Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-11-13
WHOLE NO. al.

every item of its forgotten thoughts, and
hold in clear and eternal view, all its
vast variety acknowledge.
Sd. The doctrine of the immortality
of thought, derives It's highest support
from the inspired account Of final judg-
meht. The language Of Scripture, Oh
TINS most interesting subject, is, that ws
shall be judgeH ccording to deeds done
in the body. Saith the Saviour, /" the
hour is coming in which all that are in
their graves, shall hear his voice, and
shall come forth, they that have done
good, to the resurrection Of life !; aud
they that have done evil, to the resur-
rection Of damnation."
4th. Indeed, that the mind should
have power to lender all its thoughts i'm
mortal, is necessary for the full rctribu-
ton OF eternity. A great portion of the
future blesssdness Of the righteous, is to
arise from view Of their pious chsrac-
ter. So on the other hand, the misery
Of the unjust, must arise from view Of
their wicked character. II, then, one
virluous, or one wicked deed is for ever
blotted from the memory, that degree Of
happiness or misery which it was calcu-
lated to produce, can never exist. So
that neithe, the felicity of good men, nor
the misery OF bad men, can be complete,
until they both have a perfect and con-
stant view Of their whole history until
every perception, and purpose, and
thought, and affection of their mind, is
written in letters of eternal light, upon
the tablet of their memory. Neither,
without this perfect view, can the Justice
or the mercy of God be fully displayed.
/ The decisions at the bar of God, will re-
coive the approval Of the whole intelli-
gent universe. But this approval cannot
be expressed, unless they are enabled
clearly to understand the rcettude Of
these decisions. And tho convictions Of
this rectitude, they can never have, un-
less they have a distinct recollection Of
the actions Of the past life.
i The facts which have now been men,
! Toned, do not permit US to doubt that It
is in the power of our Creator to quicken
our mental capabilities, without the laws
which ordinarily govern them, being in
the least altered from their present state;
so that the numberless multitude assem-
bled at the judgment seat, shall, in sim
| gle instant, view the porfect panorama
of their past life, in all the variety, and
IN all the mnuteness Of its circumstances
/ We know that peculiar state Of the
!! physic system, effects temporary re-
/ surrectio Of lost knowledge, and gives a
| wonderful vividness and comprehension
of mind, and that an opposite state, at
once clouds these bright visions, and bu-
ries It's gigantic powers. We may there
fore conclude, that no miracle will be
needed TO secure this Immortality Of
thought. Nothing will be necessary to
4 restore tho record Of the multitude of
> past experience, but to liberate the spirit
from lis earthly prison, and TO invest it
with a celestial body.
1 You will permit me, gentlemen, to ask
you what practical use we shall make Of
= this important sentiment. Does it not
: suggest the way in which you may be-
= come truly rich. suppose you all in
: tend to be rich in some thing /; in fame,
= III dominion, or pleasure. But your
A wealth will not consist in what you have,
$ but in what you are. You may have all
It the gold and gems and plumes Of this
h world, and yet be truly poor. For these
/ outward treasures are transitory. In
= deed, il they we're lasting, and could we
: retain them after death, they would add
!, nothing TO our enjoyment. But if your
! minds be well trained and well fraught
! with the choicest thoughts, you will pos
}. sess an eternal treasure which nothing
It can destroy. You must remember, too,
d that your mental wealth will not be ac-
e coidng to the number of your thoughts,
e but according to their character. A man
n may fill his Golfers with cents, and yet
}, be worth but little. But should he fill
y them with bars of gold, his wealth would
IN be great. Some thoughts are light and
= trifllng, and their relations Of no impor.
re tance, so that, if the memory were stor.
1t ed with them, still its abundance woUlt
a. be Of little moment. Ii you would &C.
b. cumuate the greatest sum Of menta
I'd wealth, you must labor for the most val
III liable items of knowledge. You mus
to seek to know general principles--th'
a causes Of things--those grand law
&c viii h combine and regulate both The
to physica and moral universe-yos mus
n study the projections Of JEnovAH-th
rs principles of human nature-the des'g'
ed of your existence-and the way OF last
tn ing happiness, through the mediation o
er your exalted Redeemer-and then yo'
he will be rich indeed, though the items Q
w, your knowledge become practically fe'
m. in number. For each OF these items, o
he account of its important relations, ma
!. .,nt un,, In nnssessinn of ynrinus and Nal