NO SECT IN HEAVEN.

Evening Star, Issue 2921, 29 June 1872, Page 3

NO SECT IN HEAVEN.

Talking of scots till late one eve, Of the various doctrines the saints believe, That night I stood in a troubled dream, By the side of a darkly flowing stream. And a “ churchman” down to the river came: When I heard a strange voice call his name, “Good father, stop; when you cross this tide, You must leave your robes on the other side.” But the aged father did not mind, And his long gown floated out behind, As down to the stream his way he took, His pale hands clasping a gilt-edged book. “ I’m bound for heaven, and whem I’m there, I shall want my Book of Common Prayer ; And though I put on a starry crown, I should feel quite lost without my gown.” Then he fix’d his eye on the shining track, But his gown was heavy and held him back ; And the poor old father tried in vain, A single step in the flood to gain. I saw him again on the other side, But his silk gown floated upon the tide; And no one ask’d in that blissful spot, If he belong’d to “ the church ” or not. Then down to the river a Quaker stray’d, His dress of a sober hue was made ; “ My coat and hat must be all of gray, I cannot go any other way.” When he button’d his coat straight up to his chin, And staidly, solemnly, waded in, And his broad-brimm’d hat he pulled down tight Over his forehead, so cold and white. But a strong wind carried away his hat ; A moment he silently sigh'd over that, And then, as he gazed to the farther shore, The coat slipp’d off, and was seen no more. As he entered heaven bis suit of gray, Went quietly sailing —away, away, And none of the angels questioned him, Abqut ths width of his beaver’s brim. Next came Dr Watts, with a bundle of Psalms, Tied nicely up in his aged arms; And hynms as many, a very wise thing, That the people in heaven “ all round” might sing. But 1 thought that he heav’d an anxious sigh, As he saw that the river ran broad and high, And look’d rather surprised as one by one, The psalrna and hymns in the wave went down. And after him, with his MSS., Came Wesley, the pattern of godliness ; But he cried ‘ ‘ dear me, what shall I do ? The water has soaked them through aud though.” And there on the river, far and wide. Away they went down the swollen tide. And the saint astonish’d, pass’d through alone, Without bia manuscripts, up to the throne. Then, gravely walking, two saints by name, Down to the stream together came, But as they stopp’d at the river’s brink, I saw one saint from the other shrink, “Sprinkled or plunged, may 1 ask you friend, How you attain’d to life’s great end f* “ Thus with afevv drops on my brow,” “ But 1 have 'been dipp’d as you’ll see me now.” “ And I really think I will hardly do, As I’m ‘ close communion ’ to cross with you ; You’re bound, I know, to the realms of bliss, But you must go that way, and I’ll go. this, ” Then straightway plunging with all his might, Away to the left—his friend to the right; Apart they went from this world of sin, But at last together they enter’d in. And now when the river was rolling on, A Presbyterian church went down ; Of women there seem’d a wondrous throng, But the men I could count as they pass’d along. And concerning the road, they could never agree, The Old or the New way, which it should be; Nor ever a moment paused to think That both would lead to the river’s brink. And a sound of murmuring, long and loud, Came ever up from the moving crowd—- “ You’re in the old way, and I’m in the new, That is the false, and this is the true ” ; Or, “ I’m in the old way, ayd you’re in the new, This is the false, and that is the true.” But the brethren only seem’d to speak, Modest the sisters walk’d, and meek ; And if ever one of them chanced to say, What troubles she met with on the way— How she long’d to pass to the other side, Nor fear’d to cross over the swelling tide— A voice arose from the brethren then, “ Let no one speak but the 1 holy men ’; For have ye not heard the words of ! aul, , ‘ Oh, let the women keep silence all ’ ” ? I watched them long in my curious dream, Till they stood by bonders of the stream—j Then,' just as I thought, the two ways met, 1 But all 'the brethren were talking yet,

And would talk on till the heaving tide Carried them over, side by side : Side by side, for the way was one, The toilsome journey of life was done, And Priest and Quaker, and all who died, Came out alike on the other side. No forms, or “crosses,” or books had they, No gowns of silk, nor suits of gray, No creeds to guide them, nor MSS., For all had put on Christ’s righteousness.