The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-28
Brooklyn CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH.

Communion with the Saints-SermOn by the
Rev. DIR. Wesco,t.
The Rev. Isaac Wesoott addressed last night q
somewhat sparse congregation in the little Baptist
church In Fifsy-rst street on the subject whether
saints in heaven have some knowledge OF their
friends on EARTH" The reverend gentleman took
his text from Paul's Eplste to the Hebrews Kill L.
"Seeing that we are encompassed about with so
great
CLOUD OF WITNESSES,
let Us lay aside every weight aud the that doth
SO easily beset us. an6 with patience III the race
set before u.s. We all know that death occasions
long and grave reflections the question Of future
life ana the influence eXertcd by the departed. Who
has ever turned from the grave OF loved friend
without asking ourselves, 'Snall we ever meet the
lost one again ~ and inquirng II there be another
world, where the spirits OF
DEPARTED FRIENDS MET
and recognize each other, and, when we have set.
tied that there Is such place, another question
arises, Does the departed friend sec us and think
about US and witness our struggles And just in
proportion as our hearts answer In the affirmative
do we press Oh to the discharge OF our duties
That the spirits OF the departed are cognlzant of all
our actions believe is proved by my text. Here
We ind the apostle speaks OF the departed not as
examples for US 20 follow, but as witnesses or all
our acts in
THE RACE OF LIFE.
/ will now ask you to consider moment my
theme, "Wnether SAINTS in heaven have some know.
ledge Of their friends On eartn.r What influence
can they have II they know nothing about US
When the Greeks intended TO train their young men
for war they established the 0lymplan games. ia
order to prepare the youth for the tolls OF war.
and made them compete for the prizes before
the assembled people And with the spectators ofthe
amphitheatre In his mind tho apostle this figure
OF The loved ones surrounding and looking down on
the contestants. II the apostle chose apJly the
figure how can we have any other idea than that
the blest are looking IN at
THE CHRISTIAN RACE
and encouraging us TO continue to the endf II O
man were weary and inclined To give up the fact or
our friends Deing present and looking at US would
Angels haze knowledge OF us and we are told
there Is JOY In heaven over repentt slnners but II
rejoice over our sonversioa7 And then snail We
think that the saints wsd be ignorant OF what the
angels know we ind in the Revelations John re-
laies 10 his vision that those he saw "werc those
who had come out Of tripuation.n know that
would not be justified IN
BAsIS0 CREED on VISION,
but we may use thls testimony in support OF other
evidence, as Jehovah does not give false vision 10
The resurrection OF Christ proves the Intercourse
between heaven and EARTH IL it possible that Mo;es
AMI Elijah could revisit the earth, and yet have no
knowledge OF what was traDspiripg here? Some
do not believe that
but the faith OF the Church IN all ages has been that
SAINTS can communicate with the hearts OF their
friends, Dut those on earth cannot communicate
WIN them. wish to say have no iaith IN SpIritu-
alisn ana that II Is tissue OF fasehood. II spirits
could speak they would occupy themselves with
worthy SUBJECTS. believe the SAINTS can influence
us as angels can. How they do ~
BEYOND OUR cOMPRghEysIoy.
Is 1t beyond belief HAT other spirits can influence
Us we'll as me angels, when Christ tells ua mat we
shall be equal TO the angelss The question is cen
Split ACT on spirit without coming IN contact vita
the eye or The carp We know that satan nas the
power oil influencing the hearts OF men aud how
can re snatch an idea nom your mind unless no
car
ACT ON OUR spIRITp
l Delieve We ali feel the influence OF departed
friend holding us back from wong doings and
urging us forward 10 well dolny The warning
comes up from the remembrrl 20 OF the dcDartei
one 1T may De mat they are sometimes near us but
OF tins We canuot decide. We cannot see thcln but
we feel them draw and we follow them.
All Oh US nave friends whom we believe to be in
heaven tnat we never forget.
WE HAVE ALL FRIENDS IN HEAVEN
ANA IL mere not cOnSolntlon IN the thought
that, hcugl VIC cannot see Them they watch over
Us ana draw us III the pain Of vrlueg
Let Inc Thought That your trends are near encour.
age you III me pain oil righteousness II YOU wander
nhd he WISH 10 return comes, let inc Thought IN at
Inc oVed 0les are near us encourage US TO repent.
ance IDcy are near us at the moment or deaih. +
do not meau 10 say that they take the place OF jesus
nut some dear ltiend may also be there 20 welcome
the departing soul ~ the realms vi eternal bliss