The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-05-16
Thoughts upon Heaven
II REV. RrFrs W. CLARK, D. D.
THE ISrEREsr FELT By DEPARTED SAINTS
IN US,


difficulties, and that We find in the
Scriptures but few passages to guide us
in our investigations. But in relation
to q subject upon which there is an in
tense desire for knowledge, especially
with those whose friends have recently
been taken from them, we are willing
to oaccept the twilight if we can get no
more, and wait for the clear and bright
evidences that we believe will greet us,
when. our feet touch the shining shore.
The reasonableness of an examination
Of this subject, is obvious from the in
quiries that instinctively arise in the
mind when our Christian friends are
taken from us by death. We naturally
ask, does the departed spirit carry with
it the same interest in our happiness
andrspiritual progress, that was felt and
manifested on earth. Does the affec-
tionate companion whose death has ex-
tinguished more than half of this worlds
light to the survivor, look down, with
sympathy, from the heights Of glory,
upon the afflicted mourner7 Does the
mother retain her interest in the dear
children, over whose infancy she watch
ed with 80 much solicitude, and for
whose culture and spiritual good she
desired to live? If the angels are min
istering spirits sent forth. to minister to
theheirs of salvation, may not the glo-
rified saints share in this service, or at
least be interested in those who were
most dear to them on earth7 The idea
seems to be perfectly reasonable, and we
believe it to be SCriptural.
The "great cloud Of witnesses, des-
cribed by St. Paul, and referred to in
previous article, are represented as gag
ing with intense interest upon the earth.
ly competitors for the prizes of immor-
tality. The fact that we are visible to
those witnesses" is used as an argu-
ment to induce us to clay aside every
weight, and the sin that doth easily be-
set US, and run with patience the race
set before u.s." If then the saints, men,
toned in the eleventh chapter of the
Epistle to the Hebrews, form a COM
pany under whose inspection the Chris
tian race is run, why may not others,
and even our departed friends, join that
company, and be equally interested
with them in the progress of the disci-
pies Of Christ on this earthl And why
should not that interest be increased by
the ties Of affection that have been
formed herei If thought is made clear
and'Vivid, and love more intense in that
new and spiritual and immortal life,
than they were here, we may reasona-
bly, suppose corresponding increase OF
soliCitude for our religious advancement
and Of joy over our victories.
But st. Paul, with his mind still glow
ing with the splendid scenes that had
opened before him, declared to the He
brew Christians, aye are come unto
Mount Zion and unto the city OF the
living God, The heavenly Jerusalem,
and b an innumerable company Of an
gels 10 the General Assembly md
Church Of lhs frst born, which are writ
Ten 10 heaven. and to God, The Judge Of
all, and % the spirits Of just men made
porfept." Mark the precise language
used BY The apostle. Ye are come, that
iSalroady come, to the city of the living
God and to its glorious inhabitants, ,
saints and angels. Ye are come to hold
communion with the saints And this
precious doctrine has been believed and
cherished by Christians in all ages.
The words Of the Greed, ~ believe in
the communion of saints" have been
ten thousand times repeated by the ear
ly Christians by martyrs on their way
to the stakei by priests at the altar
and by the ministers Of the Reformed
churches, and by the disciples of Jesus
in alllands !.
Bishop Pearson, in his admirable
Exposition Of the Greed, I" after criti-
cal examination Of this point, and a
statement Of the fellowship of the saints
on earth, says; "NOr is the Union sep
arated BY the death Of any; but as
Christ in whom they live is tho Lamb
slain from the foundation Of the world.
80 have they fellowship with all The
saints, which from the death Of Abel,
have ever departed in the true faith aud
fear OF God, and now enjoy tho presence
Of the Father, and follow the Lamb
whitberaosyer he goeth. And thus 4
believe In the Communion of Saints"
Another beam Of Scriptural Hpht
comes to us from the Mount Of Trans
fgurakiou. We are informed thht
Moses and Elias appeared in glory and
spake 70 Jesus Of "his decease which no
should accomplish at Jerusalem"
From the inspired narrative, we learn
that Moses and Elijah had knowledge
of what was tranSpirihg upon the earthe
and that they were interested in the Of
fering that Christ was to make of HIM
self for the redemption Of the world.
From this We may naturally infer that
other glori6ed saints have q knowledge
Of and are interested in tho spiritual
affairs of earth And II the general adj
vaneement Of Chrisrs Kingdom is an
object Of their interest, is i to be sup
posed that the welfare of individuals,
and especially of near and dear friends
is oyerl0okedi Admitting the eyiden-
cea 1t which We have thus glanced, how
full Of consolation to the bereayed ones,
is the thought that death has not sepa-
rated US from the sympathy and inter.