Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-09-27
For The Vermont Tezeernnh.
Future Rewards and Punishments.

For the Vermont Telegraph.
Future Rewards and Punishments.
1t is the professed belief of large ma,
ljoritv Of Christians thats those who die
righteous will be rewarded through etern.
ity in heaven, and that those who die
wicked will be punished interminably in
hell.-They all profess too, to believe that
every soul 10 the future state will receive
according to his deeds, in exact proper
ton as they have been good or bad. Oh
course they also profess to believe the
God who is TO reward the one and punish
the other, is just God. They believe
/ all his plans were dictated by unbounded
love, arranged by Infinite wisdom, and ex-
ecuted by omnipotent power.
Let US take brief survey of the rea-
condolences of these aud other points of
belief
There are two men, neighbors. Both
are honest, upright industrious and be-
nevoIent Both live irreproachabIe lives
TILL they are sixty years old. Both feel
alike the enfeebFing effects of age; their
sight is dim, their hearing is bad, their
bodies are weak and decrepIt, and their
minds are eyfsebled and childish.
La this situation, on, account of special
pains taken, and Efforts made by some in
terested individuals, one oilhem is brought
10 believe he is a grea! sinner, and thereby
exposed to eternal misery, and that by re.
pentance and faith in Christ, &C., his sins
will be forgiven and he be made happy
forever. After being wearied with con-
templating, (for some days, and perhaps
months, the dark side Of his character, and
relation 10 God as ali unreconciIed subject,
and the doom of the impenitent, the or
gans Of lis brain that have been so intense
ly exercised sink to rest, and another class,
such as Hope, Wonder and Veneraticn,
are called into operation by lively accounts
OF the felicity Of heaven and the good
ness aud forbearance of God AT oncehe
rejoices in the belief that his sins are for
given, that his peace is made with God,
and that he is an heir Of blessed immor-
tally! Conscious that his days are few,
he exuts ia the anticipation CT immortal
youstrtuiuvso. w ivl,
him, be passes the remainder Of his life,
which is considerably shortened by his ex-
cessive activity, in making known to 9TH
ers his joyous anticipalions, and exhorting
them to make sure of the same hope. Al
last he dies in peace. and his spirit is con-
Quoted by angels light TO the realms OF
unflding felicity.
His neighbor lives some years longer
in all the infrmities and inactivity of old
age, his life seemingly devoid Of good or
evil /; Till on his death bed, his condition
and the doom oflhe impenitent is forced up
on his consideration. He is without hope,
and his body emf ures but short time the
terrible imagnings of his MAD, and his
spirit is hurried by demons of darkness to
the ooaomless pit Of FIRE and brimstcne,
forever to experience the reality Of what he
had but forelastr On earth, amid the shriekS
4 and taunls of devils and damned spirits.
In this life we find their characters so
near alike there is nothing 10 choose be-
tween them, till near their death, and even
then reason would prefer the latter, except
he closing scene. Look at The contras,
afer death. Que is to be happy beyond
conception, in walking the golden streets
Of The new Jerusalem. ado rned with shin
ing grace" and feeding upon the ambro
sial fruits, and supping neciarian wines il
the company OF pure spirits whose extens
i've knowledge and varied converse fills
him with mingled emotions discrimination 6
ldelio BIZ. Nu:nberlesS flowers Of the mos
: exqisite beauty and perfume delight the
eye. All things brigh: and lovely, mos
tremendously combined, eErapure the
senses, ard delight the fancy. His ears
are charmed with the melody of angelic
songs and music struck from Earps attun-
edl celebrate the wonders of redeeming
love Amid scenes of new and eyer varied
delight he will spend The rounds Of eterni-
f ty.
On the other hand, his neighbor mus
be tossed on the fiery surges of he'll. and