It has been my joy and privilege to commune with a child of God close to heaven. How extremely happy he was! The grosser elements of earth had all passed away, and the happy soul was basking in the radiance of heaven. When I entered his room he took my hand and said, “Dear brother, I am glad to see you.” Then his eyes gazed upwards, and a light seemed to fill them, as he said, “The glory is there. I shall soon enter in―glory, glory, glory!” “He will be with me,” he continued, “going over the river, ―only a step across the river, then it will be beautiful.” He continued, “I shall see Him face to face; He will never leave me nor forsake me.” I read part of Revelation 21 and 22, about “the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.” ... “And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” The quiet happiness of perfect rest, and assured hope, beamed upon his face, and in his upturned eyes, and the wondrous peace of those heavenly shores shone on him. “And they shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign forever and ever.” There was silence for a few moments as I closed the Book, ―then I spoke of the Saviour’s love, and what that love had done for him. He said, “I shall walk with Him in white, His love to me is wonderful―His love is more than tongue can tell. I shall soon be with Him. Forever with the Lord.” Then with a steadfast gaze he repeated “Come, Lord Jesus! Praise Him, praise Him!” Then he said, “I am walking beside the still waters, and He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He is my stay all along the road.” He took my hand, and as he pressed it he said, “Dear Brother, I shall not see you again on earth, I expect, but up there―up there.” We had prayer together. When I rose to go I leant over him and taking his hand said, “Good-bye, God bless you.” He said, “God bless you, dear brother, He will give you a great blessing.” I continued, “You will soon be home―the Lord is faithful―He will be there to welcome you, His love passeth knowledge.”
I saw him once more, for he lingered longer than any thought possible. He was still happy, but much weaker. He said, “Happy, yes, happy, happy.” I only stayed a few minutes with him, then left him with his Saviour and his God, left him with his shining face looking upwards. The tide of life was flowing out and leaving the sands of time dry, but it was full tide on the eternal shores.
So passed our dear brother to his rest, all earthly labors over—the earthly home left, and the weeping wife, who will follow him to the heavenly home, and together they will be “forever with the Lord.”
Heyman Wreford.