Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-24

such was bis temptation, although he had
not mentioned it to any one For some
time he resisted, but finally fell into the
snare; and his experience proved the cor
rectness Of Miss D-'s communication.
A lady whom she named was represented
to her as attired in the purest white, and
surrounded by number of little children,
whom she was striving to wash in pure wa
ter, that they too might be white and clean;
and the angel told her that the lady's robe
was indicative of her purity of heart and
her holiness Of life, and that her employ
ment symbolized the nature and effects of
her exertions in the church Of God. was
well acquainted with this lady, and could
bear witness to the correctness of this pic
ture for she was, in my opinion, one of
the holiest of women, and was exceedingly
useful to children and Young people; in
deed, the honored instrument of bringing
many of them to God. Another lady she
described as standing at the entrance of
the path leading to eternal life, with book
in her hand, and crying to the giddy mul
titude,
Come back, and walk therein"
This lady, who was well known 80 the wri-
ter, had made many sacrifices for the cause
of Christ, and was, believe, doing what
she could to bring poor wanderers back to
God.
Many other things were mentioned by
her. but which | cannot now so distinctly
remember, as to warrant my making any
record of them here. There was strange
unearthliness about this young woman, af-
ter this remarkable event. Previously, her
disposition was rather sullen, and there was
an impression of sourness on her counte-
nance; but the change produced by this
occurrence was manifest to all that knew
her. Her temper became the most amia-
BILE, and her countenance was lighted up
with more than ordinary JOY. But, strange
to say, IN few months she allowed herself
to be exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelation, and conse-
quently lost much of her glory but the
rod of affiiction led her to recover her for
feited enjoyment, and in about three years
after this trance she died happily in the
Lord.
No person is perhaps more disposed to
scrutinize and to reject the disclosures ei
what are called frances and visions than
myself, yet, when they furnish 50 many
marks of genaineness as those of Miss
D., think they should be allowed
their proper weight and influence in con-
frming and illustrating the doctrines Of
revelation. There is nothing in Miss D.;
disclosure inconsistent with that Book
which is to be light unto our feet and s
lamp unto onr paths, and by which we are
TO regulate our faith and practice ); but, or
the contrary, there is the most perfect &C
cordance. The Word Of God informs III
that there is world of spirits, into which
men enter ON quitting this life, and an
happy, or otherwise, according to- othesT NOR
al character and if the Lord should, II
some cases, for reasons best known to him
self, lift the veil which conceals from on
view that spiritual region, we ought not tc
reject the light thus let in upon US, but rath
er avail ourselves of It's assistance for tht
better understanding of the word Of God
and the realities of another state of exis
tence.
With respect to the locality of the worlC
Of spirits, conjecture has been busily ant
fruitfully employed. Some suppose. that
is in the sun; others that it is the censr
of the vast universe attracting and govern
ing all the celestial bodies in their revolu
tions but the opinion which to me ap
pears most plausible is that Of its being i
the atmospheric region, and consequent
all around us. 1t is true we perceive
not, because our senses are holden" Gu
physical nature is supposed to be the We
separating between US and the inyisibl
world: but when this veil is removed b
the hand of death, our souls will at ono
find themselves in that world, and discer
things which, though now present, are nC
seen, because spiritually discerned. Tn
view of the subject seems to be count
nanced by the Scriptures. The mountai
appeared covered with spiritual being
the prophet, opened the eyes of bis Sc
want, or drew aside the veil. e Kings v
I'D Stephen, at the time he was abo,
to suffer martyrdom, "saw the heavei
open, and Jesus standing at the right har
of God" Believers are to be caught 1
to meet the Lord in the air; = and Il
ministering spirits which minister f
them who shall be heirs of salvation 4
always behold the face Of our Father whiC
is in heaven" They do not leave the spir
ual world to perform their ministratios
! but are in heaven, it would seem, at Il
very time they are encamping round
bout them that fear the Lord.7 1t is tr
that this view, as well as others, relative
the abode of separate spirits, involves d
fculties not to be solved in this inperfe
state; but it nevertheless appears to ]
! ceive some sanction from the word OF Go
! and is, in my estimation, more consiste
). with the condition Of being entranced tn
any other opinion held on the subject.
) 1t is also very generally received OPT
|, ion, that spirits know each other in the
{ visible world. The rich man knew ABB
!, ham and Lazarus and the Apostle, ref
ing to future state, tells US that tn
Z shall we know as also we are known
" According to the testimony of Miss D.
she knew, without being informed, the '
/ rious beings she net with in the world
] spirits. 1t appears to be region Of know
Z edge intuitively obtained, without any
+ borious effort or inquiry. This view