River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-26
Shall we KNOW Onr Friends Z


The whole human family, without ex-
ception, has developed strong desire to
know something of the other life. From
the earliest period we trace faith III the
continuance Of existence, and, however
imperfect, there is a tendency in mankind
20 design and believe in a hereafter, and
in one respect 1t is the same in all -~ame-
ly, that the other life is made UP of the
best thoughts Of men. Il men in lower
life described paradise, it would be Q state
of feastng and of beauty; it is the high
est they know, but as you rise the images
become elevated, and lastly, coming to
the teaching of the New Testament, men
don't believe there are cities paved with
| gold; nevertheless, men feel the power OF
those images; they effect them, though
\ they don't know why. Think Of il liter
ally, one gate made of one pearl don't
| it produce a feeling of unworldliness in
| the other lifeY
The Christian methods select things
men consider best and group them to-
qether and affect the heart and reason
| through the imagination. If you attempt
TO answer the question that spring up,
YOU find little to answer For instance,
every mother wants 10 know, viii
know my baby in beavenl' viii friends
| be what they are on earth, and then what
do they do therel Men don't find time
enough here, what shall we do there1 SO
far as the Bible is concerned it looks like
praisipg Coda kind of celestial and
| unenaing singing school, and these ques-
tons, though not improper, we can't an
syer. Look further. The idea of heaven
is that il Will be everything that is high
est ard best; but the impression ought
not to be produced that it will be done
in any particular manner. | see per-
son going out of life full of divine traits,
all purity, and think what will such q
one find in heaven2 Nothing that de-
files They must meet the spirits of just
men made perfect.
1t you take away all talsohood, all sim
you get very good idea of heaven. IL
is enough for me TO know that in the 9th
er life every one is wiser the best things
become common. 1t does not follow
that the feelings will be the same in the
other life. There will be the mother
feeling. How2 l don't know. Shall
know my friendl Friendship Is imper-
ishable. it will be thousand times bet
ter; the feeling won't die out; iC will be
larger, grander. You can afford to let
the show go. 1t is thought that has
given great comfort TO my mind. |, too,
! stumbled over that thought shall l
8 know my father and mother9 Shall
( frieudsl lbs formed here be leftg q don't
believe ever formed a friendship that
died QUITO | am satisfied that the essen
tial qualities will not only exist, but be
7 higher; no matter hoN. 1t is enough to
< know that YOU will be satisfied on every
I point. Suppose you were distressed in
business, and a friend said, "Leave this
$ matter to me. Twill attend to it," You
J say howi No matter how You know
=, can and will do it, and that is enough
Would YOU let him do it2 And so In re-
gard to the other life. / say He that
loved me so well as TO give His life tor
= me will not deceive me. shall be sat
lsfied-
= There are other questions coming w,
such as, DO those gone to heaven think
8 of usl Now, il will do us no harm to say,
Yes, they do. If thinking of it gives the
least bit Of comfort. then think so. IL
: may be poetry, but it is blessed poetry
l and harmless. 1t was part OF the ancient
Christianity to believe that the great
( Christians above held communion with
the ones below. Another question is,when
G we die shall we 60 Immediately to heaven,
e or 60 60 sleep, or take round about
journey, or what is going to happenF
1 Some believe that VIC shall lie in state
of uncosciousness until we are all aroused
G to live in heaven. If a man think so, let
j. him; but say, not /. believe that the
souls Of Christians. when they die, enter
Immediately into heaven.
:, Do you ask me on what ground | be-
: lieve this2 / say no positive ground; but
the whole tenor of the epistles implies It,
/ in my opinion. have one other thought,
/ and that is the thought of the mode by
which we shall enter on our rest and
whether we have q right to wish it in one
way or another. If l am sick, do | in
terfere with Gods designs because try
to get well2 May go on resisting things
| | don't like and at LAST stopl 1t is my
5 privilege to desire way it is my desire
to die suddenly--to die working up to
, the last minute. l don't like the idea
of wastil ard wasting, and very likely
a SHALL, l.callse ] don't like il. | don't
wish to see yself conquered by the bat
1 tie of life. don't think am wrong. !
E prefer the instantaneous method; but l
e shall die as God P.eases, aud l can't help
9 myself - Beecter.