The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-10-08
For the Central Presbyterian.
Letter from Athens, Greece.
The Speech of Heaven"


The writer of the article bearing the
above title in your paper Of August 18th,
criticising the motto of the English poly
glot Bible, "MuHae te1Y1coH8 hnguae,
coelesti6u8 ana" expresses the opinion
that in heaven instead Of there being one
language there may be as many as have
existed on earth from the confusion of
tongues, till the end of time, but the re-
deemed may be made masters of ALL and so
there shall be no hindrance to a perfect
communication. In support Of this view
he brings forward various reasons which
I need not repeat. Now to us, mission
aries, who have to deal mainly with the
more positive and practical truths of rev.
citation, such abstract, speculative ques-
lions have usually little interest, and seem
to us of little practical Importance; but
in looking over the article referred to,
some thoughts were suggested which l
venture to pen hastily and submit to you.
The question of speech must depend
upon the underlying question of the mode
Of existence. Now, if it is an axiom that
every living being is so constituted as to
be able to exist in the element in which
it is placed by nature, then surely, when
the conditions of existence change the
mode of life-the expression, if we may
so say, of existence, must change also.
Living organisms in this world are con-
stituted according to the element in
which they live. Terrestrial plants and
animals require atmospheric air for their
existence while marine animals and plants
require water. Each is endowed with
organs adapted to its peculiar mode of
existence, lungs for inhaling atmospheric
air, gills for water, wings for motion in
the air, feet for the earth, and ears for
the impression produced by waves Of air,
eyes for impressions produced by waves of
ether, ETC., and so long as man has his
present bodily constitution he must ne
cessarily be surrounded by the conditions
upon which his existence depends When,
however, his organism is changed, when
his body with its present constitution
adapted otis earthly existence is changed,
it must be such a change as will enable it
to live in the new element in which it
will be placed.
Of spirits we know nothing except that
they are altogether different from mate
rial bodies Their very constitution i'm
plies that they must live and act in way
altogether different from that in which
they now live, consequently their senses
or susceptibilities of impression must be
different. They cannot hear as we do,
fol- then they must have ears like ours
and be in an atmosphere like ours. But
if our bodies are to be transformed into
the likeness of Christs glorifed body, if
the earthly is to become heavenly, the
material spiritual, the mortal immortal,
surely the mode of living and acting must
be changed. Consequently there will be
no need of the languages of earth to COM
municate our ideas, for we shall have no
ears like our present ones, and no atmos-
phere like our present atmosphere to vi
brate the sound; nor will there be any
need of light like that we now enjoy, for
who knows if the spiritual eye shall be so
organized as to receive the waves of ether
that produce light? To my mind the
very fact Of different constitution log
ically implies mode of expression so diff
ferent that no human tongue will meet
its wants-there must be a mode of
communication not only different but
vastly superior-such as will far tran
scend any conception which we may now
form, and is it not probable that the one
family Of the redeemed when gathered
home may not only know as they are
known, but have one blessed form of ut
terance in which they shall join in the
song of Moses and the Lamb?
M. D. KALoPoTHAKEs.