Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1915 — The Court of Heaven By REV. L. W. GOSNELL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Court of Heaven

By REV. L. W. GOSNELL

TEXT—I heard the voice of many angola round about the throne.—Bov. C:ll> The Bible represents God as a king upon his throne. About the throne

are the angels, the courtiers of heaven. They appear in graded ranks, “principalities and powers, mights and dominions;” there is an “archangel,” and there are some who “stand in the presence of God.” We believe that these facts are of practical value for our daily life.

1. We are known at court In the book of Esther (6:1) we are told how the records were brought to King Ahasuerus one night when he was sleepless. He found therein an account of a great service rendered to him by Mordecai. the Jew, and Mordecai fared well because his name was in the annals of the Persian court How may we rejoice that our names are “written in heaven” (Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12: 23), and, more specifically, “in the book of life” (Phil. 6:3). Ahasuerus asked, “What shall be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor?” And we may inquire, What shall be done to the man whom the King of kings delighteth to honor? 2. We are served by heavenly courtiers. “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” A Remarkable Experience. When Philip Doddridge, the noted espositor and hymn writer, .was a boy, he fell from a horse and people pronounced it a miracle that he was not killed. Late in life he dreamed he had died and gone to heaven. He was taken Into a gallery of pictures exhibiting scenes from his early life, and lo! here was set forth the almost forgotten event of his boyhood. But in the picture he saw one figure whose presence had not been thought of be-, fore; a mighty angel was shown, Searing him up in his hands as he fell from the horse, lest he be dashed against the stones. How may we rejoice that he gives his angels charge over us, and can tell how many wondrous deliverances and unexpected ministries have been wrought by angelio hands! Their blessed ministry not only pursues us through life, but blesses us at death. “The beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.” One suggests that they may have taken Lazarus around by the Milky Way ondiis journey home. Matthew Henry quaintly says: “One angel one would think sufficient, but here are more, as many as were sent for Elijah. Amasis, king of Egypt, had hie chariot drawn by kings, but what was that honor to this? Saints ascend in', the virtue of Christ’s ascenBion; but this convoy of angejs is added for state and decorum —what were the bearers at the rich man’s funeral, though probably those of the first rank, compared with Lazarus' bearers? The angels were not shy of touching him, for his sores were on his body, not on nis soul; that was presented without spot or wrinkle or any snch thing.” Earth Teaching Heaven. 3. We instruct these heavenly courtiers. Paul tells us that God’B gracious work for us through Christ is “to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. 3:10). ' Earth teaches heaven about the “variegated” wisdom of God. Angels learn in us how God can be just and yet justify the ungodly! In the cross they find the ahswer to the question and marvel and adore. When Christ came and was rejected by the world, with what wonderment they muss have seen him begin to gather from that world of rebels a “people for his name,” who should be his own body and bride. They behold a blasphemous, slavedealing sailor named John Newton, eo transformed that he begins to sing:

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear; It soothes bis sorrow, heals bis wounds, And drives away bis fear. The love and grace of God is displayed to angelic eyes on the background of a world of sinners. 4. We shall be received at court. “Whosoever* shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man. also confess before the angels of Qod” (Luke 12:8). Suppose we knew we would one day be received, by the king of England. How would we practice the graces becoming the king’s presence! Are we wearing the garments of salvation?’ Are we learning the language of Canaan? Are we walking “worthy of the vocation wherein we are called?”