, 1874-01-26


arm roattly co1cadod to tho ngod, tho incnrably
sick and tho incurably miserable, lot lis 500 II
:lloy do not also belong to tho, young, tho
healthy, and tha happy-in short. e ioae yl,o,
Ike tho Widows sou suadenly fa', II nnd Lowe
Car we doubt that however theso deaths como
about by brohen lawa thoy are yot Within tho
oversight aud dreotion Of tho Father OF mon
II 10 much rs ol,o little child could fedo away
onco @ iiito tic @ great Moroaftos tic thrcaa Of
it's little liro entirely antwistod from al on earth
and not doBtined to bb woven It, with any happy
c!rclo Of little angels aboyo,-in abort IT nto m
child exactly as though It had novor boon born.
aud Itfe III heaven continue exnotly before tho
little stranger arrived. thon might no eliminate
from tho subject oil Divine uaro. purpose, mercy.
and wisdom, and leave it to the Er'ml nm manage.
case. Every soul is tod to every other, and tho
departure Of any stuglo ono from thts world
olIangos tho future thoughts. Bympatliios, and
activities OF whntever family 1t Is membor, aB
into which 1t comes. SINCE, therefore, THO
texture of ono soul, that il, onr mental and
srirltunl lifo,-is aocomplicatod, and at tho aamo
timo 60 sensitive and plastic to cvory addition
othor Houy produce upon us, how eau We con-
aidor tho death Of my ono with whom 'yYe arc
connected rs slight thing? Like tho broath
Of summer air which starts q tiny votek OF dust
ut our feet, its inluencoa will sWoll, rovolvo,
Like tk "'a pebble dropped into tho ocean, tito
vibrations which they make will riso Into great
musical waycs TINT will lncot US on tho far-oir
shores Of now worlds. This aoconl birth. there
foro, Of our young membcr Of the race is as
critical to tho wefnro Of sill its first birth was
It is dvino1y watched over with tho same tom
dernoBs. Tho sa1no redeen,ing power that
through Elijah called bacls into is body tho soul
Of tho widows sou, which fingered iiear, calls
~ In Indy n II fNrarht.
There Ia no Inherent immortality In tho soul.
It las no powor of itself to release itself from
tho companionslip Of decay, It a every mo-
mont as much dependent upon tho divine Life
only becauBo 1t continues to receive. In t!1o
light Of TINT tontcrest, swootoat mercy which
inspires tho angels OF tho Resurrection mud
aro the safe release Of every soul from iB decay
ng body low Is tae asapecs e this as. sa every
islan.ont; but puuiHhments arc alwaya the worry
eHyonce Of mercy, aud always have In them tho
powor Of rocroation and restoration. Mover re-
ycngefui, ncyer destructive, never tho end Of
hops and possibility, y,-they are the bitter crises
forces for good, and cure, and restoration begu
to work. Just as death IL thuH blaok on ono
side, and dazzling bright on tho earth, so are al
tho Ills OF earth apd woos of hel , lined with Di-
This Wow Of tho true nature OF punlahmonts
brings na to tho first Of two gront considerations
which inyoBt tho death of the young aud happy
with lovely light 1t Is ths: Tho dying ono
either Of enjoyment OF Of usc, out Of tho Divinc-
ly.ortlninca slnl Of hta existence. Our griof
for tho dead is, with raro exceptions, mainly
selfish. The thoughts concerning the renl mean-
| ing aud causo Of death whlel, havo presented
to-day, arc 30 entirely crowded out Of sight by
the prevalent beliof TINT death is clear gain To
tho dying that we cannot excuse our grief on
| that ground. We beliovo that our departed ones
arc bottor off than they wore boforo, aud yet wo
wish them back. It H hard to DO unBeitisi, hard
| oven for lovo to tnake us 50. But yet doubtless
thoro peryadoa orr griof IN obscure feollng. that
| thero would have boon much In this world for
oNr young friends to enjoy, much fol. them to
acquire, aud finally, and nobleHt thought, OF all,
much for theul to do. For tho raliof aud eatis-
faction of this feo1ing, therefore, lot us consider
TINT il wo wore to aot aaitlo MI Tint wo know nd
mnttor Of fact and revelation concerning tho
hereafter, our yiow Of death as bonoflcnl pun
mauont loss. In the end tho dead Gnu miss no
spiritual growth, no enjoyment. and no useful
| ness. Our Father in Heaven haa n groat store OF
| extra means to meet emergencies. There arc
| always latent lawa and Intent forcoa which oome
to light whotevor disorder is, and correct 1t. As
tho injured ro!yp or BROKEN plant fluids astoniall-
ing ways to restore itself nnl repair Its losH 80
tho soul TINT misses long period OF education
through tho senses finds way still to grow. II
| this growth be changed somewhat il clurac-
ter and evnn in ordor. it some things arc
learned first which otherwise would have
been learned Inst. and for oven a long period tie
| lower faculties which iifo in the body dovol-
| opes should remain in embryo. yet we maY roat
| assured that tho immortal soul will not stop
Rhort Of symmetry. Tho Divine can suffer nc
| permanent defect or blotch in hi8 uniyorae.
Thoro arc several ways TO be imagined, by which
tho peculiar fundamental experiences OF at
disembodied Hpirit, a}l Of which might bo drawn
from SscdenborG's statement TINT such 9 spirit
wcara forever fino ilnpnlpablo garment of mt
ural substances, md thereby must retain per
maucnt connection with the material world. Bu
passing all thcso by. tho fact that tho remaius
rest upon Tho oarth, and tho minds OF angolE
and of devils upon tho minds Of men; in othol
words, tho fact that the vigor and perfection o.
| ifo in tho spiritual world is strictly dependent
upon the stato Of llfo among men, assures Iii
mora intimate aud tho condition Of each better
Hwodenborg assorta that angels wero as mucl
designed to know and participate in tlle affair
Of earth as mon to know and participate IN tlt'
means of tic perfection OF thoir individual or
ganizations and the retention Of snch q natura
degree OF llfc au our gloritiod Lord has, bns pro
ylsionally. BY beautiful !ntordonondonco a. an'
barmooy botweon the two claasos Of beings. Th
mind OF the angel il designed not only to OF,
tighten, comfort, and guard tho mlntl Of th
1nnu, but also to receive from it knowledge All
strength. We think ourselves dofrauded Of gu
i%priseaed IN matt matter. +: But tho peoplo VIC law
departed hence aud nra called angels, nr
equally Gefrauded. Heaven is not por
focs and waits upon. tho adyance o
Garth. The aollote croatton grows together
in groanB too ilne and secret for our ordinar
Ours, for a future consummation and 0oltVaranc
too Ereat for our imagination. But I canno
pursue this point further, aud have said onoug
to show TINT the mind of tho young angel is ~
ted to aasimilate and to grow by tho foul whel
frn Sf1 in In