The Home of the Saints.
By Rosina F. Phippeny
My mind loves to wander into the future, and view in perspective, the beauty of the better land. How I long for the time to come, when we shall see our Saviour come to gather to himself the remnant of Israel, and also the righteous nations of the earth, that are now sleeping in the dust. With what rapture do I look forward to the time when we, if faithful shall reign with our glorious King. And as he is heir to all the kingdoms of this world, and will reign supreme, we as joint heirs will share all with him. Oh glorious thought! that we shall be partakers with him of the inexhaustible riches of that beautiful world, where "the wilderness and solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose, where the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, and the excellency of Carmel and Sharon;" where we shall see the glory of our Lord, and the excellency of our God; where "waters shall break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;" and where "the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land, springs of water." What a beautiful scene! There ever-blooming flowers shall wave on the banks of overflowing crystal fountains. There we shall see instead of the thorn, the fir-tree, and instead of the brier, the myrtle-tree. Yes! and something better still than all these, there we shall behold the tree of life with its matchless fruit, and once more have access to it, never more to be deprived of its immortal virtues. And in close connection with it, is the river of life flowing out from the throne of God. What a pleasure it will be for the saints of the Most High to gaze into its liquid depths, and realize that they are in the Paradise of God, surrounded with all the matchless glory of God, and the Lamb who suffered and died that we through him might obtain that unequaled bliss. Ravishing thought! that there we shall know no such thing as sorrow, no such thing as parting with loved ones; but there we shall meet those that are now sweetly sleeping in Jesus. Ah yes! when the great Life-giver comes they will rise triumphant from their narrow prison-house, and be clothed with immortality. Mourn no more dear reader, for the loved ones that you know died in Christ. They are only laid away to rest, while the wrath of God is passing over. And when Jesus comes they will receive bright crowns of never-fading glory. There we shall sing songs of everlasting joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. There shall the blind be made to see, the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, the lame shall be made to walk forth in perfect stature, and our poor dwarfed forms be healed by the leaves of the tree of life. I cannot find words to express the splendor of that home. Language is inadequate to portray its beauties. "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." Would you be rich dear reader, and walk upon golden streets? Do you wish to enter into a city that has for its gates a pearl? and where the wall is built of jasper, and the city is of burnished gold, transparent as glass? and where the foundation is laid of all manner of precious stones, each one a world of beauty in itself? Would you be in possession of such untold riches, unconverted reader? you can have them all, without money and without price. Give your heart to the Saviour. Walk in his footsteps, and you can surely have all these. Yes, in the New Jerusalem we have all these riches. Her light will be like jasper-stone, clear as crystal. Who would not wish to enjoy such a home? There is no need of the sun nor the moon there. There will be no night; for the glory of God and the Lamb, will be the light thereof. Oh glorious thought! that after we are done suffering here and enduring the turmoils of this life, and are overcomers, "we have a city great and strong." Oh that we may be ready when Jesus comes, and that it may be ours to hear the welcome words,
> "O, righteous nation: enter in,
> That kept the law of truth below,
> Enter the place all free from sin,
> Where life's pure waters gently flow."