Gem #40 - Our Friends in Heaven

Oh, I reckon on the day of death if it were for the mere hope of seeing the

bright spirits that are now before the throne; to clasp the hand of

Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, to look into the face of Paul the apostle,

and clasp the hand of Peter; to sit in flowery fields with Moses and David,

to bask in the sunlight of bliss with John and Magdalene. Oh, how blessed!

The company of poor imperfect saints on earth is good; but how much better

the society of the redeemed. Death is no loss to us by way of friends. We

leave a few, a little band below, and say to them, "Fear not, little

flock," and we ascend and meet the armies of the living God--the hosts of

His redeemed. "To die is gain."