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IN MEMORIAM.

* Sift* &? Xt*t*

&$.

RECTOR OF EMMANUEL PARISH,

ALLEGANY COUNTY, MARYLAND.

Preached hy request qf the Yestry in the Parish
Church, in Cumberland, hy Pev. L. Yan Bohlcelen,
Sexagesima Sunday, March 22d,, 1868;

FEINTED BY REQUEST.

WM. K. BOYLE, PBINTEB, BALTIMORE.

iftt W&tmmm.

II Timothy, iv obap. T vs.
"1 HAVE FINISHED MT COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.''
mysterious but wise dispensation of our
Heavenly Father brings me, by invita
tion, from my accustomed place of ministration
to discharge a double duty; to speak to you
Christian friends concerning your souls' welfare
and to bear testimony, to the loving zeal of a
Priest of God, who having fought a good fight,
finished his course, kept the faith, now wears
the crown of righteousness. While it is your
duty, at all times, to listen attentively and
prayerfully to those who preach Jesus and the
\ Resurrection, who reason of death and judg
ment, who declare the soul's immortality and
accountability; there are occasions which en
force these teachings and bring them so close to
the heart and mind that they cannot be dismissed
with the expectation that a more convenient
season will 'ever come in which to listen to

4 IN MEMORIAM.
their pleadings. Such an occasion is the pre
sent when we commemorate the services of a
minister of God who, having stood before you;
in the Earthly Sanctuary preaching Jesus, now
sees Jesus face to face and amid an innumera
ble company of .Angels, with the Spirits of just'S
men made perfect, realizes the power of those j
precious truths by which he strove to enlighten ]
your minds and comfort your hearts. When
you think of your beloved pastor and friend
who at the opening of the New Year greeted
you so cordially, who with robust health and j
unabated vigor seemed to have the promise
of many days to devote to the Ohurch of his \
Saviour — but now gone — ^gone to the heavenly
city — gone to exchange the sword for the^
crown — to wear the robes of rest instead of|
the shield and helmet of the warrior — gone
where the faithful repose after life's labors!
end ; when you think of that Priest of God, no^
longer here, because God has called ' ' Come up }.
higher," heaven and immortality are so clearly |
before your minds, their glories so bright, that I
you hail them as blessed realities. Standing in ¦<
this place where my now sainted brother stood, 1
my vision reaches to the celestial home of the -!

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 5
blessed; my heart glows with the thought of
immortality, and Paradise seems nearer because
there our brother worships, and thence looks
down upon the flock which a little while ago
he so lovingly tended.
We know that this brief- and toilsome life:
does not measure the whole of man's' existence ; '
there is something beyond the verge of time.!-
What the philosophy of the ancients enabled;
them to surmise, revelation has clearly taught. |
It has brought life and immortality to light,
and the Christian receives the summons of
death with the full assurance of a blissful re-!'
surrection. It goes farther and reveals the
glories of that house uot made with hands in '
which the faithful dwell. It tells us that thesf
bonds of affectionate regard, the ties of kindred I
and friendship, the cords of sympathy and love?;'
which ' unite hearts in Christian fellowship on
earth, are not rudely severed, dissolved foreverl
by death. They exist beyond the grave, andi
will form part of the happiness of eternity.|
God separates us only for a brief interval. He
removes our loved ones to render them back,
or rather to bring us to them when the days
of our pilgrimage are accomplished. Hence,

6 IN MEMORIAM.
Christians may think of friends who are gone
before, as of those they will meet again.
They are not dead, but live. In the realms
of glory there will be joyful re-unions —
i parents and children, husbands and wives,
pastors and people will meet again. The land
beyond the grave is not a land of shadows and
uncertainties. Through the door of the sepul
chre which Jesus opened,, we look across the
valley of death, and thus link earth with
heaven — upon the gloom of the grave beams
the halo of unending life. I cannot separate
in my thoughts, death from immortality. Oh
Brethren, there is no death to the believer.
Jesus conquered that grim conqueror. He led
him captive when he burst the bonds of the
tomb, and scattered the darkness which once
brooded over the grave. Death holds none of
our loved ones — they have gone before us to
life which knows no sorrow and no end. They
live, and we., if faithful, will live with them.
We live with them now in sympathy, if we be
lieve in a world of spirits. We think of them
as in the presence of Jesus. We shed tears of
joy as we contemplate their glory, and turning to
the fell destroyer to whom Adam's sin gave such

REV, JOHN B. HENRY. 7
fearful power — ask, "Oh death where is thy
sting? Oh grave where is thy victory?" To
day Paradise is to you a reality — it is the home
where your beloved Pastor and all the departed
faithful abide.
But perchance these thoughts do not kin
dle a flame of sacred love in every heart.
There are many who love the world and
its fleeting pleasures, and eare for none of
these spiritual things- wedded to personal en
joyment, heedless of the duties and privileges
of rational and immortal beings, they live for
the world and look to the world for reward.
There are others, who, while discharging all
the duties whieh attach to their station in life,
yet are not of the world-shaving their conver
sation in heaven, from whence they look for
the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. To the
former, the glorious state of good men in
another life, may uot, indeed cannot appear
with all the force of reality. A veil is between
them and these blessed truths, they have little
conviction of those unspeakable felicities which
inflame the heart of a Christian, and quicken
his desires to depart hence and be with Christ.
Yet when God speaks as he has spoken to

.

8 ¦ IN MEMORIAM.
this congregation, even the most sceptical,
the wildest son of pleasure will stop and
reflect; pause, and ask, Why should I trust
joys so fleeting,,,; pleasures so evanescent?
Earthly possessions and satisfactions are ' tran
sient. They may leave me, I must leave
them. Placing my hope upon them, I build
upon the sand. Will they not fail when I need'
them most ? Can they keep off sickness, death,
or any form of adversity? Trusting them dp I
not grasp shadows for support? When called
to part with those who are dear to me, where
is my consolation? When called to face death,
what is my support? I cannot find it in heaven,
for my conversation has never been there; not
in the calm repose of the soul which has the
confidence of a certain faith, for I have no
faith. Never yet have I placed myself on the
rock at the foot of the cross. " "This refuge, this
repose you are now urged tp seek.
The appear comes in earnest tones from the
fresh grave of your Pastor, whose persuasive
and warning words have often fallen upon your
ears, and whose memory is dear to your hearts.
This occasion is significant of your regard for
the departed priest of God, who by faithful

REV.. JOHN B. HENRY. 9
teaching and tender ministrations secured a
place in your affections. Let it be improved..
I wish to direct the warm flow of your
sympathy so that it may add strength to his
words of counsel often spoken, and awaken
. recollections which ought never to be forgotten.
So sudden was the death of your chosen guide
in spiritual things that it came upon you like
a whirlwind. A few days before he was called
to his rest, you saw him on the streets in the
full vigor of manhood, with all his accustomed .
interest in the busy concerns of life. While
engaged in his usual duties Death met him,
arrested his movements and held him forth as
evidence of that relentless power which spares
no age, regards no dignity. You remember
the Lord's day when you placed his body in
the grave after coming here and laying it before
the altar at which he had "ministered. Deep
seriousness pervaded the congregation which
thronged the Sanctuary, and when the tomb
closed upon all that earth could keep, out of
the sepulchre came the oft-repeated lessons of
the fading and evanescent honors of life, and
how little reason we have to thank God for
temporal existence, unless it. be, employed to

10 IN MEMORIAM..
His honor and for the good of men. That sud
den death impressed upon the minds of many
the weak tenure of mortal existence, and when
we, who were distant, heard that our friend
had been taken away in the midst of health,
and after so brief a service in the Master's
cause, we felt that verily in the midst of life
we are in death, that God calls from His vine
yard the most faithful and successful laborers,
to teach us how little the Divine purposes de
pend upon human agencies. Now that our
| friend has gone to rest in Paradise, we have
nothing left but the sweet remembrance of his
pious life dedicated from youth to the cause of
Jesus. That will remain the inheritance of
the Church and the blessed consolation of a
r bereaved family. The pilgrimage was brief —
few and earnest were the days of active work,
but they were days well spent in the Saviour's
service. The earthly career was short, but
long enough to win a heavenly crown and to
;. guide many into the path of righteousness.
The ten years of his active ministry in the
priest's office were rewarded by winning souls
for Jesus — now the laborer stands shining like
a star in the celestial kingdom.

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 11
It is our privilege to consider some of the
leading incidents of this life so well spent.
They will show how the man of God walks
among men blameless, earning for himself a
good name — the best inheritance.
The Rev. John B. Henry was born in the
City of Philadelphia, June 10, 1832, and at
the time of his death was little more than 35
years old. His father, a native of Prussia,
came to America to condnct a mercantile busi
ness, which for several years required him to
reside in South America. Thither his youthful
son went, remaining until the family returned
to Philadelphia for permanent residence. As
a boy Mr. Henry was passionately devoted to
study. He found companionship with books
and, when quite young, had a love for writing,
often attempting sketches and essays of " suffi
cient merit to secure a place in the daily and
weekly journals. When nineteen years of age
he delivered a course of lectures before the
Mechanics' Institute, an honor seldom conferred
upon one so young. Taking for his theme- —
Self-Culture — he discussed the subject so ably
and illustrated it so pointedly as to secure the

12 IN MEMORIAM.
commendation of a large audience, composed
of competent judges, one of whom, the Right
Rev. Alonzo Potter, alluded to the lecture in
the most flattering manner. It is seldom that
a mere youth earns such laurels. The subject
of this lecture was indicative of the character
of the writer who, early in life, learned theo
retically and practically the value of self-culture
and self-reliance. It was the father's desire to
train his son for mercantile pursuits, to which
the young man reluctantly assented, and after
a close study of the various forms of accounts,
entered a commercial house ; but the experience
of a few months revealed that literary studies
were more congenial to his taste. When six
teen years of age he was deeply impressed with
a sense of duty towards God, and felt an inward
desire to live for the good of his fellow-men
rather than for his own benefit. He then
became a member of the Church, and although
exposed to the allurements of a large city and
mingling, with gay companions, adhered with
rigid consistency to the solemn vows which had
been ratified in Confirmation and sealed by the
reception of the Holy Eucharist. At that age,
and earlier in life, his abhorrence of untruth

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 13
j I and deception in every form was most strongly
i marked, and whatever he felt to be his duty
\ he performed fearlessly, firmly and unflinch- .
jingly.^I; It is no wonder then, that such a young
Christian soon tired of the service of Mammon
and chose to serve the Lord. After much
prayer and meditation he resolved to dedicate
| himself to the Holy Ministry of the Church,
| but at the same time considered it his duty to
[support himself, that he might be a burden to
no one. This was easily accomplished. His
f thorough education secured a position in the
Jrwell known Episcopal Academy of Philadel
phia, where, while pursuing a full course of
[theological study, he discharged acceptably the
duties of a teacher. On Ascension Day, 1855,
|he was admitted to the Diaconate, and imme
diately entered upon his appropriate work as
Assistant to the Rev. Dr. Stevens, at St. An
drew's Church, in Philadelphia, a position of
dignity and responsibility not often secured by
a young man of less than twenty-three years.
Here he remained for three years, earning
a good report, and, at times, during the
absence of the Rector, having the weighty

14 IN MEMORIAM.
charge of a large and exceedingly intellectual
congregation. Soon the young Minister, full of
glowing zeal, felt a longing to have a flock of
his own, which he could tend as a faithful
shepherd. This was a strange desire thought
some, who wondered why a young man Would
prefer the quiet of a rural parish to the excite
ment and admiration of a crowded auditory
in one of the great cities'. It was pastoral
work for which the pious heart yearned. His
warm and affectionate temperament made him
desire to have a people who would recognize
him as their Spiritual Guide and call him their
friend. On the 1st of May, 1858, then twenty-
six years old, he accepted the Rectorship of St.
James Church, Chester County, Pennsylvania,
where he labored more than five years accept
ably and usefully, as many whose hearts were
turned to Jesus and who were carefully trained
in the ways of the Church can testify. During
these years of steady work in the Diaconate
and Priesthood, Mr. Henry did not neglect lite
rary pursuits. He was a close student and
enjoyed the luxury of quiet hours with his
books, as much as he did the active pastoral
work which brought him in contact with his

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 15
beloved flock. He wrote much for the reli
gious press, and found pleasure in the indul
gence of his fancy, which contributed many
: little poems upon religious and didactic themes
to various journals. With time for closer atten
tion to poetic writing he would have earned a
, high reputation. Many of his verses are beau
tiful and touching, and give evidence of that
love for the charms of natural scenery, for birds
and flowers, which those of you who were inti-
| mate with your lamented Pastor could not have
failed to observe. Here are a few lines written
in 1866, just when the gay verdure of summer
was passing away and the variegated foliage
upon the mountain slopes began to remind you
of the approach of winter.
The sad and fitful autumn days have come,
The summer sports and brilliant skies are past,
O'er hill and dale no more the zephyrs waft,
That gently fanned the fevered, aching brow.
No more may sweet shrubs and flowers gay
Adorn and scent the garden's stilly walk ;
In vain shall fountains flow and streamlets run.
The perfumed gale, the -music of the rill,
The golden glow, the calm of vesper time,
All — all are gone !

16 IN MEMORIAM.
In June, 1863, Mr. Henry accepted the Rec
torship of St. Peter's Church, Lewes, Delaware,
a position which he held about eighteen months,
and resigned to take charge of St. Andrew's,
Baltimore, from which Church he came to min
ister in this Parish on November 19, 1865.
Of the work accomplished in Baltimore, dur
ing his brief incumbency, not more than one
year, we will not speak in detail. It was
there that I became acquainted with him, and
never, during my entire ministry of now nearly
thirty years, have I met a brother towards
whom my heart went out more warmly, or
whom I so soon felt able to love as a friend.
His earnest sincerity, faithfulness and steadi
ness of purpose, devotion to duty, tender sym
pathy for the sick, aad warm interest in his
Church, added to a high sense of the dignity of
his profession, at once knit me to him as a
brother beloved in the Gospel. I well remem
ber his first Confirmation class at St. Andrew's,
the solemn manner in which he presented it, i
and the fatherly affection which he expressed
for each candidate. His close and extended f
reading as a theological student, his readiness
at Biblical exposition, and his acquirements in

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 17
all departments of literature, would have aston
ished me the more had I then known that my
brother was little past his thirtieth year.
Were I to attempt an analysis of his charac
ter, I would note his fearlessness in the dis
charge of his duty. He never hesitated to do
what conscience told him ought to be done. He
feared nothing except to do wrong. He was
kind and gentle. I never heard him speak
harshly except when he denounced untruth, or
dissimulation, of which he had a horror. As
might be expected in such a character, there
was charity for the faults of others, and gentle
ness in correcting what he considered to be
errors. As a man he was full of sympathy
and love, a firm friend, a judicious counsellor.
As a Priest of God he was faithful, never
prophesying smooth things, but fearlessly de
claring. the whole counsel of God.. Much given
to meditation and prayer, he loved to be alone
in his study, which he called his work shop ;
.and when his work there and among his people
was done, found ever fresh delight in the sweet
joys of home, where he always met with sym
pathetic, and congenial affection. Of his char
acter as a husband and father, I need not speak.
2* 

I

18 IN MEMORIAM.
It is upon his family that this bereavement
falls most heavily, and I dare not trust myself
even to think of the loss they have sustained
in parting with one whose words and commun
ings were to them so precious. Mr. Henry
was a man of prayer. He delighted in short
ejaculations, thus praying without ceasing, and
frequently warmed his heart by the use of
manuals of devout meditation and prayer.
"Morning, noon and night will I call upon thee
0 Lord," was his rule. Among his writings
besides numerous sermons and essays, is a
book of family prayer — ready for the press —
breathing such earnest piety as none can feel
but they who have their conversation in heaven.
He never commenced a sermon without prayer,
prayed during its progress, and again at its
conclusion prayed for a blessing upon it. Of
the ministry . of your lamented Pastor during
the two years and three months that he was
Rector of Emmanuel Parish, it is not needed
that I should speak. His record is known
and read of all. He went in and out among
you as becometh a minister of God. He knew
nothing among you but Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified. The father in heaven blessed his

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 19
ministrations. A large number, under his
teachings, ratified their baptismal vows, and
when he was called up higher more communi
cants were registered than at any previous
period in the history of the Parish. My
friends, permit me to say what your Pastor
said to me. "He loved this flock." He often
spoke of your kindness to him. Of what you
did for him, but above all, how readily you lis
tened to his calls when work was to be done
for the Sanctuary. When I last saw him his
heart was full of grateful love for this people.
It was the second day of the year. Taking me
to his parlor he exhibited several tokens of your
kind remembrance of himself and his loved
wife, who on losing her husband has lost the
best treasure she had on earth. You can
hardly imagine the pride with which he told
me of your numerous acts of kindness, and of
a token of regard from the young men of the
congregation, which he expected that afternoon
to receive. Those acts you may have thought
very little of, in your estimation they may
have been very smalltbkens, but oh how sweet
are they to a Pastor's heart ; how dearly prized,
not for their intrinsic value, but as evidence
... ,.r. -^,.,,,a^_i^_—ag— —gSi— ___——— ———___i^L

20 IN MEMORIAM.
that he is not forgotten, that his labors are
accepted, that he has a place in your hearts.
Such little acts of kind attention are bright
beams of sunshine in a Pastor's home; they
were such with him whom you loved, and
when he spoke so tenderly of your kindness, I
rejoiced that my friend was encouraged — his
cup of happiness full. When, after bidding
him farewell, I passed this Church, I felt that
the lines had fallen to him in pleasant places,
and the blessings of God would rest upon the
congregation who thus cheered the heart of
him who watched over their souls.
His death came suddenly like the devasta
ting tornado. Only twenty-nine days after I
had seen him in robust health, he was carried
into the Church, and over his body the requiem
chanted, "earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to.
dust." His last sermon was preached on the
second Sunday after Epiphany, from the sug
gestive text "A good soldier of Jesus Christ."
His earnestness and faithfulness upon that occa
sion even exceeded his usual whole hearted-
ness. A good soldier indeed he was in the
army of the Lord, and as such wished you to
serve under the same Gospel banner ; but little

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 21
did he expect that so soon the warfare would
be over, and the sword exchanged for the
crown. He died with his harness on. While
suffering from the sickness which terminated so
sadly for you, but for him so gloriously, he
visited a bereaved parishioner, to whose wife a
few days before he had administered the Holy
1 Communion. During his illness, God spared
him from acute pain. He was not confined to
bed, but arose every morning and went to his
study, to be, as he remarked, with those cheer
ful companions, his books. He selected the
text of his sermon for the Sunday following his
death, made notes for the same, and wrote a
few pages of it. That text was significant.
"The end of righteousness is peace." Its appli
cation he realizes and we feel, now that he
rests from his labors. During his illness he
frequently talked of death, of which he had
no dread, thought it very probable that he
would not recover, and said, "If I die, remember
that all is peace." During one of these conver
sations he said, "I think it strange that when a
Christian goes home a sad and dreary hymn
is sung, while the 191st is neglected. When I
am buried, sing that hymn for me, for then it is

22 IN MEMORIAM.
going home. If the joy is so sweet as we
approach our earthly home, when absent from
those whom we love, what must it be when we
enter Paradise. ' ' Thus calmly did he look upon
death. Death has no terrors for the righteous.
He passed his last day on earth in devotional
reading. At intervals his mind became dull,
' but soon the intellect would burst through like
the sun from behind the clouds. Recovering
from one of those reveries he rose up suddenly
and exclaimed, "If I am ever permitted to
preach again I will make the Church ring with
'. a warning against death-bed repentance." In
i his dreams he had been thinking of his be
loved people, and knowing how hard it is to
fix the mind upon God when that mind is
shorn of its strength, he wished to charge you,
_ as I do now in his stead, not to delay to make
your peace with God. When told that he had
always been faithful, he replied, "Yes, but I
spoke as a well man to those who are in health.
I did not know the power which weakness of
body has over the mind — now I feel it. If my
peace were not made with God would this be
a fitting season — but thanks be to God, all is
; peace." Yes, sainted Brother, all was peace

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 23
j in that hour of struggle, but now you expe-
| rience a holier peace — the peace of God which
passeth all understanding. He then fell into
a calm slumber from which he awoke refreshed,
and taking from his pocket a manual of devo
tion, read the prayer for the evening, which
could not have been more appropriate if it had
been carefully selected. "0 Lord, deign to be
mine, that I may be thine, so that we may
always be together. Thou art He that giveth
; me peace, for from Thee cometh perfect peace,
; and rest that nothing can break. Oh how
\ sweet is - Thy Spirit, 0 God, through which
I Thou givest Thy children to taste of Thy good-
! ness on their way to Thy kingdom." He then
[ repeated the beautiful words of the sacred song
"The Lord is my shepherd. The Lord is my
salvation." Closing his eyes, a heavenly smile
pllumined his countenance. His breathing be
came difficult and unmistakeable symptoms
I proved that the hour was near for the spirit to
| ascend to God. Life!s work was done. Hea-
fven's reward was near. The members of the
J Vestry gathered around the stricken tabernacle
| of their Pastor. Friends and physicians came
I with sympathy and aid — but what had they to

24 IN MEMORIAM.
do but look and see how peacefully the spirit
of the righteous is wafted to bliss. How sweet
and pleasant a thing it is when Christ gives
his beloved sleep. The commendatory prayer
was read, and soon after midnight, on the last
day of the first month of the New Year, the'
soul returned to God who gave it, the precious
body remained with you to be prepared for
burial. A sweet smile rested upon the face —
peace, heavenly peace, was stamped there —
thus did God set his seal upon the work of his
servant. When God speaks men ought to keep silence.
: It is enough for us to know that the Master
1 approves without asking the judgment of weak
mortals. Yet we cannot, in this commemora
tion of our departed Brother, forbear to record
some of the many testimonials of the high
:¦' appreciation in which he was held by those
who knew him, and the assurances of sym-
; pathy which were extended to the bereaved
: family and congregation. As a vestry, you
tleft nothing undone to testify your love and
srespect for your Pastor, your estimate of the
loss which you sustained when he was called
to the higher ministry before the throne of God.

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 25
Brethren came from distant places to be present
at the burial. You carried the body to the
Church, followed by ministers of Jesus who
had closed their churches that they might come
and mingle their tears with yours, saying,
Alas, our brother. The fraternity which he
served as Chaplain, to which he was linked by
the mystic bond of friendship, and in which
he cultivated the virtues of faith, hope and
charity, followed the bier, lamenting that a
worthy brother had been taken from among
them, a brother whose heart was open to every
appeal for relief, and whose hand was always
ready to assist the weak.
The afflicted congregation crowded this sa
cred place, and during the solemn services, felt
that of a truth "this is none other than the
House of God — the Gate of Heaven. ' ' Resolu-
¦ tions of condolence were passed by the Vestry,
deploring their loss, and recording the virtues
of their Rector and friend. "Society, they said,
had been deprived of a man of liberal and
expanded views, the congregation of a faithful
Pastor, the pulpit of one of its gifted occu
pants — the .Church of an impressive exponent
of the teachings of its Great Head."

28 IN MEMORIAM.
men, if he had not gained the favor of Him in
whose- light is life, and whose reward is ever
lasting peace. Ah, little would he have been
profited. Little is any person profited if he
gains the whole world and lose his soul."
Thus have we endeavored to lay before you
a sketch of the life and character of the Rector
of Emmanuel Parish. Had I followed the
promptings of friendship, much would have
been said of the inner life, the gentle piety of
him whose services in the Church we now com
memorate, but this is neither the time nor place
to indulge such feelings. They will find in the
circle of friends, expression more appropriate
than here — here, where our departed brother
was known as a Priest of God ; now a Priest
of God for ever in the Church beyond the skies.
I know not which of you, or how many of you
he was instrumental in bringing to the foot of
the Cross — but, doubtless, there are those pre
sent, who were awakened from dangerous self-
security by his earnest enforcement of duty ; or
were persuaded to give your hearts to Jesus by
his fervid delineations of a Saviour's love. Let
not those words be forgotten. Though dead he
still speaks and from his place in Paradise

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 29
preaches more eloquently than ever he did on
earth.- Could he come back again and stand
here before you. Could he tell you once more
of the glories of heaven, the peace beyond the
grave, Oh, how earnest would be his plead
ings, that you would cast away the works of
darkness and clothe yourselves with the armor
of light — would fight the good fight of faith,
press towards the mark of the prize of your high
calling in Christ Jesus. He would say in thrill
ing tones. — I speak of the things which I have
see'n and heard — Heaven is a reality — Oh,
strive to secure its joys. I have stood in the
streets of .the New Jerusalem. I have seen the
throne, the Lamb sitting Upon it, the Elders
casting down their crowns. I have heard the
songs of the redeemed, and now come back to
testify to their happiness. Every trace of sor
row has been removed — there are no tears in
heaven — no sighing no pain. I have beheld
Jesus face to face. He wears the robes of a
conqueror and wields the sceptre of the universe.
At God's right, hand He intercedes for His
people and sends His Holy Spirit to aid them.
These things I have seen, and now come back"

30 IN MEMORIAM.
to encourage you to stand fast in the faith, to
put on the whole armor of God, to contend for
the crown of glory; for it cannot enter into
your heart even to conceive the things which
are in store for those who love the Lord Jesus
Christ and His coming. Yea, more — I have
looked across the wide gulf upon the agonies of
those who denied their Lord and now suffer for
their sins — who refused salvation and chose the
downward path which leads to destruction. Oh
avoid this sad fate — doubt not there is joy for
those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and His
coming — sorrow for those who reject Him.
Thus would our departed brother plead could he
take my place this morjiing, But, beloved,
could he add one word of truth that you have
not already heard from his lips. You might be
startled by the strange apparition — you might
be alarmed, as men are in the hour of sudden
danger, and call upon God to help you, but you
would learn nothing that the blessed Bible does
not declare, that the faithful Minister does not
constantly preach as he reasons of righteousness,
temperance and judgment to come, as he exhorts
you to prepare to meet your God.

REV. JOHN B. HENRY. 31
What more can be done than that which has
been done? Aye, were an angel from heayen
now to appear he could preach no other Gospel
than that of Jesus — show no other way of
redemption, proclaim none other than the truths
which you have heard from youth to age — line
upon line, precept upon precept. "If you hear
not Moses and the Prophets, neither will you
be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Remembering the shortness and uncertainty
of life, convinced of the reality of heaven,
knowing not when the summons may reach you,
and the day of probation, the day of grace
end ; watch and pray, that you may be ready
when Jesus calls, to reply : Yea, Lord, I come
quickly, and then peacefully resigning yourself
to His keeping, trusting His redemption, you
will close your eyes upon earth to open them
in Paradise — there, with the Spirits of the Just,
the glorious company of Apostles, the goodly
fellowship of Prophets, the noble army of Mar
tyrs — there, with loved ones who have gone
before you, with Cherubim and Seraphim,
you will sing the song of the redeemed, and
join the grand chorus which proclaims Jesus to
be King of kings and Lord of lords.

32 IN MEMORIAM.
Such the blessed consummation of a Holy
Life. Such the glorious translation from the
Church militant on earth to the Church tri
umphant in Heaven. Ntjno Deo.

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