Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-02-01
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.
From the New York Evangelist.
VISIONS OF HEAVENLY GLORY

VISIONS OF HEAVENLY GLORY.
The substance OF an Address delivered in the
Tabernacle, New York, Dec. Is, 1886, at the
Funeral Of Rev. JOHN r. M'DOwALL.. ~
When it became my duty to address
this assembly at the funeral Of Mr.. NJ Dow
all, my mind was strongly drawn to wha:
IS written in the seventh chapter of the
Acts, as a passage Of scripture adapted to
produce a profitable improvement Of the
solemn occasion The words are these {:
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost,
looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw
the glory Of God, and Jesus standing on
the right hand Of God"
read this passage because the cir
cumstances OF our departed brother death
are calculated to call our attention to those
extraordinary manifestations Of divine
things, with which dying saints are oRen
favored in the hours ofdissoution
The fact that dying saints have enjoyed
remarkable manifestations Of Divine things
and blissful foretastcs OF heaven, cannot be
questioned. Instances OF it must be pres
ent to the recollection of every one who is
familiar withEeligious biography. With
out taking lifetime to illustrate this in de-
tail, l shall awaken lively remembrances
in The minds Of many Of those who hear
me, by barely mentioning the name OF
PAYsoN. Who that has ever read his
letter, from the land Of Beulah, will doubt
the reality OF such enjoyments'
The experience which saints sometimes
enjoy Just as they are about 10 leave the
world, seems to be altogether peculiar,
and different from the ordinary enjoymcnts
OF even the most favored Christians. 1t
is not merely n lively exercise Of that
FAITH, which is "the substance ol
things hoped for, and the evidence ofthings
not seen y but the reality itself Of heav,
emily objects, actually seen, and heard and
felt by the soul.
They see, like the Christian pyoto-mar
tyr, "the heavens opened, and the Son o
Man standing on the right hand of God. ,
They see the angels yelling their lace
around the throne. Or they see Jesus
with benignant aspect and open arm:
waiting 10 receive another blood-bough
soul. They hear the songs Of the redeem
ed and g1orifed spirits, singing the new
soag, Thou art worthy, for thou was
slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy
blood" They feel angelic rupture, Of
holy Joy, or sweat peace in God, filling
their souls. These scenes ofreality some
times diffuse an earthly rapture over fea
lures that are already stiffening in death
and shine out with triumphant glory from
eyes whose nerve has become insensibl
to earthly objects.
Such foIetastes Of heaven, when one
enjoyed, produce unutternble longings t
depart and enjoy the full fruition. 1t re
quires strong effect Of holy submission
TO wait Gods time Of release from earth
Sometimes those who have been favore
with such divine manifestations apparent
Iy cease to breathe, and afterwards revive
How pathetic their exclamation, " Am
here2 l thought had got home. O ths
heavenly music How can come bac
to earthY' A distinguished poet has a
tempted to describe the aspirings of sol
enjoying this beatiic vision;
Vital spark of heavenly fame,
Quit, 05quit this mortal frame;
Trembling, hoping. lingering, flying,
Othc pain, the bliss Of dying
Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife,
And letme anguish into life.
Hank! they whisper angels say,
"Sister spirit, come away
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight?
browns my spirit, draws my breath
Tell me, my soul, can this be death
The world recedes, it disappears (!
Heaven opens on my eyes-my ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Lend, lend your wings, mount fly
OGrave! where is thy victory2
o Death where is thy sting2
1t is not improbable that most or a
true believers are favored of God, wh'
they are about to leave the world, with
greater or less degree OF these divine ma
ILL.,. - Lk..-.. mt reIna