Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-10-25

of the child we give to Heavenli
There is net line TO tell us in the
New Testament. Surely we do not
suppose that the figures of the Apoc-
alypse are to be taken literally as
representing our actual life in the
future wOrl.l that we are to be set
up in the ranks; that we are at stated
times TO make bows and at others to
sing. We 10 not understand the
power of G&d, and in regard to the
resurrection it does not yet appear
what we Will be.
In the Apocalypse are some of the
most touching figures that could be
employed, because drawn from the
very depth Of human experience.
But it is no. the method of Christ or
his apostles after him to give what
may DO called definite physiological
philosoI hicAl knowledge covering
the whole ground of the nature of
Heaven and the nature of our occu-
pations and: conditions when we shall
reach it. kut you must not suppose
that The heavenly existence is prac-
tically ann,hilated and all comfort
taken away from the belief of it be-
cause it is loft vague. The method
by which the great truths and reali-
ties OF the heavenly state are taught
are thousand times better adapted
to promote zeal and enthusiasm aud
endurance than if they had been
taught in philosophical method in
respect to details and particulars, for
the imagination is that very door
through which childhood learns be-
fore it energies from childhood, the
things that are beyond it. 1t is the
very way IN which common people
help themselves when they have no
special knowledge. Now we are as
children, not competent to under
stand the things that lie far beyond
US. They gre wholly beyond the
reach of our experience of that other
life. Therefore, all instruction given
to us on this subject is given to the
reason through the imagination.
The ms Jon of the New Tesla
ment is given to us upon that meth
cd. 1t is tie truth of God addressed
to our hearts, rather than our reason,
and to our affections through our
imagination.
That Heagen which you think Of
and think Of is purely imaginary,
Imagination. is the pathway between
the flesh ana the spirit. 1t is that
which gives to every man aspiration.
Men despisa it because it is not
measuring quantity. We are taught
that it is nc.t safe TO build on, but /
aver that ia the economy of Gods
providence She human race has been
lnstructs d morc through it's magma
ton than through its reason. We care
not to suppose there is hell, literal
", o place Of fire anG brimstone. j
don't believe it, and you don't be-
lieve it, and you ought not TO believe
it, any more than you are to believe
that Heaven is really paved with
golden paving stones. No one be-
lieves it if they did, there would be
more misers anxious for their souls
salvation. Amusement 1t is used
as a pictorial figure, we have no
means of understanding the actual
thing; we know nothing of it. 1t is
to us fiction, and fiction is often
times more nearly the truth than
truth itself. All that men know Of
art, of richc.9, Of courts, Of crowns, Of
princes, allI the beauty Of trees, Of
gardens, all'in rivers and mountains,
all that is most beautiful in nature,
will be found to represent to them
the Heavenly state. So man may
take all the elements they have lean D.
| ed to esteem and make heaven out
| of them. The true use then to be
made Of the Scripture is not to give
literal representation of its symbols,
for it is quite possible for the Bible it.
self to stand in the way of understand
ing the Bible, but the use is to repeat
the process OF reasoning as was done
in the olden time. The princes of
earth do not give me much admira-
ton of Heavenly princes. Counts, |
have seen them, and do not think
much of them for am a Democrat
| ic ROpublican-ahem IA Republican
Democrat, / mean, but they may do
good 10 others and 90 far towards
Interpreting the heavenly state. But
when we want 10 make for ourselves
heaven, we have got TO picture all
that we value noblest and best. /
hold it is the duty of the Christian to
interpret n9t the letter, but the spirit
of revelation, and many good people
will no doubt be shocked to hear me
say that you may take the theory on
which the Scripture was employed to
represent Heaven, and then, instead
of those fl cures you may take your
own, and make your own figures Of
Heaven. Now, Mary is not men
toned in she Apocalypse, but the
Mary who left you heart-broken, and
went up into Heaven, you can never
forget and then, when your old IA
ther, who was prophet, priest, lover
aud friend 10 you, disappeared from
your sights and went to join other
friends in smother land, then you be-
gan to people Heaven with familiar
faces, and Heaven begins to get full
of people, aud you have made of
Heaven East land inhabited by de-
parted friends.
The reason. then, Of the indistinct-
ness OF teaching in the New Testa-
ment is apparent. We are not de-
veloped. Me are no prepared to
understand the things that lie be-
yond us. We see through q glass
darkly, bus by-and-by we shall see
face to fach For instance, the lower
) classes OF soeiety-the gross and ami.
NAL, and even vicious-cannot under
stand the condition of pure virtu-
, Gus, and refined family. In other
words, the bottom of society cannot
, understand the top but the top car
understand the bottom. because the
} higher alp avs includes in it the de.
veiopmenSs of the lower. So we can
not interpret that which is above al
} thOuph that which is above interpretc