher, the tract distribu- tor, the sick visitor, as well as prophets and apostles, deacons and evangelists, pastors and teachers, will then be amply paid by His approving smile and en- couraging word, — "—Well and faithfully done, Enter into my joy, and sit down on my throne." Their blessedness begins immediately after death. "From henceforth saith the Spirit." From the moment of death the blessedness begins. This stands opposed to two errors that were current in the church as early as the fourth century. (1) That there is an obliviousness of soul until the resurrection ; and to " !!' ! ^ ' " " f y wi 136 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. the error (2) that there are purgatorial fires which must follow death. Men of all ages, of every degree of culture and of every Jform of religion have been profoundly exercised about the where and the hoia of the soul after death. There is scarcely another ques- tion that has such a hold and fascination upon the human mind. And yet the Bible, whilst its utter- ances upon the finalities of human destiny are dis- tinct and emphatic, is remarkably reticent upon the minute details of that destiny. Even Christ, in His teachings of the future, addresses Himself not so much to the speculative fancy as to faith, and to our moral instincts. Apart from the parable of Dives and Lazarus, there is hardly anything in His teaching concerning the state of the soul between death and the judgment. Those whom He called from the unseen world say nothing about that world. Lazarus, called back, said nothing of the spirit-world. It is doubtful whether, if he had spokeu, his sisters could have understood him. All that can be said concerning this is thus expressed by Tennyson in his " In Menioriam ;" " Where wert thou, brother, those four days ? There lives no record of reply, Which, telling what it is to die, Had surely added praise to praise. '• Behold a man raised up by Christ ! The rest remainoth unrevealed ; He told it not ;' or something sealo»l The lipa of that evangelist." But while Christ is strangely reticent upon the details of the future life, his utterances concerning the finalities of human destiny are wonderfully clear and emphatic. It may be that to His view the one great, ■underlying fact of future retHbution — of "everlasting OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 18t punishment" and "eternal life" — were so momentous as to overshadow the mere accidental and minute conditions of the endless future. In that golden pro- mise dropped from the Cross, there is a glimpse of un- told possibilities of life and felicity to the saved imme- diately after death. That poor, dying, trusting sinner is assured of instant transition from the cross to Para- dise But what did Jesus mean by Paradise ? Cer- tainly not some department of Hades, according to the popular sentiment ; some mystic region of half- consciousness, where the soul is left to linger for thousands of years between death and the resurrec- tion ; no, not any such half-way place between hell and Heaven, but Heaven itself; Christ meant Heaven. In the New Testament Hades has always a dismal and repulsive association, and never involves of necessity the idea of an indiscriminate abode of the dead other than the grave. There is not a passage which speaks of a good man as going to it, or having any personal association with it. "Whatever else is meant by Paradise promised to the penitent thief, and the blessedness promised to the sainted dead, it does not mean any part oi Hades. The idea of a oommon residence of the righteous and the wicked is a relic of pagan mythology, and is a mere human fancy without any countenance from the word of God. For, as has been correctly remarked, Hades, which, from its derivation and classic usage, might include the whole invisible world, whenever its meaning reaches beyond the grave, always points to the place of future punishment. And it is strange that a word which, from its etymology and use, has only gloomy and repellant associations, should over be employed to designate the nbode of the righteous in a future world. }^k ] r xiie vvofu ramuise came inio me U New I oRinment vr. imn 1S8 OVU HOME IN HEAVEN. from the Septtiagtnt, where it is used from Eden. By sin man lost the primeval Paradise : by the redemp- tion of Christ the believer is restored to the favour and communion of God. And how natural that Christ, having finished the work of human redemp- tion, should re-enter Paradise, taking with Him into its holy and blissful beauty the converted malefactor, as a trophy of His finished work. What better name for the Heaven which Christ has purchased for the believer than Paradise ? If there is a second Adam, why should there not be a second Paradise ? In the Jewish conception the word was not only a name of the past, denoting some place of beauty and blessedness that lingered in memory as a lovely dream of the night, but it was a word of promise and hope for the future — the symbol of Heaven. Evident- ly Christ used the word according to the Septuagint and the current idea of the Jews, and when He pro- mised to that poor, sinful, but penitent outcast, a place in Paradise, He meant not some dreamy place in Hades, but Heaven, and so understood, it opened above that dying sinner the gate of Heaven, and he went from that torturing cross to be with Jesus in Paradise. And this is the hope and the actual ex- perience of every one " who dies in the Lord." Let no Christian falter in the conflict when so near to final victory ; let no one faint under the burdens and weariness of the way, for his redemption draweth nigh. "From henceforth," not from the waking of the soul into consciousness after the sleep of centuries ; not from the extinction of purgatorial fires — but from death. " Absent from the body ; present with the Lord." Let no child of God say, in tones of sadness, there is but a step between me and death ; rather let him say, with exultation and hope, there is but a step ' V^ «« TV V^^r«* *«*X^ ^.WAA^* ^K. «.Wk VlrV%AliJV OUB HOME IN HEAVEN. 139 >3.i '• There is no death ! what seems so is transition This life of mortal breath Is but a suburb of that life elysian, Whose portal we call death." This subject speaks comfoii to the bereaved mourn- er. Weep not inordinately for the good that are gone. Sorrow not as those who are without hope. Your lo red ones still live ; they have entered upon a state of blessedness. Death ! Thou, whom the world calls King of Te rors, and feels to be such, the follow- ers of Jesus need have no dread of thee. All the pow^r thou hast is over the body ; and over that not long. Thy fatal stroke on them disimprisons their spirits, and thus enables them to flee away from the encumbrances of matter and the depravities of the world, to a sphere of kindred spirits ; pure, free, and blessed. Why, then, mourn the departure of the ^ood? or why, if ive are g:ood, look fearingly on the day of death ? " I congratulate you and myself," said John Foster, "that life is passing fast away. What a superlatively grand and consoling idea is that of death ! Without this radiant idea, this delightful morning star, indicating that the luminary of eternity is going to rise, life would to my view darken into midnight melancholy. Oh, the expectation of living here and living thus always would be, indeed, a pros- pect of overwhelming despair. But thanks be to that i'atal decree that dooms us to die ! thanks to that gos- pel which opens the vision of an endless life ! and thanks, above all, to that Saviour friend who has promised to conduct all the faithful through the sacred trance of death into scenes of Paradise and everlast- ing delight." '' Beyond these chilling winds and gloomy skies, Beyond death's cloudy portal, There is a land where beauty never die*. ..--1 1 I T ..*..l i»im luve ut'uuiiiCB iiuxiivi tu>i. ' ^ ''' 'l-'l^l' ' iB» l'"ii| 140 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. ^1^;,.. " A land whose light is never dimmed by shade, ^ , J .., Whose fields are ever vernal ; Where nothing beautiful can ever fade, But blooms for aye eternal." I often think of that holy land beyond the river of death, where the redeemed and glorified shall dwell in blissful harmony forever ; and especially when the cares of life, its pains and conflicts, cast their gloomy shadows over my pathway, do my thoughts fly away to that beautiful country where peace and holiness shall forever linger with their blessed influences. I have sometimes thought that these life trials are measured out to us just to make us wish and long for a better land, where no cloud of life shall cast its shadow. If all was brightness and sunshine around our life path, we should not wish for a higher and nobler state of existence, but like the bird and butter- fly, sing and dream our days away in contentment. God has thrown out beautiful beacon lights to lure our feet to the better land, and sometimes the pearly gates of the eternal city swing open in the far dis- tance to reveal to us the glories that cluster around the " house with many mansions." " And while they stand a moment half ajar, GleaniB from the inner glory Stream brightly through the azure vault afar, And half reveal the story." We know that Heaven is a better land than this, not only by the faint glimpses that we have caught of its eternal hills, but the unchanging word of (xod has declared that it is a beautiful, happy country, where there is "no need of any sun or moon," and " where all tears are wiped from the eyes." And so with the certain knowledge that it is a better land, we in fancy are ever trying to form some conception of what it reallv is, and how it will aoDear when we OrJR HOME IN HEAVEN. 141 pass into its peaceful realms. I fancy often that our grandest conception^- ^r Heaven are far short of what will really burst in eternal splendor upon our spiri- tual vision when the veil of mortality is rent away and we stand in the presence of " Him who hath re- deemed us." " We may not dream how sweet its balmy air, How bright and fair its flowers, i ■ , For we have not heard the songs that echo there, . • ' ' Through its enchanted bowers. . » ^ I " The city's shining towei's we may not see With our dim earthly vision, - For death, the silent warden, keeps the key « , That opes the gate elysian." ,;; j But it matters not if we with our dull understand- ing can not comprehend fully the joys of the re- deemed, nor know the height and depth of eternal love, while walking in a land where death and sor- row reign. The blessed consciousness that we are journeying toward the better land where all will ultimately be revealed to us, is enough to satisfy us and fill our hearts with deep and fervent joy. Eter- nal life is a boon rich enough to inspire every faut- ing soul onward through the darkness and shadow of the world. An eternity of splendor awaits the faithful, who have borne with patience the crosses of life and journeyed meekly along the rough road. Ages of rest shall be given for every moment of suf- fering in the present life ; crowns ol glory shall be worn on the very brows where thorns now rest. Yes, there is a better land, where the dark mantle of sin shall never be thrown upon the soul — a land of unfading glory and eternal peace. Through the mvstic ajjes of eternitv its beauty v/ill rei 142 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. dimmed and the mysteries of the " great unknown'' will then be fully revealed. y ■■■%■ * "0 land unknown ! land of love divine ! Father all wise, eternal, Guide, guide these wandering, way-worn feet of mine Into those pastures vernal." In conclusion, one word to sinners. Thus has your attention been directed to the blessedness of departed saints. What scriptural reason have you to hope 0i that such blessedness will ever be yours? Do you live a life of faith in the Son of God ? Do you pray? Are you walking in the path of holiness? 0, look to that Saviour w^ho is " able to save to the uttermost all that come unto Grod by Him ;" and who for your encouragement has graciously said, " Him that cometh to me I will in no w^ise cast out." Delay not. Time is short. Rapidly as clouds flying on the wings of the w^ind is your life passing away. " Now is the accepted time ! Now is the day of salvation !" Pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you may be regenerated, sanctified and saved. Let your daily prayer be, '* Come, Holy Spirit, come, Convert my heart to God ; lead thou me to Jesus Christ, To save me by His blood." l^^avored with the grace of that spirit, and redeemed by that blood, you shall be blessed in time and in eternity, in life and death, on earth and in Heaven. Annie G-ray, the beloved wife of the Honorable Senator Muirhead, was born in the year 1821, in the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. Her father, Mr. Alexan- der Grray, was a merchant in that city, and well known among the godly of the neighborhood for his personal nietv and his earnest efforts on behalf of 17 OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 143 the religious education of the young. Annie was the second girl of the family, and was trained from child- hood in the paths of virtue and religion. She was a lovely child — interesting in person — and was invest- ed with the charm of beauty. Her parents belonged to the west parish church of Aberdeen, and, therefore, she had not only pious home training, but also the pastoral oversight and instruction of that able and godly minister. Dr. Davidson. By these means her mind was directed from infancy in the way of truth^ and peace. So early and continuous was the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit upon her heart, that she could not recall the time when she was not under the power of Christian truth. She was an example of the fulfilment of the promise, " Train up a child in the way he should go ; and when he is old he will not depar h from it." Her filial obedience and love formed a distinguishing feature of her early piety, and she reaped its reward in the lengthening of her days, and in the love which her children bore her in return. The first stages of her childhood w^ere not marked by any striking incidents ; but she grew as a tree plant- ed by the river of water; and prospered in all that makes life truly noble, useful, and happy. When she was about 18 years of age, she came to New Brunswick, in company with a friend of the family, Mr. Simpson, from Elgin, who had settled in Mira- michi some years previous, and he happened at that time to bo visiting his native land, and induced her, and some of her mother's friends, who subsequently settled in Halifax, to accompany him on his return to this country. i In the year 1844 she was united in marriage to Mr. William Muirhead, of Chatham, who has for many years been one of the largest ship owners of New Rrnnswink. The vear of (^nnfpflpiraiirti! '* . i _ ho Tirots nr\. I I i\^ :. j;i- 4i u OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. ted a member of the Legislative Council of New Brunswick, and subsequently was appointed a mem- ber of the Dominion Senate, which position he still honorably fills. And through all her married life till the day of her death, she shared with him the anxi- eties, labours, honours and joys, of an active public career. Wherever she went she left behind her the sweet savour of a good name. She w^as not much seen beyond the domestic circle. Her chief care and labour were bestowed on the rearing of a large family, **fi)ur of whom only survive, and who have every reason to call her blessed. In her hospitable dwell- ing our ministers for many years found a most com- fortable home ; and she was never tired ministering to their necessities. In the more private paths of charity she was no less active than in the work of the sanctu- ary ; always thinking of, and caring for, the poor, the sick, and the distressed. During her last sickness, and after her death, it was interesting to see the poor old people, both Protestant and Catholic, about the "old stone house," with tears in their eyes, declaring that they had lost a true friend, a real benefactor. She did not live to herself She laid out her energies in the cause of humanity. " This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did." There was nothing stinted in her charity, nothing narrow in her sympathies. Hers was not that miserable charity which requires constant importuning and impassioned appeals before you can get it to act. Not that charity which is constantly calculating how little it can give, and yet be on good terms with con- science. What she gave, she gave from the spon- taneous impulse of her own generous nature ; what she gave, she gave with all her heart and to the ex- tent of her means. Her ber.evolence was an over- flowing fountain within. Tmp^, m 1 r ■■ X.,, OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. C " The quality of mercy is not strained j It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven j; 145 Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed j — it blesseth him that gives And Him that takes." Throughout life, one of her most marked charac- teristics was, that she was never seen unemployed. The value of steady labour, and the worth of precious time, were cardinal thoughts with her ; and she lab- oured, according to her strength, to the very last, — yet without haste or desire of personal gain. WHUt she did was done from simple love to Grod, from the sense of responsibility to Him, and from love to her fellow creatures. The greatest grief of her life was the loss of a lovely and amiable daughter, Agnes* j^ th« beloved wife of Mr. John Sadler, who died January 14th, 1882, aged 3t years. She cherished the memory of this daughter with deep affection, and was soon called to follow her into the unseen world. " And the mother gave, in tears and pain. The ^' vers she most did love ; She knew she should find them all again In the fields of light above." Her first desire and prayer was, to see the spiritual prosperity of each member of her family ; and then, with almost equal ardour, she longed to " see the good of Jerusalem all the days of her life." Indeed, in these two absorbing ideas, and in the wish to do good, as far as her hands and prayers would reach, her whole soul may be said to have been engrossed. She did not covet money, nor honour, nor regard, from any except the good, for either herself or her children. She wished herself to attain, and to see them attain, the one great end of life, — to glorify Grcd, and to enjoy Him for ever. May her life-loii^ s -Sli^- ^^ 146 .^^ OUR HoaiE IN HEAVEN. prayers be fully answered ! About a year ago, her health, which up to this time, had beeu remarkably firm and good, began to give way. A slow^ disease cast a shade over her life. She had to bear frequent pain, and to suffer from the " weakening of her strength in the way." But her sorrow never became selfish or complaining. During her last few months, her chief aspiration was to enjoy more of God herself, and to see all about her happy. In August, 1882, a rapid decline of strength, and symptoms of a more aggravated form of her malady, became apparent ; and her family and friends felt persuaded that her departure drew nigh. The pros- pect of death, while it greatly solemnized, did not alarm her. Founded, by a life of faith and well-doing, on the eternal Rock, her house manifestly stood sure. Her diffidence, and her sense of the holiness of Grod, made her very careful as to the terms she used in speaking of her religious hope. The references which she made to her spiritual state implied her expecta- tion of being forever with the Lord ; and the peculiar virtues of her life shone more distinctly through the cloud of suffering and w^eakness. To the end she was more anxious for the comfort, and even the enjoyment, of others, than for the alleviation of her own pain. During the last few days her suffering was great ; yet, through the settled shadows of death, those who were near her saw evident tokens of fortitude, l)atience, and peace. Her words, as to her own posi- tion and prospects, were few. On one occasion, when J ead to her the fourteenth chapter of John, she sud- denly raised her trembling hand, and said, "Jesus will come, and receive me unto Himself" And at a period whtiu the end was fast approaching, and speech had almost failed, she assured mo that Christ was with her " in the valley of the shadow of death." «■ I V OUR HOME IN HEAVEN. 147 ist i^^^ Her few last hours were more free from suffering ; and it was evident to all that her end was peace. She departed this life on Monday, 11th September, 1882, amid the love, and honour, and blessing, of her family, — safe in the care of Him to whom she clung as her Saviour in life and death. We cannot forbear here subjoining a few pathetic lines, written by a friend of the deceased, whose pen it is not difficult to trace. These verses were published in the Chatham newspapers. ..»--,(yjj.'yji IS MEMORIAIII. " The 'old stone house' seems lonely now, Though the children have their play : The sound of their joyous voices Makes happy the autumn day. '• Like a mist that slowly rises On a sunlit summer sea, So midst all their merry laughter Come those tearful thoughts to me. " And like a shower at noon-day, When the earth is parched with heat, So our heavy hearts are lightened By the pattering of their feet. '* Come 3it close beside me, children. In this dear old quiet room. Till we speak of one gone from ns To the dark and silent tomb. "She left us at the llarvest-time, When the toilsome day was o'er: .She grew weary ere the sunset, And wc saw her face no more. " But I know her hands were laden With the goodly sheaves of wheat ; And I know of burdens lightened When the day grew faint with heat. / / / JH 148 OUE HOME IN HEAVEN. ^ ' The tears wept o'er her silent coijcl^ ' By the. poor, the sick, and sad, Told better fer than words of mine Of thi hearts she ohce made glad. " And I hope, dear little children, ' That some of you by my knee -' ff May follow her sweet example In the years that are to be, , " TH ^^f■ "Tillyoume?ther, Aviatching, waiting, All her face aglow with light, , . ; Where the crooked paths are straightened, 'In the world that sets this right.' " > » T>!9# jtilh IkhU mm, |fc ,35'!'li8p«ii3l'ii li '■■■ .--'iuiiii 'iE"2i3i^''''''' ':i|?;psf!|fi'f:' .,.#■ liifliiiiiiii ■^ilpjlfiii ^y^iiiiililiiipL ..^- ■::L::i3i!iii!i!!!»fj!!|fft'aci!!!!l '^iiiHI; lill m. llliiiiiiliv .■■/'■Fi!'-'" 'f '^Ei MNU. .™llw&». ' -i