Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-03-06

Nv 10 ouO CuuICu WILL IClCI OuOO w
the whole order of Gods universe and
government. 1t is the Divinely con-
stituted society of heaven, and has its
appropriate form also upon earth
There it is perfect; while here it is
cramped and clogged and hindered by
human imperfection and sin, but still
has its essential life, its growing
germ, its vital principle, its irresisti-
BILE and necessary development. Not
humanity lost and fallen, but hu-
manity restored is its basis; and the
soul once born into this relation is
kept in it and developed by it from
stage to stage of its endless being
This life and the life to come are not
then separate and totally distinct
sphn-es OF being. Tney are not TWO
lives, but oNE-a continuous being un-
der different forms and conditions
They are but two apartments of the
same building; the one the vestibule
or outer court, the other the inner
glorious and perfect temple. They
have close relations to each other
Each is necessary to the other. The
heavenly is only the continuation, the
perfection and complement of t h e
earthly. Heaven. Immortality, the fu-
ture life, is but the advanced and per-
feet state of that which is begun on
earth. Death and the grave is not the
end, but only the line of boundary be-
tween two different forms of the same
life-a veil merely which soon shall be
lifted, but which now serves to temper
to our feeble vision the dazzling glo-
ries for which we are not yet prepar-
ed. The family bonds continue. 1t
is the ,0hole family in heaven and
EARTH" 1t embraces in one all the
saints or holy ones, part of whom
have passed the boundary to the more
perfect state, and a part are still on
earth in the preparatory state of trial
and pupilage. Thus the Divine fam1-
ly, or the church, is appropriately re-
garded under the twofold form of the
text. 1t consists of two branches, or
divisions-that in heaven triumphant
and complete, and that on earth still
in conflict and discipline. Contem-
plated in these different aspects the
family in heaven embraces an immune
rable host of spiritual intelligences-
ngels, seraphim and cherubim-
thrones, principalities and powers,
all the sons of God, all the creatures
of his dominion above, Of whatever
rank or order, made for his glory and
his service and his blessedness. 1t
| includes also all the faithful who have
passed from earth, from Abel and En-
och and Abraham to the present hour
all those who have come out of
great tribulation, and have washed
their robes and made them white in
the blood of the Lamb"-a company
which no man can number, out of ev.
cry nation and kindred and people
under the whole heaven-a mighty
throng swelling every moment by the
number of those continually passing
from earth, whose victory here is gain
ed, whose work is done, and who art
called by the master to receive the
crown of life. Oh, how glorious the
contemplation! Think of all those
who have like Paul finished theil
course and kept the faith! Bring tt
your view the long line of patriarchs
prophets and apostles-the many poo
of this world rich in faith, and the he
roic champions of the truth in ever!
age There, with all our loved one
whose hope was anchored within th'
veil, even the last who has left tn
earth, now belong to the family il
heaven. Oh! | love to think of this
Is it not a joy, as we recall the ten
der memories of the loved ones gon
parents, children, brothers, sister;
companions, friends-to think tina
they have actually entered the tempt
| above, have taken possession of th
/, mansions prepared, and now enjoy tn
blessed perfection of that bond whic
4 indissolubly unites them in the grea
fold and family of God their Savior!
And the other great branch of thi
S Divine family is On the earth. Her
/. is the church militant with Christ a
e her captain and leader. Christ's glc
t ry is upon her, his beauty within he
f Here are the goodly tents of Jacol
|. and the tabernacles of Israel. Her
s in the church on earth, is the bir,
place of the saints-the great field Q
>. the conflict and victory of those VIII
now stand above "clothed with whit
6 robes and palms in their hands" y
p The church is born or planted G
earth, and perfected in heaven. St
is placed here as the safeguard an
9 hope of men, the light of the worl,
She has her work before her by tt
sacred influence of her ordinances an
. y her indwelling spirit, to develop tt
= powers of renewed humanity, relic,
= the disordered mind and the wounde
. spirit, to humble the pride and su
= due the unbelief of the carnal heal
! to stem the tide of deadly pollutic
, " which sin in its thousand channels
i pouring upon this world-to remo'
, from deathless man the curse of God
r violated law-to purify the founta
!; of moral afections-to shut the OPT
! gateway of death, and lead the san
~ tilted spirit into the presence of Go
+ where is fulness of joy forevermor
- - This is the state and work of Il
: church on earth. And how wortl
: and glorious does she appear, clad