The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-15
NO. 463.
Gbe 8s6ie6.


IT, Pa 18th edition. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Bak-
i.an I-j6. Duodecimo.
TnE HEAVENLY RECOGNITION: or, Earnest and Scrip
iara Discussion of the Question: VIII we know our
friends in Heaven" BY Rev. ii. Harbaugh, A NJ.
quhor OF Heaven aud the Sainied Dead. 9th edition
Philadelphia Lindsay Bakiston. 1856. Both sold
by Taylor X Many, Washington, d. C.
Both Of these works, by the same author, are
new and revised editions of books which have
already been favorably received, and one, if
not both Of them, we noticed some time since.
Their subjects are such as will always more or
less engage the attention of the Christian pub
lie especially, and indeed of all who do not
openly DENY a future state. While man is NOR
tai. and there is not day in which some
among us do not see friends torn away from
them. and familiar faces of loved ones dis
appearing from their family circles, there will
ever be a fond desire to dwell upon the hope
of meeting them again, and to imagine their
present abode aud employments. Every an
swer to such question must of course be found
81 on the Bible, the truth God reveals. AS for
the pretended responses of the spiritualists, we
Law them aside as worse than useless; for we
can build no faith on replies which, if real,
would show that men of mighty minds have
made no advance, but rather gone backward,
in dwelling of scores of years, or even CEN
tures. in a higher state of nearness to the
Supreme Intelligence. There is, however, a
decree of latitude for speculation in the inter-
preaton of some passages of Scripture, and a
rational curiosity may be INDUCED, no doubt,
in putting forth the ventures of exploration
into the unrevealed relations of individuals to
each other, who meet in the same blessed
place. Into this domain of investigation wri-
ters OF no mean note have gone within the
such works, and their success, shows that they
meet a common want. Isaac Taylor's Physi-
cal Theory of Another Life was one of these,
which, while containing portions that were
not wholly approved, yet exercised no little
power over the minds of thinking men. Mr..
J.ush in his volumes has based his reason
ings strongly on the Scriptures. He regards
heaven place, and not merely as state
death Immediately enter into this place, and
cJnsel uently discards the idea of any future
state; and that there they are acquainted with
what is passing in this world, or, as he says,
there is a sympathy between heaven and earth
These last conclusions he embodes in four
propositions, viz: We have communion with
the saints in heaven. The saints in heaven
remember this world, and think of lis. The
Of them. The saints in heaven know us, and
are Interested in us. Subsidiary questions also
are discussed, and a variety of illustrations
drawn from the history of opinions thus rem
derins his book one of practical value.
The other volume, The Heavenly Recogni-
i'oa is a sequel to the former, and brings to-
geher a numerous collection of quotations
from the Scriptures, and ancient and modern
authors, to establish the fact of such recogni-
ton Of friends in future state. Both are
written in a clear, agreeable style deep tone
Of pety pervades them, and they leave an i'm
preston most favorable to the authors spirit
on the readers mind. The dress they wear,
from the imprint Of the press whence issued,
are such as we love to see in good book, and
such as we have noticed already in many pub.
LEGATIONS of the firm. s.
Nf-W or rHE = HIrt re REVELATIONS CONCERNING FU-
rEE STATE by Richard Whately, ID. D. late Arch
h>Iop oi Dublin Philadelphia: Lindsay & Biakiston
80 For sale hy Taylor Maury, Washington d c.
From the same press of Lindsay & Blaks-
ton we have here a reprint of another work,
by distnguished foreign author, which has
also been heretofore received with high COM
mendation. If name well known as that of
= writer among the most esteemed in the Chris
tan world at present, both in Great Britain and
pa this country gives authority to mans opin-
Iy wall be regarded as emitting these Lectures,
on the topics of which they treat, to a careful
peruS;d. The ground the author takes is of an
intermediate state, according to the views of the
Episcopal Church. This state is one of con-
seriousness. and not one of trial In connection
with these, he also treats of the resurrection,
he Judgment, the expected restoration of the
'e"S and the Millennium, rewards and punish
meats, Heaven and the condition of the bless
ed' @c.-all of which subjects are discussed
with his usual ability. So that we have the GU
Hou' fact Of there being issued from the same
press at the same time, works on both sides of
The question of the intermediate state. A COM
laHson Of the mode Of augmentation, and the
course Of thought by which two minds, both of
them men Of reflection, are led to so opposite
Results, is afforded, and it is not an uninterest-
ing one. While one sees proof positive in GER
'ain passages of Scripture, the other does not
'hlnk much light is thrown on the question by
'hem. The arguments of Whately are more
abstract, and adduced more in the style of
iogcian, such clear one as he is well known
10 be; and, however satisfactory or not to some
minds, may be read with profit. The ground
over which he ranges is wider, and of course
hs views must be more generalized than were
he more exclusively confined to one topic. In
a note IN the preface, he states a fact, showing
how differently two minds are affected by the
same work. One intelligent clergyman, on the
publication of an earlier edition of his Lectures,
wrote to him, requesting him. in future edi-
uon 10 omit particular Lecture; while, in a
letter from another equally intelligent clergy
man. IN another part of England, he received a
letter, pointing to that Lecture as one from
which he had derived much profit. No doubt
Tue same will be the result on different classes
o persons of the present edition; and we hope,
With such facts in view, his readers will be dis
posed to give the author candid hearing. s.
'.- METHOD or THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT, PHYSICAL AND
"~AL by James MeCosh IL. d., Professor of Logic
''aphy>icS IN the Queens University for Ireland