The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-07-16

NEIrHER TEMPLE NOR MARRIAGE.

And 1 saw no temple therein. They neither
marry nor are given in marriage"
Their conception of heaven is made up, in
part, Of the difference which, we have reason
to believe, there will be between the life on
earth and the life in heaven.
This difference consists. Positively in
our possession of some things which are in
consistent with our earthly life, as, for ex,
ample, spiritual body and perfect holiness ;
and, , In the absence of some things which
are indispensable here below.
OF this latter class, two Of the strongest
instances are-that in heaven there is no
temple, and in heaven there is no marriage
Without marriage no human society worth
the name could exist. In marriage we find
the most exquisite and at the same time,
the most solid enjoyment allowed to mOrtals.
Wealth, fame, power, and many 2ther OBJ
jects of strong desire connect themselves
necessarily with the varying conditions of
social uAes UuJ tue AS0U AOA uioA Aoe50 H-o
its roots deep in human nature. 1t is easy
to imagine a society on earth, in which
wealth, fame and power would contribute
nothing to happiness; but it is impossible to
picture q community of human beings en-
jOying happiness without marriage In like
manner, and almost to an equal degree, are
earthly temples necessary to the existence of
an earthly church. Men may be Christians,
whom the privilege of the public worship Of
God is denied, and so men may be cehbates,
but how could the Christian church live
without her ssnctuaries? The Scriptures
would be forgotten; the Sabbath desecrated; /;
there would be no ministry, no sacraments,
no communion of saints, no brotherhood, no
charity.
Without marriage men would be misera-
bic, and without temples the Christian church
would be a fiction. And in heaven, where
men are supremely blessed, and the church
is glori6ed. there is no marriage, and there
is no temple.
What is the explanation Of this seeming
paradox? Iu my answer will avoid specu-
latiOn, and cOnGue myself to Scripture. To
gether with each of the two above state
ments, a reason is assigned for the fact
stated.
q saw no temple therein, for the Lord
God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple
of it.
What is the precise meaning of the phrase
that God and Christ are the temple Of
heaven, it may not be easy to say, but the
general drift of it cannot be mistaken.
The sanctuary worship of earth, the high
ss. exercise Of mans intellectual and moral
nature, ms nOblest prerOgative and privilege
is not in heaven, because it has been super
seeded by something inconceivably higher
when we shall not worship God in temple;
made with hands, but shall worship HIM n
himself!
So of non-marriage it is said: They
which shall be counted worthy to obtain tha
world. aud the resurrection from the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage
neither can they die any more, for they ART
equal unto the angels. Here, too, th'
change is evidently from the lower to tn,
higher, and by the connection the 8uperiOrit!
of the latter state seems to be compared t.
the superiority OfimmOrtality over mortality
Thus is assured to US in heaven the ex
istence, in infinitely enlarged proportions
love, the strongest impulse of our earthl,
nature, and worship, the highest exercise 0
our earthly faculties. Well may Faith trus
the hand that gives and that withhOlds, tina
preserves and that changes. S. L. G.