( 193 ) 
“After this I saw a great multitude,” says St. John, “standing before 
the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and 'palms 
in their hands.”* And again: “God shall wipe away all tears from their 
eyes ; death shall be no more; nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall 
be any more; for the former things are passed away.”\ 
When the prodigal son, after a life of misery and want, returned to 
his father’s house, and received his embrace, and found a banquet prepared 
in honor of the son who had been lost, and was found again, his heart was 
overwhelmed with joy on remembering the past—the days spent in a for¬ 
eign country. 
But what is this in comparison with our glorious joys in Heaven % 
There we shall rest as victors in the embrace of our Father , near the heart 
of our Savior; the Angels and Saints will converse with us, treating us as 
their brethren and sisters. 
And our joy shall never have an end.—Do we call to mind, by sooth 
ing anticipation, the Recompense in store for Fidelity ,—as we languish 
under the oppressive cares, or are rudely tossed amid the anxious strifes 
and doubtful struggles, of our term of probation ? 
If an earthly home possess such attractions, what must be said of 
the Heavenly ? 
Oh conquerors of Death and Hell! 
Hail! victors , highly crowned in Heaven, 
Hail! company of all the Blest! 
ISTo; ne’er to mortal man ’twas given 
To picture, e’en in gorgeous dreams, 
The fulness of celestial streams, 
That drown the thought of happiness 
In glad reality of bliss. 
— Weninger . 
*Apoc. vii :9. 
tApoc. xxi :4. 
