The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-04-23
MORAL az RELIGIOUS.


''Ifa man die, shall he live again?-JoB xiv ID.
To an intelligent mind, an inhabitant of this
'lower world there cannot be mere impor-
tant and interesting question proposed, than the
one we have placed at the head of this article.
We all feel anxious TO know whether we are
to survive the ravages of death and rise triumph
ant from the grave. And we all feel that such
an anxiety is perfectly natural and proper
There is indeed something in the mind OF
man which naturally mclines it to consider this
subject When we look around on the things
which may be seen and consider their strong
and certain tendency to decay and dssoluiion,-
when we reflect that our friends, our neighbors,
ourselves, and all created must ego down TO the
house appointed for all the living, and be here
no inore,-we feel an irresistible desire opera
ting on our minds 10 lift the veil, which hangs
between the present and future world, and to
ascertain what our final state and conditions are
to be. And especially
''When
Our journeys eud, VIC ha--o tho gal in view.
That awful guph, no mortal e'er repassod,
To tell what's dong on the other side,
our thoughts become more deeply and intensely
fixed on the subject, and we seriously and feel
ingly revolve the question in our minds, SIT
man die shall he live agan''-Indeed, we can
find no rest to our minds, until upon this ques
ton, we have satisfied ourselves, that eve shall
be changed, in moment, in the twinkling of an
eyes," until we are convinced, that 'hhis corrup-
ton must put on incorrupticn, and this mortal
must put on immortality
In relation to the great and interesting ques-
lion, whethc, man will live beyond the pre-.
sent state of his existence, there have been ma
ny opinions expressed and maintained; not SO
many, however, in relation to that question: as
in relation to the manner and mode ofhis future
existence. Indeed, it seems 10 have been beiiev-
ed,-though not very understandingly, we con
fess-by all the nations of the earth. uncivilized
or civilized, that mans existence does not terrni-
nate with the event of death but that, when this
"mortal coil" is put off, he Immediately enters
upon another life, and into the enjoyment Of
er and far more pleasant scenes; or else, is con
signed to penal fires, or doomed TO rigid penan-
ces, for his past misconduct. There was not
we grant, much convincing evidence upon
which to found such an opinion; for there is not
say what we may, u, nature, any very satislacto-
nv evidence ola future existence. Dark and
cherries must DO the prospect of those, who
have no other foundation upon which to rest
their hopes of future life, than such evidence as
is drawn from the changes and appearance oil
nature 1t may in ruth be said of them thai
they are "without hope in the world
We are not unwilling to admit, however, tha
there are some things in nature, which woult
suggest to the mind the idea of future existence
but which could not afford any clear evidence
of it, unaided by the volume of revelation
"Who, inquiries a writer of some notoriety, tina
first saw the little worm seeking suitable piece
of dry wood, attaching itself to it.-apd ther
contemplate the little pendant coffin, in which
the inanimate insect lay entonbed, would eve
predict, that in few days or weeks, the Skin
becoming dry, would BURST and winged insec
push its way through the aperture, expand it
wings, and launch into the air with gracefulness
The corruption of grain, he continues, and TIT
process OF vegetation, observed annually; ant
he death like appearance. of winter, and tn
gladsome verdure of spring, are fit to teach u
what the Creator and Governor of the Unvers
Is able to effect, and convince us that He ha
power to loosen the bands Of d cath. 1t shoul
not, therefore, be thought impossible, that Go
should raise the dead
These appearances and changes in nature W
are disposed to admit, are calculated to lead tn
mind of man to contemplate the possibility G