Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-22
Shall we Know Our Friends

The whole human family, without ex-
ception, has developed a strong desire tc
know something of the other life. From
the earliest period we trace faith IN the
continuance of existence, and, however
imperfect, there is a tendency in mankind
to design and believe in hereafter, and
in one respect it is the same in all name.
~, that the other life is made up of the
best thoughts Of men. If men in lower
life described paradise,i it would be state
of feasting and of beauty it is the high
est they know, but as you rise the images
become elevated, and lastly, coming to
tue 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 it liter
ally, one gate made of one pearl don't
it produce feeling of unworldliness in
the other life?
The Christian methods select things
men consider best and group them to-
gether 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 to know, "Will I
know my baby in heaven2' VIII friends
be what they are Oh earth, and then what
do they do there2 Men don't fpd time
enough here, what shall we do there? So
far as the Bible is concern ed it looks like
praising Coda kind of celestial and
unending singing school, and these cues
tons, though not improper, we can't an
swer. Look further. The idea of heaven
is that it will be everything that is high.
est and best; but the impression ought
not to be produced that it will be done
IN any particular manner. I see a per
son going out OF life full of divine traits,
all purity, and think wha. will such a
one find in heaveu2 Nothing that de-
files. They must meet the spirits of Just
men made perfect,
II you take away all falsehood, all sin
you get a very good idea of heaven. 1t
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. Howe I don't know. Shall
know my friend2 Friendship IS I'M per-
ishable. It will be thousand times bet
ter; the feeling won't die out; i1 will be
larger, grander. You can afford to let
the chow go. 1t is thought that has
given great comfort to my mind. 1, too,
stumbled over that thong ht--shall l
know my father and mofher2 Shall
friendsl ips formed here be left? Ct don't
believe | ever formed friendship that
died out.) I am satisfied that the essen
tial qualities will not only exist, but be
higher; no matter how. It is enough to
know that you will be satisfied on every
point. Suppose you were distressed in
business, and friend said, leave this
matter to me. will attend to it" You
say how? No matter how. You know
can and will do it, and that is enough.
Would you let him do it? And so In re-
gard TO the other life. say He that
loved me so we'll as to give His life for
me will not deceive me. | shall be sat-
lsfed-
There are other questions coming up.
such as, Do those gone to heaven think
OF us9 Now, it will do us no harm to say,
Yes, they do. If thinking of it gives the
least bit of comfort, then think so. IT
may be poetry, but it is blessed poetry
and harmless. It was part OF the ancient
Christianity to believe that the great
Christians above held communion with
the ones below. Another question is, when
we die shall we go Immediately to heaven,
or go 10 sleep, or take a round about
journey, or what is going to happen?
Some believe that we shall lie in state
of uncosciousness until we are all aroused
to live in heaven. If man think so, let
him; but say, not 1. I believe that the
souls of Christians, when they die, enter
Immediately into heaven.
Do you ask me on what ground I be-
lieve this2 say no positive ground; but
the whole tenor Of the epistIes implies it.
in my opinion. l have one other thought
and that is the thought Of the mode by
which we shall enter on our rest, and
whether we have rig hit to wish il in one
way or another. If / am sick, do | In
terfere with Gods designs because I try
to get well2 May go on resisting thing:
| don't like and at last stop2 1t is my
privilege to desire way; it is my desire
to die suddenly - to die working up te
the last minute. I don't like the ides
of wasting and wasting, and very likely
/ shall, because I don't like it. I dom
wish to see myself conquered by the bat
tie of life. l don't think / am wrong.
| prefer the instantaneous method; but
shall die as God pleases, and can't helf
myself. Besehr.