The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-13
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
SHALL WE KNOW QUE FRIENDS IN HEAvEN?-

SERMON Ky REV. DR.. AIMITAGE.
The Rev. Dr. Armitage preached on the subject,
'Shan We Know Our Friends In Heaven 20 taking his
text from !. Corinthians, xiii IL, IN the following
words:-"Now ! know part, but then 1 shall
know as also am known" one of the com-
monest questions put to Christian minister by the
sons and daughters OF bereavement is this, .Snali
our friends In ~ and very ques-
ton 1t is indeed, In view of the vide chasm which
separates them IRON earth and all the lovng
tics which cndear our friends to us on earth. In
come respects the loved the lost highly
priced than tho living This Is not difficult 10
understand at all, In view OF our nterdepcndence
human beings nor is the ailectonac sentime mt to he
crushed out Sentiment makes up large part OF our
nature under ITS best and worst circumstances
md when is haowed by all that is sacred in friend
ship and tcnderucss IL should DO fostoTod OF
the noblcsl burden bearers OF life. Yot should
to that the delicious sentiment OF lie Is held
In abcya 70 the thoroughly solid and practical aud
especially ~ religious llie. And perhaps there - no
point on which there ~ greater Danger than that
which THIS very question raises. IL ~ more than
possible That the question, ''Shall we know
friends ia hcavenf" may degenerate into mere mat
Ter Of poetic feeling aud carry tho whole OF religious
principle and practice with ~, even to disaster. When
the hope OF meeting aud recognizing departed friends
becomes the all absorbing passion OF the miud
That heaven itself ~ entirely enwrapped In tho
thought OF their restored society. 10 the making OF
It's holiness It's poy nts and its Lord
ordinate, IL loses an proportion question its
own Importance. Thc grsndcst use thai the doctrine
capable o. practically, so lar as can see, IL to
m AXE ~ love ana prze and serve and bless those of
our friends who lcit 20 US on earth, 30 that
help ana strengthen them by recognizing their innr-
mites aud needs wi,iie tney are spared 70 us on
earth. Bless them while you have them, and do not
neglect them earth IN tho hope OF meeting them Ia
heaven.
WE SHALL EACH OTHER.
Scripture and enlightened reason teach US that wo
shall know each other In heaven. We draw this con-
cIuson IRON the nature ana fitness OF things. Inc 90
sire 10 ana recognize our friends alter death
seems part Of nature and Is universally ielt
among men. Even tho barbarian and the savage love
Tho story OF the blue mountains and the shadows De-
yond them, where their ancestorS shades are await
ing their arrival This ~ the natural voice OF Tie
human intellect, the rude doctrine oil the human
hcart. But Pagans of polish and culture are koeDly
sensible TO the same desire. We bot DEPART said the
great Roman yrisl, 10 meet our Eneas, our Tuiy
aud our ANGUS. The suttee OF the Hlnuoo gives
u expression TO this hope, when the vito cheer
fully mounts The funeral pile that she may DO burned
with her aoceasod husband, IN the persuasion that
she might enjoy the elicics OF another world with
HIM. Civilized nations express tho same desire In
their funeral rites IN the love for family graves which