No wonder, Brethren, that the angels desire to look into these things.
Some very good and wise men are of the opinion that all the angels of
heaven are none other than saints redeemed from the earth. How this
may be I do not know; but some things that the Bible says about angels
seem to favor this conclusion. The main thing in this direction is the
deep interest they have always felt, and the active part they have
always taken in the things of man's salvation. Paul covers this whole
ground by a single sweep of his pen. "Are they not all," says he,
"ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be
heirs of salvation?" Of course he means by the _heirs of salvation_
those still tabernacling in the flesh, and still exposed to the ups
and downs of the waves of life.
I think, though, that one reason why the angels feel such a deep
interest in the things of man's salvation is because they are
there--in heaven, I mean--always beholding the face of our Father who
is in heaven. They see and feel the glory; they know the bliss of that
celestial state. So full of love are they even for poor, fallen, lost,
ruined man that we are told by the Lord himself that "there is joy in
the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
Their joy in this is commensurate with the exalted knowledge they have
of the blessedness of true penitence. In it they see light shining in
the darkness of the poor sinner's heart. Peace to the waves of his
storm-beaten soul,--a new creature in the image of their and our Lord
Jesus Christ coming forth into the enjoyment of a new life in him;
deliverance from the bondage and power of sin, and restoration to the
glorious liberty of the children of God! How much more than all this
they see in the return of one soul to God. I do not know; and we never
can know fully until we go up higher.
"The blessedness of those above,
Why longs my panting soul to know?
For future bliss I know is LOVE,
And love is felt by saints below.
"But love so pure, exalted high
Beyond compute, beyond compare--
No eagle wing that height may fly;
No mortal breathe that upper air.
"There, love springs pure and unrepressed;
There, all are loved, and love again.
Love fills each burning cherub's breast;
Love fires each flaming seraph train.
"Soon, soon shall I, this conflict o'er,
From sin be freed, with love be fired;
Soon, soon in heaven, my God adore,
With love, celestial love inspired."
And right here this thought comes to mind: If angels are so much
interested in the salvation of men, should not men be quite as deeply
interested in the salvation of one another? If there are such exultant
emotions of joy in the bosoms of _angels_ over one sinner that
repents, should there not be an equal measure of joy in the bosoms
of _men_ from the same cause?
But the text says: "The angels _desire_ to look into these things."
We should not infer from this that their knowledge of the way of
salvation is limited, or that they meet with difficulties in the way
of understanding it. Oh, no! Their _desires_ are being constantly met
and supplied with the means of acquiring knowledge upon this subject,
fully up to the measure of each one's capacity to take it in. We may,
therefore, justly infer from the text that the subject is immensely
vast in its proportions and range.
As salvation is infinite in respect to the TRUTHS contained in it and
connected with it, so is it also eternal in respect to the SCENES and
experiences through which the redeemed will be forever passing.
"Could we, so rich in rapture, fear an end,
That ghastly thought would drink up all our joy;
And quite unparadise the realms of light."
And here, dear brethren and sisters, another thought comes to mind
suggesting another question: If _angels_ desire to look into the
things of man's salvation, should not _men_ have an equal desire to
look into them? Should not those who still have the stream to cross,
and to whom the ford looks somewhat dark and uncertain, be quite as
much interested in it, and in all connected with it, as those who are
safely landed on the other shore? Think of this, will you? Let me
impress this thought: If the _angels_, who are out of the reach of all
harm and danger, feel such a glow of interest to learn all they can
about the way in which all are saved; should not _men_, who are still
exposed to danger, feel an equal or a still deeper interest?
But how is it with the bulk of professors? Who of you, my dear
Brethren, make the Bible the man of your counsel? Who of you read and
study it with that devotion of faith which makes you feel that your
eternal life is in that Word? With joy would I give you the touch of
heaven's galvanism to quicken your souls to a livelier sense of the
transcendent importance of this matter. I feel sure that many of you
do read. You love your Bible because it tells you of your sin and your
Savior, of your cross and your crown. But how is it with many? They
read some, no doubt; partly from a sense of duty and to quiet their
consciences; but not, I fear, with a deep and inmost desire to learn
the things of salvation.
Brethren, if the Bible be true, it is tremendously true. It is true
with a power that lifts the contrite, penitent, faithful follower of
our Lord to the gates of the Holy City, and opens them to him; and it
is true with a power that sinks the faithless, impenitent, careless,
sin-loving sinner to hell. To which class do I belong? With which
class am I going to spend a long eternity? I am happy to see in the
luster of many an eye here the evidence of your being in the class
first named, and on the side of salvation. God grant that all may be
in that number; and in a better world and a purer life, with angels on
high, sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.
Brother Price was followed by brethren John Garber, Henry Kurtz and
Umstead, all bearing testimony more or less extended. The services
were brought to a close, and an intermission was given. In the
afternoon queries were taken in.
TUESDAY, May 16. The meeting was continued to-day. Seven queries were
disposed of. Love and harmony abound.
WEDNESDAY, May 17. The meeting was brought to a close to-day. The
business being all disposed of, it broke up in the afternoon by the
singing of the hymn:
"Blest be the dear uniting love
That will not let us part;
Our bodies far apart may move,
We still are joined in heart."
O my God, I pray that we, as thy dear people, may ever be thus joined
in heart; that we may ever be of one mind and speak the same thing;
that thy Spirit may fill us and guide us into a clear understanding of
thy revealed will that we may not err therein; that we may keep all
pride and emulation of the flesh out of our hearts; that each one may
esteem another better than himself with all lowliness and meekness;
with long-suffering; forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; till we all come in
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a
perfect man; unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ. Amen!
THURSDAY, May 18. Some of the Brethren from a distance start home
to-day. Set things in order at the meetinghouse. While thus engaged
our thoughts would turn to the pleasant season of brotherly communion
we had just passed through. I can but wish and pray that the same
spirit of love and union may pervade every meeting yet to be held in
the Brotherhood, through all time, to the end of the world.
THURSDAY, August 10. Benjamin Bowman and Samuel Wampler were
established in the ministry to-day, in a council at our meetinghouse.
TUESDAY, August 29. Brother Kline and Brother Flory start to Maryland
and Pennsylvania on horseback. Brother Abraham Flory, by the way, was
a suitable companion for Brother Kline. He loved home, it is true, and
he had a home worthy of being loved. But when he made up his mind to
go he left all his home cares behind; and, like Abraham of old, he
said to these servants of life: "Stay ye here while I go yonder to
worship; and I will return again unto you." He consequently never
fretted about home in his absence; but was habitually calm and
self-possessed. Even a rainy day or high water did not interfere with
the equilibrium of his mild temper.
These two brethren were well mounted. Their horses were good travelers,
not only as to gait, but _bottom_ as well. This, in common _parlance_,
means great power of endurance. We must not forget that this journey
was undertaken more than sixty years ago. The two travelers did not
know what weather they might have to contend with on a journey which
was to occupy more than _five weeks_. Umbrellas were rare in that day;
but even if they had been abundant they were too much "after the
fashion" to have been used by these unfashionable brethren. Indeed
umbrellas were not used by the Brotherhood, at least in Virginia,
until many years after this.
A GREAT COAT, made of heavy and compact stuff, with long skirts
reaching to the feet, and a large cape attached, covering completely
the shoulders, and buttoning over the breast, constituted a covering
defying both rain and storm. Superadded to this was a very
broad-brimmed hat of solid felt. Every saddle in that day was provided
with what was called a _coat-pad_. This was a flat leather pad fastened
to the saddle just behind the seat, and furnished with straps and
buckles so as to hold an overcoat, when properly rolled up and
fastened, in perfect order whilst traveling. Leather saddlebags well
stocked with changes of clean underwear completed the outfit.
Thus equipped, these two brethren started on their journey. Their
spirit in all this reminds one of what passed between two ministering
brethren of another persuasion who were traveling together, neither so
well equipped nor mounted, but on foot. Trudging along in the face of
foul weather to meet an engagement, Comer said to Proctor:
"I don't mind the rain
If souls I may gain."
To which Proctor instantly replied to Comer:
"I can face every storm of rain and foul weather,
When I and my Lord are walking together."
Wherever Brother Kline and his companion went they were recognized,
whether personally known or not, as DUNKARD PREACHERS. No doubt the
_sneer_ was sometimes thrust at them, and the lip curled with contempt
by those whose stolid ignorance and stupid brains had locked the door
against the inflow of good breeding and truth. But in the eyes of all
honest, sincere-minded people their mission was one of mercy, truth
and love; and they were loved and respected accordingly.