At this juncture we were directed to be ready to cast our anchor (the one we had received at the Port of Peace) finally within the haven of rest into which we were now entering and secure it firmly therein. This being promptly responded to by Captain Will and his men, we were then gently and happily borne over the dread mysterious bar by an invisible power, to the inexpressible joy and delight of everyone, Mr. Heart shouting, as we passed, with a triumphant voice, “Oh death where is thy sting?” A voice from the light cloud then quickly answered, “The Lord your Prince ‘through death hath destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil,’ therefore, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”
Often and often had we heard of the appalling nature of that much dreaded Bar; indeed it had been the terror of most time bound voyagers throughout all their voyage; and well it might be to such as were in the power of the terrible King of Terrors, and who by him were towed across, in his grim and ghostly ship, down to the regions of eternal death.
But to us, as to all true believers, it was the happiest moment of our existence, when we glided smoothly over that surging bar; for it was but the blessed portal by which we passed, as in a moment, from the sorrows and trials of time, into the eternal felicities of Paradise.
“The scenes of earth now fading,
Forever from our view:
Its turmoil now all ending,
Heaven’s glory full in view.
“No more shall storms assail us,
Or trials more annoy;
Nor sore temptations try us,
To turn us from God’s way.
“For there in yonder glory,
No sound of earth is heard;
Sweet rest awaits the weary,
Forever with the Lord.”
The instant we had crossed the bar, the full effulgence of the glorious city burst upon us; and immediately a royal barge, which had the appearance of burnished gold, with a retinue of heralds from the King arrayed in pure celestial garments, of surpassing beauty, came forth to welcome and convey us up into the holy city.
Leaving now our frail bark, in which we had crossed the great ocean, stranded and dismantled upon the shallow bar, we were taken on board the golden barge, with the sound of many trumpets and much rejoicing.
Voices of welcome greeted us on every side from those bright angelic messengers; whose countenances beamed with light and love, and whose highest pleasure was to impart joy and gladness such as were never known on earth.
Passing onwards in royal state, our eyes rapturously fixed on the superlatively glorious Paradise before us, that seemed to extend upwards and upwards into the infinity of light and space, our barge was suddenly changed into a flying chariot that flew upwards into the boundless expanse with the speed of light.
As we rose higher and higher, borne by those grand angelic bands, the sounds of innumerable voices and of “harpers harping with their harps” fell upon our ears, in the sweetest and most sublime strains of music, such as mortals in the world below could never hear.
Grand anthems, of the loftiest praise and adoration, rolled on and on continually, in marvelous waves of richest harmony, through all the wide ethereal vaults of heaven.
Loud Hallelujahs rang from side to side of the vast expanse, as the sublime and harmonious choirs of heaven answered one another unceasingly, while the chief burden of all their holy praise and worship seemed ever to be “Glory to God in the Highest,” “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”
We, too, endeavored to join in the heavenly chorus, but were so overpowered with the sublimity and grandeur of everything around us, and the thrilling strains of those celestial anthems, that we could but admire in silent wonder and adoration.
Now swiftly approaching the pearly gates of the heavenly city (which opened of their own accord) we were ushered into its golden streets, that looked “like unto clear glass,” with the sound of many trumpets; and then a clear angelic voice, still louder than any voice we had ever heard before, addressed us with the words, “Come ye blessed of the Lord, who have washed your robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” “enter into the joy of your Lord:” and the whole heavens seemed to resound again with the echo of that mighty voice and those graciously significant words of celestial welcome.
Then as the exceeding brightness of the glory of God fell upon us, we beheld a throne in the midst thereof, and “the Lord sitting upon the throne high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.”
And there, too, in the center of all that ineffable glory, we beheld our adorable Prince Emmanuel “seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high”; while all around the throne innumerable hosts of angels, cherubim and seraphim, and living creatures, were continually saying in the most profound and solemn tones, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”
And oh, most wonderful of all, and beyond all power of expression, we poor, frail things of earth—the puny and once sinful denizens of that little world below—were borne forward in the midst of all that sublime grandeur and excellent glory, even into the very presence of our beloved and glorious Prince. And when our eyes fell on that benignant, that transcendent countenance of majestic sweetness, now radiant with a heavenly smile of welcome, such as He alone could express, and when His gracious voice assured us with the loving words, “Come beloved and blessed of My Father, into these mansions prepared for you and all who believe,” our whole being thrilled with intense emotions of delight. Our bliss was now complete and perfect. This was indeed the Heaven of Heavens, in the very presence of the blessed Lord Himself, where perfect rest and happiness ever abide; we could desire no more.
Then, when our Lord had uttered those welcoming words, and had given us a “White stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it,” He further added, “Wait yet a little while till all your brethren are gathered in, to enjoy together the yet higher and fuller adoption, the redemption of the body.”
“Oh, the strange wonders of that happy day,
When having loosed the bonds of mortal clay,
We first were introduced to heavenly joys;
The pure and blissful rapture of the skies.
No mortal eye had seen, nor ear had heard,
Nor heart of man had ever once conceived
The glorious things prepared by God above,
For all true saints, the objects of His love.
Excelling all terrestrial things as far
As day’s bright orb, outshines the faintest star.
For all earth’s highest joys could not compare
With one celestial thrill experienced there.
The heart’s deep yearnings now all satisfied
And every aspiration realized;
Yea, more than realized a thousand fold,
In heartfelt bliss, that never could be told.”
Here the narrator paused; the tale of his one eventful voyage was finished, and the happy spirits from a distant sphere bowed their heads in grateful thanks; while they pondered in silent astonishment on all the wonderful scenes and events that had been rehearsed to them.
With unbounded admiration they dwelt upon the marvelous work of man’s redemption and all its glorious consequences; while they were lost in amazement at the thought that any of the children of men could be found so depraved, and so lost to sense and reason, as to despise, and even willfully reject, the gracious way of deliverance and everlasting salvation provided in infinite love by the good King Elohim and the blessed Prince Emmanuel.
Then with celestial fervor they joined with the happy redeemed saints from the earth in singing the heavenly song of glory to the Lamb, saying: “Blessing and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever.” Amen.