The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-23

will be made, perhaps, her, guardian angel to
hover near and to watch over her; if one
should realize the presence of the departed,
and converse with him, and be converSed
with by him, there would be basis of truth
for it. We may commune with the beloved
dead as we do with Christ page 1887
We are told that the views of children,
who have been instructed only in the COM
monty received truths concerning heaven,
are dreary, and repulsive beyond conception.
These poor little creatures had the idea,
that they were to do nothing there, but to
talk about converting people, and saying
prayers, and all that; that "heaven was not
going to be anything nice any way" and
that, eff it were not for the fire it would be
as well to be in one place as the other. =
Some things SO profane and shocking are
said, that one cannot help thinking that they
are the creatures of some genius who pre-
sides over the department of wit and fun of
some sensational weekly. In "Gates Agar
little children are told that they shall 9a
"ginger-schnapps with molasSeS in them,
plenty of play things, and generally ''fun,
to such an extent that they need not desire
"to 90 down to hell for while of Satur-
day afternoon" to enjoy themselves without
restraint Young people are assured that if
they are disappointed in love, they will meet
the treacherous one under happier auspices
above; if they have a taste for music, pianos,
and other musical instruments will be sup
piled them there; if they have talent for
invention, the economy of things above may
be such that labour-saving machines will be
as necessary there as here, and their genius
in this regard, will therefore have free scope,
"perhaps." We quote verbatim, 'perhaps
whole planets may be turned into galleries of
art, set all around with paintings and stat
uary of course. "And orchestral halls where
the highest possibilities of music will be re-
alised to singer and hearer." The Scrip
lures, speaking in figure, tell us of "the
river of the water of life" in heaven, and of
"trees growing on either bank bearing fruit. "
"Gates Ajar" says, that heaven has SITS
mountains, its forests of naples, lindens,
elms and pines" its rivers and streams, its
flowers, 'its glorifed cities of the valley,
heavenly tea-rose buds, and spiritual hare
bells" The 'many mansions" of Christ
become transformed in the hands of our au-
thoress into "houses and homes,' where
Christian families, husbands and wives, and
children reunited in heaven shall gather and
enjoy the pleasures of domestic life in some
sublimated form. The soul in entering upon
these scenes, will find kind of spiritual
body prepared for it, in anticipation of the
resurrection body.
Such are some of the "Yankee notion"
in regard to heaven, which "Gates Ajar"
| brings to us as e1addenda" torwhat the word
of God reveals. 1t is not enough for hope
in the darkness of this pilgrimage state, or
for consolation and comfort in lis trials and
Affections, that we are taught of heaven, that
it is the place where all the sainted dead
shall at last gather, that there, we shall meet
at last those of our dead who have died in
the Lord, that there we shall be eternally
holy and happy, enjoy forever the beatifc
vision of God, have cleared up to our minds
one after another, the mysteries of Provi
dence and redemption, eternally grow il
knowledge and wisdom, and where we shall
have field for the exercise of all the holy
activities of our nature; no, this is no
enough for the necessities of human life
We must have the novelties of "Gates Ajar'
to freshen up and replenish the stagnant
and almost exhausted waters of the ole
fountain. *.