Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-03-15
Seleftea Mistellang.
From the Charleston Courier.
DR.. Doddridge's Dream.

innate friendship with DR.. Samuel Clarke,
and in religious conversation they spent very
many happy hours together. Among other
matters, very favorite topic was the in.
termediate state of the soul, and the proba-
bility that at the instant of dissolution it
was not introduced into the presence of all
the heavenly hosts, and the splendors around
the throne of God. One evening, after
conversation of this nature, DR.. Doddridge
retired to rest with his mind full of the
subject discussed, and in "the visions of
the night" his ideas were shaped in the fol-
lowing beautiful form:
He dreamt that he was at the house of
friend, when be was suddenly taken dan.
gerously i'll. By degrees he seemed to him
self to grow worse, and at last to expire
In an instant he was sensible that he had
exchanged the prison house and sufferings
of mortality, for state of liberty and hap
piness. Embodied in slender aerial form,
he seemed to float into a region of pure
light. Beneath him lay the earth, but not
a glitterng city or village, the forest or
the sea, was visible There was uaugbt to
be seen below save the melancholy group
of his friends, weeping around his lifeless
remains Himself thrilled with delight, he
was surprised at their tears, and attempted
to inform them of his happy change; but,
by some mysterious power, utterauce was
denied him, and, as be anxiousy leaned over
the mourning circle, gazing fondly upon
them aud struggling to speak, be rose silent
ly upon the air, their forms became more
and more indistiuct, and gradually melted
away from his sight. Reposing upon golden
clouds, he found himself swiftly mounting
the skies with venerable figure at his side,
guiding his mysterious movements, and in
whose countenance he remarked the Inca.
meuts of youth and age we're blended to-
gether with an intimate harmony and ma.
jestic sweetness. They travelled together
through vast region Of empty space, uu.
til at length the battlements Of glorious
edi6ce shone in the distance, and as its form
rose brilliant and distinct in the far. off
shadows that fitted athwart their path, the
guide informed him that the palace he be,
held, for the present was to be his mansion
of rest. Gazing upon its spleudor, be re-
piled, that while on earth be had often
heard that the eye had not seen, nor had
the ear heard, nor could it enter into the
heart of man, to consider the things which
God had prepared for those who love him,
but Notwithstanding the building to which
they were then rapidly approaching, was
superior to any thing which he had actual.
ly before bebeld, yet its grandeur bad not
exceeded the conceptions be had formed
The guide made no reply, they were already
at the door and entered. The guide intro
duced him into spacious apartment, at the
extremity of which stood a table, covered
with snow white cloth, golden cup and
cluster of grapes, and then said that he
must leave him, but that he must remain,
for he would receive in short time, visit
from the Lord of the mansion, and that du-
ring the interval before his arrival the apart
ment would furnish him with sufficient en-.
tertainment and instruction. The guide van
ished, and he was left alone. He began to
examine the decorations of the room, and
observed D the walls were adorned with
number Of pictures. Upon nearer inspec.
ton, be found to his astonshment, that they
formed complete biography of his own
life. Here be saw upon the canvass that
angels, though unseen, had ever been his
familiar attendants, and sent by God, they
had sometimes preserved him from immi-
nent peril He beheld himself first repre-,
sented as an infant just expiring, when his
life was prolonged by an angel gently
breathing into his nostrils. Most of the
occurrences here delinea.ed, were perfectly
familiar to his recollection, and unfolded
many things which he had never before un-
derstood, and which had perplexed him
with many doubts and much uneasiness -
Among others, be was particularly struck
with picture in which he was represented
as falling from his horse, when death would
have been inevitable, had not an angel re
ceived him in his arms aud broken the force
of his descent. These merciful interpos.
tions of God filled him with joy and graft
tude and his heart overhowed with love as
he surveyed in them all an exhibition Of
goodness and mercy far beyond all that he
had imagined. The Lord of the mansion
had arrived, the door opened and he enter
ed,-so powerful and so overwhelming, and
withal of such singular beauty was his ap-
pearance, that he sunk down at his feet,
completely overcome by his majestic ap-
pearance His Lord gently raised him from
the ground and, taking his hand, led him
forward to the table. He pressed with his
fingers the juice of the grapes in the gold
en- cup, and, after having drunk, presented
it to him, saying: "This is the new wine
in my fathers kingdom" No sooner had
be partakeu, than all uneasy sensations van
ished; perfect love had now cast out fear,
and he conversed with his Saviour as an
intimate friend. Like the silver ripplings
of summer sea, he heard fall from his lips,
the grateful approbation-"Thy labors are
over, thy work is approved, rich and glo.
rious is the reward"
Thrilled With an uuspeakable bliss that
glided over his spirit, and slid into the very
depths of his soul, he suddenly saw glories
,,on oxIor;os h,-0,;,, noon his view The