A Gospel Address, delivered by Heyman Wreford, at the Victoria Hall, Exeter, England.
Part 3.
THEY shall see His Face.” As I read these words today a thrill passed through my soul. I shall see His face. This will be the consummation of joy.
Oh, heaven, without my Saviour,
Would be no home for me!
Dark were the walls of jasper,
Rayless the crystal sea.
He gilds earth’s darkest valley
With light and joy and peace;
What, then, must be the radiance
When night and death shall cease?
His face was seen on earth. It will be seen in heaven. The virgin Mary gazed upon His face in Bethlehem. Simeon saw it with his aged eyes when he held Jesus in his arms, and said, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” The doctors in the temple saw His face, when He answered them, and asked them questions. Thousands and tens of thousands gazed upon Him as He walked about this world. His face was marred more than any man’s; that patient loving face, down which the tears ran when He wept at Lazarus’ grave and over Jerusalem; that face scarred with the piercing thorn, and marred with the woes and sins of others. And we shall see His face, we Who love Him here. We gaze upon each other now, soon, soon we shall gaze upon our Saviour “Whom not having seen we love.”
Who, did we say, are the inhabitants of this glorious city?
Who are those who dwell there forever and forever? Sinners saved by grace. There is not a main or woman there who was not a sinner; not one, but whose heart “was deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” I stand upon those golden streets, I walk amid the brightness of the city. I hear a man singing, and I say to him, “And what were you on earth?” He answers, “I am the thief that died by the side of Christ. I said, ‘Lord remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom,’ and He said, ‘This day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise;’ and I have been here praising Him ever since.” I pass on, and I say to another, “Who are you with the light upon your brow?” She answers, “I am the one who broke the alabaster box of ointment over the Saviour’s feet. I washed His feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of my head; and now He has wiped all my tears away, and I am happy in His presence.” “And who are you so radiant with happiness?” “I am the man that had the legion of demons. Jesus cast them out and healed me; and now I am praising Him forever and forever.” I pause to listen to the endless song, “Unto Him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Amen rings loud over all the scene. Amen and Amen.
Again I pass on and I ask, “Who are you with face adoring?” “I was a drunkard, a vile, wretched drunkard; but Jesus loved me, and saved my soul.” “And who were you?” “A blasphemer.” “And you?” “A murderer.” “And you?” “A harlot; but Jesus bought me with His precious blood.” Yes, these are the inhabitants of this glorious city. And it may be when you and I get to glory, and stand amid the redeemed worshipping, we shall hear one saying, pointing to Jesus, “Do you see those marks upon His blessed brow? Those scars? It was I who plaited the crown of thorns and pressed it on His brow.” “You?” “Yes, and after I had done it I heard Him say, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!’ I never forgot those words.” And another might say, “Do you see those marks in His hands and feet? I took the hammer and the nails and drove them in. I was the one who nailed Him to the cross.” “You in heaven, you, here clad in white, and with His name on your forehead?” “Yes, He loved me, and gave Himself for me.” And why not, friends, why should not these sinners be in glory? The blood of Christ availed as much for them, as for you and me. I should not be surprised, such is the amazing love of God, at seeing any of these in glory. The greatest surprise to me will be to find myself there. Yes, when we get there, and mix with the glorified inhabitants, we may hear voices say, “I was converted when Peter preached at Pentecost; and I heard Paul on Mars Hill; and I heard Philip in Samaria; and I heard Whitfield in the open air; and I heard John Wesley.”
And they will come from all parts. From north, south, east, and west. The dark face and the pale face are alike now. Neither creed, nor heterodoxy is heard there. Oh, are you going to this city? We shall see soon above the pearly gates, the banner waving; and upon its glorious folds the words, “Welcome Home.” The crusaders wept when first they caught a sight of Jerusalem. And, when we see the gates appear and the lights shining from afar, when we behold the angel porters, clad in the livery of God at the gates of the holy city, if we weep for joy and gladness, they will be the last tears we shall ever shed. We shall go in with uplifted foreheads, to wear the crown; with eager feet, to tread those golden streets; with longing eyes, to gaze upon the face of Christ; with overflowing hearts to worship God and the Lamb. Then, as the wide expanse of heaven comes to view, as we behold the splendor of the city, its streets, its walls, its thrones, its mansions, its angelic hosts, and its redeemed millions, as we gaze with clear eyes on God’s throne, and on the face of Christ, as we hear the sound of innumerable voices praising, methinks we shall cry aloud so that all shall hear, “The half had not been told.” Then with eyes of joy gazing around, shall we say, “This is mine forever! these shining streets, these hills of God, these robes of white, this diadem of glory, this endless song. Mine forever and forever!” Oh, friends, praise the Lord with me for all His love and goodness. Let us all stand and sing that verse of praise together, so that heaven may hear us: —
Glory, honor, praise, and power,
Be unto the Lamb forever;
Jesus Christ is my Redeemer,
Hallelujah; praise ye the Lord.
May the Lord grant that all of us shall praise around His throne forever in the glorious city.