Worldly and Heavenly Interests Contrasted.
By S. PIERCE.
WORLDLY men may tell us of the friendship of great men: but we will tell them of the friendship of One that sticketh closer than a brother. They may tell us of the love of dignified associates: we will tell them of the matchless depths of a Saviour's love. They may tell us of the wealth of splendid cities here: we will tell them of a city, the streets of which, are pure gold, like unto transparent glass. And if they have a taste for costly gems and pearls, we will show them that the walls of that city are built of jasper and its foundation garnished with all manner of precious stones, and the twelve stupendous gates each of one solid pearl. They may tell us of the honors of men; we will tell them of the honor which comes from God only. Jesus says “If any man will serve me, him will my Father honor.” Who, oh! who, can estimate or describe that honor? They may tell us even of crowns, scepters and thrones, without any certainty of being secure for a day: we will tell them of One on whose head are many crowns, whose scepter sways the universe, and whose throne has rainbow beauties all about it, in sight like unto an emerald. And those who are nearest that throne, are they who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; while all the holy angels stand back in the rear ranks; and if they aspire after these crowns, scepters, and thrones, we will inform them what course to pursue in this life in order to become kings and priests to God and reign on the earth, not for days nor months nor years; but for a long eternity, when the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father, and shall die no more. They may tell us of realms more genial on account of the more efficient rays of nature's sun: we will tell them of a realm that has no need of the sun nor of the moon; for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. Oh! who would not have such possessions as these?