The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-08-03

Z have received the following letter
from Iowa:
"Will you allow western reader of
your paper, though stranger. to ask
favor of you? Will you, in some of your
Friday evening lectures, take the subject
suggested in the question of Judas to the
Saviour (St. John xiv, 23), Chow it is
that thou wilt manifest myself unto us
and not unto the world?" The different
relations Jesus bore to his disciples be-
fore and after his resurrection or, the
Essence of Religion before the Direct
Reign of the Holy Spirit also, The
Manifestations of Jesus, noao to US and
the World.
please pardon the liberty I have
taken"
Twill read the whole passage to which
this refers, beginning with the 2Ist
verse:
Gle that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
me: and he that loveth me shall be
loved OF my Father, and | viii love him,
and viii manifest myself to him. Judas
saith unto him, not iscariot, Lord, how
rs 1t that thou wilt manifest thyself unto
US, and not unto the world? Jesus ans
wered, and said unto him, If man love
me, he will keep my words; and my
Father will love him, and we will come
unto him, and make our abode with
him.
1t is very plain that the disciple had
an idea that Christ would appear in some
luminous manner, with some material
display. 1t was therefore a puzzle to
him how he could appear in such man
ner that his disciples should see him and
nobody else. IF he was palpable enough
tor them to see him, why could not all
the world see him? 1t is as if one
should say, Il can kindle light here.
which ell the professors of religion in the
room shall see." The question comes
up, "Well, if they can see, why can not
ahthat are here see p And the question
would be pertinent one, if it were the
hight of a lamp. But suppose one should
say, i have an experierc &c which being
explained. only those who have an en-
hghtened moral sense can understand -
You are very well aware that, as a mat
ter offact, some men are able to anpre-
bend an experience which other men are
incapable of appreheading.
As respects the manifestations of
Christ, the subject is one of very pro-
found interest. Whe her or not the
passage refers to the descent Of the HOLY
spirit under the new dlspensation, it Is
not necessary to inquire. 1t is very GER
tain that the experiences Of mankind
took great rise under Christ, and as
she result OF the new dispensation. There
was an opening, if | may SO say. Of the
interior life of the soul and it became
not only possible, but common, for men
70 rise into states of mind which ,vara
certainly developed after the ascension
of Christ and the descent of the Spirit
20 degree of elearness and power which
they never had attained before. Nv
own impression is that there lie latent in
the human soul powers which in spirit
ual directions transcend auvfhing of
which we have yet had any experience
That these powers will be unfolaad IN
sheir glory In the other lite. il is 70 ba
presumed. And [ suppose there will
come time in this world when men will
reach condition of UNDERSTANDING and
of moral sense, and when, above all the
spiritual nature will be so unfolded in
faith, in love, and in moral intuition.
that men viii live lives transcendentlv
higher than they ever have lived. or than
they can live now, when they live so
much by the senses, and by the material
part OF the intellect, or that part of the
intellect which relates to material things.
That this higher life, as it has been
appropriately called, is develone,f in ms
by the influence Of Gods scul aetina
directly and personally upon ours, I also
thoroughly believe. That some persons
are more susceptible to this, aud have a