The Osceola times., 1878-05-04

each name was a cross, by which the
poor crippled saint had checked off the
names OF the converts as they had been
reported to her.-[ Moody's Child Stories.
Ksowiug Onr Friends I'm Heaven.
There is not enough in the bible about
heaven to satisfy our curiosity; but
there is enough to satisfy a reasonable
faith. 1t is certainly more than happy
condition of glorifed spirits. 1t is a
holy place. Such expressions as "city
with foundations" building" or
structure of God and habitation "
point to definite locality. Certain
characteristics of the abode of the blest
are clearly indicated. 1t is a rest that
remaineth for the people of God. No
sin can penetrate it. Neither shall any
OF its inhabitants suffer from sickness or
pain. knowledge shall be commensur. te
with the enlarged powers OF the gloritied
soul. We shall know even rs we are
known. Companionship with the spirits
of the Just made perfect will furnish
endless variety and unbroken harmony
of social intercourse. Above all, we
shall see God, and not die.
These are among the most distant
truths which the scripture reveal con-
cerning that Jerusalem the Golden, whose
walls are like unto precious stones and
whose gates to orient perals. For whom
is this celestial babitation prepared
For beings of other worlds, or for those
occupants OF this globe whom Jesus
hath redeemed unto Himself? Certainly
the latter. Christ says to His disciples !:
81 go to prepare place for you"
Where He is, He desires that His own
shall be also. The occupants of heaven
shall .e those who were once occupants
of this sinful earth. The transfer from
earth to heaven does not according to
the only book which reveals heaven)
destroy personal identity. On the con-
trary, Gods word assumes continual y
that this identity will be preserved.
The same living organism, tn same
characteristics which made the Patriarch
Abraham different man from every body
else in Chaldea will make Abraham a
different person from anyone else in
heaven. These physical and mental
traits enabled his neighbors in "Ur" TO
recognize him. He has carried with him
to the eternal world also such personal
characteristics that he is recognizable
there. According to Chris's statement,
the rich man saw Lazsrus in Abraham's
bosom" He also declared that the
righteous will yet sit down with Abra-
ham, Isaac and Jacob in that celestial
kingdom. 1t is preposterous to imagine
that these three persons are some other
persons than those who passed by those
names on earth. Nomatter what change
death and the resurrection may produce
on the forms or organisms known as
Abraham, Isacc and Jacobb. The body
here changes by chemical processes, so
that there are entirely new particles in
my physical form from what were there
six or seven years ago. Yet ! am the
same person. My individuality is not
changed in the slightest degree. Lincoln,
the nursing infant, and Lincoln, the
president, were the same individual.
In like manner, Paul before the throne
is and inevitably must oe the identical
Paul who preached at Athens and was
martyred at Rome. When he longed to
depart and to be with Christ" he
expected to benot somebody else but the
same individual. Moses died fifteen
centuries before the advent of Jesus
Christ. Yet there was personality still
existing, who appeared at the time OF
Cnrists TRANSPORTATION on the mount,
and who was addressed by Him as Moses
The Prophet Elijah, who had died seven
hundred years before, wss there also.
When the great apostle speaks of his
The,salonian converts as his glory and
joy in the appearance Of the Lord Je u,
Christ" he assuredly expected to meet
the same person in Thessalonica. II
they were not the same people and y he
could not meet them there, how could
they be to Him crown or Joy 90.
This point il clearly in accordance
with scripture and with common sense
Whatever change msy be produced by
death, personal identity will not be
altered by one jot or little. Withou.
this preservation of perfect identity the
whole idea Of future rewards and punish
ments would be an absurd impossibility.
Ifidentity is preserved in eternity,
will the faculty. OF memory also survive
the grave? Undoubtedly it will. The
obliterstion Of memory would amount to