2741. HEAVEN, Glories of. A New Zealand chief who visited England was remarkable for the deep spirituality of his mind and his constant delight in the Word of God. One day he was taken to see a beautiful mansion near London. The gentleman who took him expected to see him greatly astonished and charmed with its magnificence and splendour; but it seemed to excite little or no admiration in his mind. Wondering how this could be, he began to point out to him its grandeur and the beauty of its costly furniture. Tamahana heard all silently; then, looking round upon the walls, replied, "Ah! my Father's house is finer than this." "Your father's house!" thought the gentleman, who knew his father's home was but a poor mud-cottage. But Tamahana went on to speak, in his own expressive, touching strain, of the house above-the house of "many mansions"-the eternal home of the redeemed.

2742. HEAVEN, Going to. A Christian man was dying in Scotland. His daughter Nellie sat by the bedside. It was Sunday evening, and the bell of the Scotch kirk was ringing, calling the people to church. The good old man, in his dying dream, thought that he was on the way to church, as he used to be when he went in the sleigh across the river; and as the evening bell struck up, in his dying dream he thought it was the call to church. He said, "Hark, children, the bells are ringing; we shall be late; we must make the mare step out quick!" He shivered, and then said, "Pull the buffalo-robe up closer, my lass! It is cold crossing the river; but we will soon be there, Nellie, we will soon be there!" And he smiled and said, "Just there now." No wonder he smiled. The good old man had got to church. Not the old Scotch kirk, but the temple in the skies. Just across the river. -Talmage.

2743. HEAVEN, Going to. Dr. Preston, when he was dying, used these words: "Blessed be God, though I change my place I shall not change my company; for I have walked with God while living, and now I go to rest with God."

2744. HEAVENS, have become astronomical. There is a saying of Hazlitt's, bold, and at first seeming wondrous true:-"In the days of Jacob there was a ladder between heaven and earth; but now the heavens have gone farther off and have become astronomical."-George Dawson.

2745. HEAVEN, how entered. In Persian mythology a Peri is an elf or fairy, descended from the fallen angels, who is debarred admission to paradise until her penance is accomplished. On this fancy Moore constructed "Paradise and the Peri," in

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we

2746. HEAVEN, how won. Won by other arms than theirs, it presents the strongest imaginable contrast to the spectacle seen in England's palace on that day when the king demanded of his assembled nobles by what titles they held their land. "What title?" At the rash question a hundred swords leaped from their scabbards. Advancing on the alarmed monarch, "By these," they replied, won, and by these we will keep them!" How different the scene which heaven presents! All eyes are fixed on Jesus; every look is love; gratitude glows in every bosom and swells in every song. Now with golden harps they sound the Saviour's praises; and now descending from their thrones to do Him homage, they cast their crowns in one glittering heap at the feet which were nailed on Calvary. Dr. Guthrie.

2747. HEAVEN, Image of. A sorrowing mother, bending over her dying child, was trying to soothe it by talking about heaven. She spoke of the glory there, of the brightness, of the shining countenances of the angels; but a little voice stopped her, saying, "I should not like to be there, mother, for the light hurts my eyes." Then she changed her word-picture, and spoke of the songs above, of the harpers, of the voice of many waters, of the new song which they sang before the Throne; but the child said, 'Mother, I cannot bear any noise." Grieved and disappointed at her failure, she took the little one in her arms with all the tenderness of a mother's love. Then, as the little sufferer lay there, near to all it loved best in the world, conscious only of the nearness of love and care, the whisper came, "Mother, if heaven is like this, may Jesus take me there!"

2748. HEAVEN, Kingdom of, and its progress. You might as well stand on the banks of the Mississippi and be afraid it was going to run up stream as to suppose that the current of Christendom can run more than one way. What would you think of a man who should stand moonstruck over an eddy, and because that didn't go right forward, declare that the whole flood had got out of its course? So in the stream of time. The things that appear in our day all have bearing on the coming triumph of the gospel and the reign of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.-Beecher.

2749. HEAVEN, Knowledge in. A dying minister, quite ignorant of physical science, said to a brother who made it a great study, "Samuel, Samuel! I'll know more of it in heaven in half an hour than you have learned all your life."-Denton.

2750. HEAVEN, Longing after. Heaven will not be ours simply because we have longed for it, or even looked forward expectantly towards it, but because we are prepared for it. A beggar dreamt once that he was to inherit a kingly throne. It was only a dream, and a pauper's life followed in the future, as if no vision of glory had come to him.—B. 2751. HEAVEN, Longing for. As his life was nearing the end Dr. William James, of Albany, said, "No young girl ever felt a more delightful fluttering in the prospect of a European tour than I feel in the prospect of soon seeing the land of never-withering flowers, and of seeing Christ, and of knowing Him, and being known by Him.'

2752. HEAVEN, Longing for. Socrates was glad when his death approached, because he thought he should go to Hesiod, Homer, and other learned men deceased, whom he expected to meet in the other world. How much more do I rejoice, who am sure that I shall see my Saviour Christ, the saints, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and all holy men who have lived from the beginning of the world! Since I am sure to partake of their felicity, why should not I be willing to die, to enjoy their perpetual society in glory?—Henry Bullinger,

2753. HEAVEN, Longing for. A dying child said to his father, "Lift me up," and the father tenderly lifted the child higher on the pillow. But again the child said, "Lift me up," and the father took him in his arms. Then the child said faintly, Higher, higher, higher," until the father had lifted him as high as he could stretch his arms; and as the last "higher" was whispered, God came down and took the little one to His eternal home. -Moody.

2754. HEAVEN, Longing for. At last we feel like Melancthon on his deathbed, "Is there

anything else you want?" they said to him. "Nothing but heaven," he replied.—Dr. Parker.

2755. HEAVEN, Looking forward to, illus. trated. A lady, unused to the rough travelling of a mountain land, went thither to make her home, and received from one of her new friends this bit of advice. She had been telling of her faintness when guiding her horse through a deep ford where the waters ran swiftly and the roar was incessant, and said she feared she should never be able to overcome the abject physical terror which dominated her whenever she found herself in the strong current midway between the banks. "Oh! yes, you will," said her companion. "Just take a leaf in your mouth and chew it, and as you ride across keep your eyes on the other side."-Mrs. M. E. Sangster.

2756. HEAVEN, Looking forward to. In the reign of Queen Mary a man named Palmer was condemned to die. He was earnestly persuaded to recant, and among other things, a friend said to him, "Take pity on thy golden years and pleasant flowers of youth before it is too late." His beau. tiful reply was, "Sir, I long for those springing flowers which shall never fade away."

2757. HEAVEN, Nearing. I saw a blind man going along the road with his staff, and he kept pounding the earth and then stamping with his foot. I said to him, "What do you do that for?"

"Oh," he said, "I can tell by the sound of the ground when I am near a dwelling." And some of you can tell by the sound of your earthly pathway that you are coming near to your Father's house.-Talmage.

2758. HEAVEN, No leisure to observe. The Duke of Alva was once asked if he had observed

the eclipses happening in a certain year. He replied, "I have so much business upon earth that I have no leisure to look up to heaven."

2759. HEAVEN, No royal road to, illustrated. An ancient king wished to be taught geometry, and he asked the great master geometrician of the age to teach him by some way more speedy and less difficult than the ordinary one. The reply of the geometrician was, "There is no royal road to geometry."

2760. HEAVEN, no sphere for bigotry. Whitefield, when in Edinburgh, had on one occasion stepped into a stage-coach about to start from the city. A lady, who belonged to a different denomination of Christians, happened to step into the same coach. Observing her companion, she started up with alarm, and asked, "Are not you Mr. Whitefield, sir?" "Yes, Madam." "Oh, then, let me get out." "Surely, Madam," was the calm reply. "But before you go let me ask you one question-'Suppose you die and go to heaven, and then suppose I die and go there also: when I come in, will you go out?"

2761. HEAVEN, not entered without preparation. A great man once had an extraordinary mark of distinction and honour sent him by his prince as he lay on his deathbed. "Alas!" said he, looking coldly upon it, "this is a mighty fine thing in this country; but I am going to a country where it will be of no service to me.' And that is what men will have to say of all those things the world prizes,

and counts its own to bestow. We leave them all behind at last. And then the all-important question is that fitness which Christ alone can bestow, the wedding garment heaven prepared, and heaven given to all who seek it. And therefore though men may despise the graces over which Christ pronounces his beatitudes, there is coming a day when they will be all-essential. The Eastern vizier of whom Trench tells us, who refused the garment of honour, plain as it was, for it had been changed on the way, and who entered in his own resplendent robes into the king's presence, to lose his life for the affront, is but an illustration of men going forward unprepared toward the solemn realities of death and of eternity. How can we appear in that great day of His coming, unless we are found as He would have us be? Surprise, confusion, condemnation awaits every soul of man, whether he be prince or pauper, who lacks the wedding garment in that hour. "Bind him, hand and foot," the King will say, "and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness."-B.

2762. HEAVEN, not of merit. The late Rev, C. J. Latrobe visited a certain nobleman in Ireland who devoted considerable sums to charitable purposes, and, among other benevolent acts, had erected an elegantchurch at his own expense. The nobleman, with great pleasure, showed Mr. Latrobe his estate, pointed him to the church, and said, "Now, sir, do you not think that will merit heaven ?"

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Mr. Latrobe paused for a moment, and said, "Pray, my lord, what may your estate be worth a year? "I imagine," said the nobleman, "about thirteen or fourteen thousand pounds.' "And do you think, my lord," answered the minister, "that God would sell heaven even for thirteen or fourteen thousand pounds?"

2763. HEAVEN, Occupation in Faraday, the distinguished scientist, was once asked, "Have you conceived to yourself what will be your occupation in the next world?" Hesitating a while, Faraday answered, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.' I shall be with Christ, and that's enough." 2764. HEAVEN, on earth. In one of his last hours the Rev. Thomas Scott said, "This is heaven begun. I have done with darkness for ever. Satan is vanquished! Nothing now remains but salvation with eternal glory-eternal glory!"

2765. HEAVEN, our country. When Anaxagoras was accused of not studying politics for his country's good, he replied, "I have a great care of my country," pointing up to heaven.-New Handbook of Illustrations.

2766. HEAVEN, our home. In our last dreadful war the Federals and the Confederates were encamped on opposite sides of the Rappahannock, and one morning the brass band of the Northern troops played the national air, and all the Northern troops cheered and cheered. Then, on the opposite side of the Rappahannock, the brass band of the Confederates played "My Maryland" and "Dixie," and then all the Southern troops cheered and cheered. But after a while one of the bands struck up "Home, Sweet Home," and the band on the opposite side of the river took up the strain, and when the tune was done the Confederates and the Federals all together united, as the tears rolled down their cheeks, in one great "Huzza! huzza!" Well, my friends, heaven comes very near to-day. It is only a stream that divides us-the narrow stream of death; and the voices there and the voices here seem to commingle, and we join trumpets and hosannahs and hallelujahs, and the chorus of the united song of earth and heaven is, 'Home, Sweet Home."-Talmage.

2767. HEAVEN, our home. It was stormy from shore to shore, without a single fair day. But the place to which we were going was my home; there was my family; there was my church; there were my friends, who were as dear to me as my own life. And I lay perfectly happy in the midst of sickness and nausea. All that the boat could do to me could not keep down the exultation and joy which rose up in me. For every single hour was carrying me nearer and nearer to the spot where was all that I loved in the world. It was deep, dark midnight when we ran into Halifax. I could see nothing. Yet the moment we came into still water I rose from my berth and got up on deck. And as I sat near the smoke-stack while they were unloading the cargo, upon the wharf I saw the shadow of a person, apparently, going backward and forward near me. At last the thought occurred to me, "Am I watched?". Just then the person addressed me, saying, "Is this Mr. Beecher?" "It is," I replied. "I have a telegram for you from

your wife." I had not realised that I had struck the continent where my family were. There, in the middle of the night, and in darkness, the intelligence that I had a telegram from home-I cannot tell you what a thrill it sent through me! We are all sailing home; and by-and-by, when we are not thinking of it, some shadowy thing (men call us by name, and will say, "I have a message for call it death), at midnight, will pass by, and will you from home; God waits for you." Are they worthy of anything but pity who are not able to bear the hardships of the voyage? It will not be long before you, and I, and every one of us will hear the messenger sent to bring us back to heaven. It is pleasant to me to think that we are wanted there. I am thankful to think that God loves in such a way that He yearns for me-yes, a great deal more than I do for Him.-Beecher (condensed).

2768. HEAVEN, Perpetual blessedness of. In the London Exhibition there was once a beautiful painting, representing a mother on her knees in her desolate chamber beside the body of her little child. Her face rose to just such a height that she looked across the edge of the coffin straight towards an open window, through which the western sun was streaming rays of lustrous twilight, kindling the whole sky with supernatural silver, purple, violet, and gold. Her eyes were arrested with the wonderful sunset; and the legend underneath the picture was what perhaps she might have been repeating to herself: "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."-Dr. C. S. Robinson.

2769. HEAVEN, Preparation for. A traveller who had recently returned from Jerusalem discovered, in conversation with Humboldt, that he was as thoroughly conversant with the streets and houses of Jerusalem as he himself was; whereupon he asked the aged philosopher how long it was since he visited Jerusalem. He replied, "I have never been there, but I expected to go sixty years since and I prepared myself." Should not the heavenly home be as familar to those who expect to dwell there eternally?

2770. HEAVEN, Preparation for. Droll in expression, but grand in sentiment were the words of the Rev. Z. Bradford, in his last illness, when, suddenly checking the tears wrung from him by the prospect of separating from his young children, he said, "This will never do; I am not going snivelling into heaven."-Christian Age.

of mine was starting from England, with others, 2771. HEAVEN, Preparing for. A lady friend for America; and when she got to Liverpool all her friends wanted to go to the same hotel, but it was full, and they had to go away; but she had been thoughtful enough to take precautions, and had sent a telegram and engaged her room before. Let the news go up on high that you want a mansion there, and write down your name in the book.— Moody.

2772. HEAVEN, Preparing for. A traveller doth not buy such things as he cannot carry with

2784. HEAVEN, Way to. John Bunyan was once asked a question about heaven which he could not answer, because the matter was not revealed in the Scriptures; and he thereupon advised the inquirer to live a holy life and go and see.-Christian Age.

2785. HEAVEN, what it is. "Are you dreaming, father?" I said one day, when he (Father Taylor) was leaning back in his chair, with closed eyes and a happy smile playing about his mouth, "I am in heaven a little way," he answered, without moving. "And what is heaven, really?" asked, climbing upon his knees. "It is loving God," he replied, still with the same soft dreamy tone.Mrs. Judge Russell.

2786. HEAVEN, what it is. A scoffing infidel of considerable talents, being once in the company of a person of slender intellect, but of genuine piety, and supposing, no doubt, that he should obtain an easy triumph in the display of his ungodly wit, put the following question to him: "I understand, sir, that you expect to go to heaven when you die; can you tell me what sort of a place heaven is?" "Yes, sir," replied the Christian; "heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people; and if your soul is not prepared for it, with all your boasted wisdom, you will never enter there."

2787. HEAVEN, where it begins. The Rev. Mr. Waterston, father of Rev. Dr. Waterston, met Father Taylor about a year before he died, both very old. Father Taylor, in his usual ardent way, caught and embraced him, saying, "I am as glad to see you as I should be to see St. Paul!" "Ah!" replied Mr. Waterston, 66 we must go to heaven if we would see St. Paul." "Wherever," replied Father Taylor, with his grandest emphasis of voice and manner-"Wherever the truly good man is, there is heaven."-Life of Father Taylor.

2788. HEAVEN, Wicked cannot enter. A nobleman, seeing a large stone lying near his gate, ordered his servant, with an oath, to send it to hell. "If," said the servant, "I were to throw it to heaven, it would be more completely out of your lordship's way."-Arvine.

eyes, nor get the major part of our knowledge of it through the discipline of pain. One of Quarles' Emblems of Life is a child peering sadly out be tween the ribs of a skeleton bare and dead. That emblem we shall smile at as belonging to a past world. To thousands of sufferers this will be a glad escape. Think what it must be to the blind, the deaf, the crippled ! "Let me pass out," were the significant dying words of one believer, which I find upon her tombstone. The restrictions of sense will cease. We shall exchange pain for ease, weariness for strength, confinement for freedom. To those who have long since forgotten what the sensations of health are this is a glad assurance. Said one of the saints, who for years had not known a painless hour, when asked what was his most vivid conception of heaven, "Freedom from palpitation of the heart." His whole being had been so long absorbed in conflict with that form of suffering, that to be rid of it was often all the heaven he had strength to think of. Who of us, if at peace with God, does not sometimes exult in this thought: "One thing I know; whatever else is before me, I am going out of this worn-out body, to be shut up in it no more for ever."-Professor Austin Phelps,

D.D.

2792. HEEDLESSNESS. of man. A musical amateur of eminence, who had often observed Mr. Cadogan's inattention to his performances, said to him one day, "Come, I am determined to make you feel the power of music; pay particular attention to this piece." It was played. "Well, what do you say now?" "Just what I said before." "What! can you hear this and not be charmed? I am surprised at your insensibility! Where are your ears?" "Bear with me, my lord," replied Mr. Cadogan, "since I too have had my surprise. I have from the pulpit set before you the most striking and affecting truths; I have found notes that might have awakened the dead; I have said, 'Surely he will feel now;' but you never seemed charmed with my music, though infinitely more interesting than yours. I too might have said, 'Where are his ears?'”

2790. HEAVEN, worth struggling for. When Cæsar was marching on a city he saw the people running; they did not make any fight for their city. It was a magnificent city, and Cæsar said to his staff officers, "See those men run from the city without making any defence of it. If men will not fight for such a city as that, what will they fight for!" And if we will not make a struggle for heaven, for what will we struggle ?-Talmage.

2791. HEAVENLY life, What it is an escape from? That life will be emancipation from a dying and, in its best state, a restrictive body. This is certain. Whatever else takes place at death, we shall surely leave this covered skeleton. We shall no longer look out upon God's universe through dying

God and the future punishment of the wicked. He died convinced, but not converted. His death was truly awful. With his last quivering breath he exclaimed, "Now I know there is a hell, for I feel it !"-Whitecross.

2794. HELL, Illustration of. A great and rich man in one of our towns in the West was once taken sick and lost his mind. When he recovered from his sickness he was still a deranged man. He seemed never to know his own wife or children. He forgot all his old friends. For seven long years he was in this unhappy state. One day, while sitting in the room where his daughters were, he sprang from his chair and cried out in great joy, "Thank God, I am out at last!" I cannot describe the scene of that hour. He embraced and kissed his daughters. He wept with joy on the bosom of his wife, and acted as if he had not seen them for many years, At last he said to them, "For seven