The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-06-17
Moral and Religious.
THE Wo WORLDS.
BY bishop BEvERIDGE.


the soul is penned up, whether il aes or how it sub
ssts, think it not easy determine, indeed to
conceive. As for the platonic Eral and ETHEREAL
Vehicles, succeeding this Terrestrial one ind neither
mention Of nor warrant for them in the word Of God
And, indeed, TO suppose that spiritual substance
cannot subsist Of ITSELF without being supported by
corporeal Vehicle is, in my opinion too gross con-
ce for any philosopher, much more for one that pro-
Gesses himself divine, to advance or entertain.
believe, that at the great and general asszes OF
the world, there will be glorious entrance opened
for the righteous into the Holy of Iloluess the scat
and fountain of all bliss and happiness, where they
shall draw nigh TO the most high God, behold his pres
ence in righteousness, and reign with him forever in
glory, where they shall see him face to face, and
know him the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
he hath sent. And this knowing and beholding God
face to face, is believe, the very heaven of heavens
the highest happiness hat il is possible GREAT
ure should be made capable Of for in having per-
feet knowledge Of God, shall have perfect knowl-
edge Of all things that were, are shall, yea or
can, be in the world. For God being the Being of
all beings, in seeing him, shall not only sec what
soever hath been, but whatsoever be communi-
Gated from him. The contemplation of which,
not but ravish and transport my spirit beyond itself;
especially when consider, that in knowing this
One All-Fhings God, cannot but enjoy wha tsoever
It is possible any creatures should enjoy. For the
knowing of thing is the souls enjoyment of it;
tho understanding being to the soul, what the
to the body. And herefore,a the body enjoys
nothing but by its Senses neither doth the soul
Joy anything but by its understanding. And, the
body is said to have whatever affects its proper sem
he sn,I lie -,
comes under its knowledge Nay, tho soul so far
hath what it knows, that in manner, it is what it
knows itself being in n spiritual manner, enlarged,
according to the extent of the objects which knows,
Us the body is by the meat it eats; the truths we
know turning into substance Of our souls, the
meat eat doth into the substance Of our bodies
But oh +! what rare soul shall ! then have
when it shall be extended TO every thing that
was, could have been What n
happy creature shall be when shall know, and 80
enjoy him that is all things in himself! What can a
creature desire more? yea, what can IL creature
DO made%sapable of enjoying desiring And that
which always win accompany this our knowledge
and enjoyment, is perfect love what we enjoy and
know, without which should take pleasure in
nothing, though we should have all things TO take
pleasure in. But who will be able not to love the
chefest good, that knows and enjoys him and there
fore enjoys him because he knows him? Question.
less, in heaven, as shall enjoy whatsoever can
love so shall love whatsoever enjoy. And this
therefore, believe to be the perfection of my hap
piness, and the happiness OF my perfection in the
other world; that shall perfectly know and love,
and SO perfectly enjoy and rejoice in the most High
God; and shall be, as known, perfectly loved and
rejoced in him. And questionless, for all our shall
low apprehensions and low destinations of these things
now, they cannot choose but be vast and unconceva
BILE pleasures too great for any craatu to enjoy
whilst here below.
If we have but the least drop Of these pleasures
distilled into US here upon earth how strangely do
they make us, as it were beside ourselves If we
can but at any time get glimpse Of God, and Of his
love to US, how are we Immediately carried beyond
all other pleasures and conentments whatsoever =
How apt are we TO say with Peter, 1t is good for us
to be here and il the fore of the blessings of
Canaan if the dark inmaton of Gods love to us, be
so unspeakably pleasant, ravishing deightsome;
o what will the full possession of him be What
transporting ecstacies of love and Joy shall those
blessed souls be possessed WITH who shall behold
the King of glory smiling upon them, rejoicing over
them,and shining forth in all his love and glory upon
them Oh what astonishing beauty will they then
behold What flowing, what refreshing pleasures
shall then solace and delight their spirits, unto all
eternity Pleasures ! far greater than ! am able
either to express or conceive, much less to enjoy on
this side Of heaven my faculties are now too narrow
and scany for such entertainment, and therefore,
till they are spritualized and enlarged, they cannot
receive il! This is the portion only of another world,
this the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the
righteous judge reserves in heaven FOR me- and which
at his second coming he has promised to bestow upon
me, and not upon me only, but upon all them also
that love his appearing. A' 81. 5...-A