The New York herald., 1871-06-19
ASSEMBLY CHURCH.

DR.. Boynt0n Upon the MateriaIism of the
Body After the Resurrection, and Of the
Celestial City-A Picture of the Spiritual
Form Of Humanity and of the Eternal
Home Of the Blesi.
WASHINGTON. June Is, 1871.
Rev.. DR.. Boynton preached at the Assembly
church upon the attributes OF the spiritual body and
HEAVEN AS A MATERIAL PLACE.
The spiritual body, shown by instances In Christ's
life often after the resurrection, was visible and in
visible at pleasure. 1t had the power to penetrate
matter. 1t was not controlled by gravity. A body
formed OF flesh and bones, In which spirit power
takes place OF the blood on the arrival OF life,
can enter upon the new conditions Of life
in the kingdom OF heaven, CHRIST was put TO
death In the flesh. hut quckened and retnstated In
the spirit life. The speaker was not one OF those
who think that all inquiry regarding characteristics
of heaven either forbidden or useless. Inasmuch as
Christ declared that lie going to prepare place
for u.s. 1t becomes an interesting question to us
where that home Of the Lord may be and what It's
character is. The statements OF the Scripture
Intended to excite our interest in regard to future
home. Christ Is said to have passed through, not
into the heavens. The phrase Is significant and.not
carelessy used, but employed to describe literal
fact, that In going back from earth to His heavenly
home He passed through the heavens. The Jewish
Idea OF
THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE
embraced three neavens-the atmosphere OF earth,
the starry regions, beyond ana without these the
heaven OF heavens. For such general and wide.
spread idea there must be corresponding truth.
This heaven OF heavens seems to be the place OF the
special manifestation or God, the seat OF His throne,
the General city and metropolis of the universe. In
regard to It's character, fsrt OF all IL must be place
where a material body with
FLESH AND BONES CAN DWELL,
for with such body Jesus evidently assembled. Two
ideas may be entertained IN regard to senses-one
that sensiblity depends upon the senses, and wnen
munlcatng with the material world 1t is a
which the spirit cannot perceive at ALL or whether
1t MAY not be a mufner by whose withdrawal tho
world more readily than now. covering over the
ear deadens the hearing, q glove on the hand rem
the Vision. The withdrawal OF the body may IN
crease all
Christ rose as the first fruits Of the redeemed
humanity The place He has prepared Tor His
people must be suited to the resurrection state OF
all His people. 1t wiz also be worthy OF the great
king. AS royal bridegroom first throws open the
parors he has fitted for his bride, SO 1t may be that
the Church. His bride, TO Himself, first throw open
the new regions He has prepared to the wondering
eyes OF angels and OF men. We cannot even fancy
THE PARTICULAR CHARACTER OF ITS SCENERY,
the forms AMI hues OF its gores or the nature az It's
ever new delight; but we know that e-'A's Get
every desire and want OF the new hunla. ,,the
description OF the new Jerusalem shows - Side
upon which God uses gems and gold, OF which, 4
we possess q little portion we are SO swollen with
vanity and pride, 1t matters not whether the de.
scrlpilon is Il reality. 1t shows Gods estimate Of
and HIS use Of gems and gold. with Iaoa. few
SHINE a man expects tGst ile US with his
splendor; but God shows us a. Y fifteen hundred
miles square, with Its foundathssyRals' OF precious
jewels, each OF its lofty gates soNd pearl and all Its
streets paved with gold. This is he,dea which God
presents OF heaven. Christ ascendeuas the head OF
the government OF the universe. In this govern
ment the Church is TO share There are three tneo-
ries in regard to
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CELESTIAL GOVERN
MENT.
One Is saat besides the angels tnere are many uii-
ferent 0ers OF intelligent beings inhabiting the
countless worlds Of the UNIVERSE and that redeemed
humanity, with Christ at Its head, will constitute
m governing family Of creation. Another suppo-
Il is that as the only revealed form for beings OF
degree OF intelligence Is the human one that 1t
= the model form OF the universe. 4 third theory
rs that there only two races OF Intelligent be-
ings-anges, good and evil, and men. whichever
theory OF the universe you may adopt the position
OF the Church OF Christ In that universe remains
unchanged. In any case IL is the governing body OF
CREATION the queen sharing the throne OF her roya
husband, Christ