The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-10
From the Southern Baptist.
Recognition In Heaven.

doubt 10 whether The expectation OF our per-
,onaiIy meeting and Of being reunited with kun
dred spirits in the future world, is to be regarded
as mere speculation, or whether il is to be regar-
ded as doctrine distinctly revealed by Inspira
lion. We think that there very valid rules oil
scripture Interpretation, which, when all put 10.
fslher give this sentiment all The force OF doc
rine Of christianity.
We propose on this occasion, TO look at the ques.
ron from "a single point OF view. namely, the per.
sonaI experience of the Apostle Paul, recorded
iu his writings Ii can clearly and unques-
WOnablv comprehend the pcrSonli and mental ex.
prrIPnce of his Bioe writer, surrounded as ho
was wi:h so many rays leaning upon HIM from
the spiritual world and If the experience Of such
s man cannot mislrad US, hen he favored
more than almost any other mortal, BIZ special
sni frequent inSIghts Of those unseen realms Of
r1<'cnce which lie ousiGc of tlIs material vail
which bounds our SenSeS-wr may very safely
rrke the view which the apostle held : 20 a reu-
MON y h friends in heaven, as having all the au
,hnriiv of inspired doctrine. We on the
.ilc ui comfort aud Of safety. when can he
n,rrlrard with the same convc'inn, and can have
tn. same fnunda ion for our lai'h, hich Paul real
led ia his own rX peTIpncr.
&. rnmpIring many declarations IN his Epis
ties It i h.yond doubt that this apostle f.. an
incns,. desire and expectation Of SEEING his brth-
rem again. not only in the o. Sh. but in the spiritu
al wori. II" spoke, Enr only of being with Them
~ hart aud -pirii, hu' many instances mis- Ian
uulg" points forward Ia tht sp;rirnlI r.union
which Is rh, essential intercourse Of all affection.
ME and spiritual tcingS. There j. wrapped up
wi;hin our interim faculties md iffrcinns, The
seed aud g"rm nf an immortal being. II is upon
lls in, r,dicahle Of The soul consciousness
rl, the primary AID INSOFAR biz conr ic.ion rests
az uur personal immurraiIrv.
Nuw IN he rXpcrIcrc" q! the Apostle Paul, there
j. an mnCEt 'NamI IIr at tic mnG iug power nl
sff:.ctinn. winch trin- rs the atn hmeutS of the
=, nj in this state. ton state beyond the grave
Thus flied by religion. attachments may
!, form, d. Mt to- have their objects lost iurever.
lr' ;n hrr"m" the It's 10 bind all pure and loving
s,ri> i"a' Ihcr ia 4 state al being where ties can.
r BE-. >un tered. Til, is the rgi'im ,Ir u.s.. Of our
.ir cf,nm< To each in u EARTH bnr 10 fnr IN
nl> r inf. rc"nrs" h'l unh The precincts of de-
" When true "T clinn i guvcrm hy chris.
rr,n priI cplr, i Is ha> up hat is imp~rishd bic
in ourselves ana in ih.. at els of our love.
There i inc rlluSirHIi"n oI his sentiment in
the Nprrirr c.. of K chnri B~xter, " hch in MANY
rrh,r respects, also TO rouch points of
sem I,c..'tn the Apostle PauI's character. He
,ay> '.;he 'xp c'n'i"n Of loving my friends here
after, principally kiuI|rs my love tn them on
earth II | rh"mgLt should know them.
aud cnns.- -quny never love them after this life is
,,,J a, | should uumh"r rh'-m with temporal things
.rI love them a< such but | now converse vi \
ri,us frirud>, in firm persuasion that ! shall
converse wTh hem t,r"vrr. | tax" comfort in
rF,, Iu<s al thu dead al sent. belle, ing shall
sLnIilv meet t!cm iH hc."en."
There are scme cli:i-:. :. ,!u pre- :, nj Ia il
n...!. = Su>itivcncss concerning the hDaJr Of
Christ. uhrn aay thirg Is inirodrc. as an ingre.
dent Of heavcml, y. a<iI from ;ls--pr">"rce and
glory Of tic Ride mer. There Is nn danger OF
our h"nnriug Christ too highly {; bu mast take.
4. I'd ,h,r " lille yin.Iic r his h3nor do net
i.urn,l,. and nh>cur' ia. rcrcIak ~ hr : gram
til Us AnI Chris his assured n~ that ne will
b.. gunriGrd in III prisons ot his Disciples. 10th
h.r" aud hcr"nf rr.
Tie ,i.w at the. apo>" in 'xprcra'inn Of rcm-
rinn With his b.avrd IrIrnt<. was anrhnrised bv
Christ bins. IT, Thus fird Nh. apostle saving
that "ChrisI shall he cED'iGrH /" his sli0fS"-
II Is his prayer fnr the Th'.ssal"nInr Christians.
I'll at the name Of our Lord Jesus Chri,t NAV be
glorifed Ia yOu and ,c tn him." t. The Gala
uan Christians Paul satS. i'm speaking of himself,
land they glnrird God in me-" In Iced, far
the apo>r. from regarding il any 1etrac
t"n from The glory Of Christ that hr holds it forth
animatinG incrr!v" tn himself and others
that the glory of Christ wnnid he nUgnloHtcd bv
the mutual inv of the Srvrd. when rhev >hrul1 re-
cogLse each other in his PR ssnce. Il animated
his own preaching, as when he saws Ia he Cnlns.
Ailns, in these words. "whnm preach, warn
ing every man, aud teaching every man, in all
wisdom, that may present every man neriect
in Jesus Christ" To the Philippians. kr says.
THAT | may reince in the day Of Christ. that
have not run in vain. neither labor"d in vain"
striking illustration nf the elief of the apns-
ne, appears in his ePi>tle 10 the Thessnlonan
Christians, who are described as endrnred to him
in threefold respect, which rises in the order Of
climax before the apostles mind: "Fnr what
Is our hope, or Joy, crown of rejoicing? Are
not even We in the presence Of our Lord Jesus
Christ at his coming 7" They were his "hnpe,"
for he hoped to see 'hpm again his "ioy." for he
expected TO be happy with them in the presence Of
Christ; his "crown Of rejoicing" for he looked
forward to his reward, the victor in the Greci.
an games crowned with The garlands of con-
qnest and this honor he should receive for his
instr me ltalty in II cir conversion.
But what this inspired apostle was thus so sure
al, concerning those whom he should recognise in
the presence of Christ, Lord declares shall be
equally verified in every one who shall have ac-
ted faithful part towards The poorest of his chill
dren in this world. When they shall all be gath.
cred into the presence OF Christ, in his clory, the
Lord will saw. "Come We blessed of my Father.
inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from before
the foundation OF the world. For I WAS an hun.
gered, and We gave me mra' ; was thirsty, and
We gave me drink | was n stranger, a@d We took
me in naked, and clothed me. | was sick
and ye visited me; was in prison, and We came
unto me-" And our Lord speaks all this, con-