The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-03-27
hal, we Know Each Other I'm Heaven

hall We Know Each Other in Heaven
The doctrine of future recognition is
not so often positively stated in the
Word of God, as implied, and you know,
my friends, that that is after all the |
strongest mode of affirmation. Your
friend travels in foreign lands. He |
comes home. He does not begin by
arguing with yeu that there are such |
places as London, and Stockholm, and
Paris, and Dresden, and Berlin. But
his conversation implies it; and so this |
bible does not positively state this
theory, as ali up and down its chapters
take it for granted. What does my tezt
imply? al shall go to him." What
consolation would it be to David to 60
to his child if he would not know him 7
Would David have been allowed to
record this anticipation for the inspec-
ton of all ages, if it were q groundless
anticipation Weread in the first book
of the bible, Abraham died and was
gathered to his people. Jacob died and
was gathered to his people. Moses died
and was gathered to his people. What
people7 Why, their friends their COM
rades, their old companions. Of course
it means that. 1t can not mean anyA
thing else. So, in the very beginning of
the bible, foHr times that is taken for
granted. The whole New Testament is
an arbor over which this doctrine creeps
like luxuriant vine full of the purple
clusters of consolation. James, John
and Peter follow Christ into the noun
tain. A light falls from Heaven on that
mountain and lifts it into the glories of
the celestial. Christ's garments glow
and His face shines like the sun. The
door of Heaven swings open. Two
spirits come down and alight on that
mountain. The Disciples look at them
and recognize tAe1I as Moses srd Elias.
Now, if those disciples, standing ~ the
earth, could recognize these two spirits
who had been for years in Heaven, do
you tell me that we, with our heavenly
eyesight, will not be able to recognize
those who have gone out from among US
only five, ten, twenty, thirty years ago?
II those disciples could have recognized
those two who have been gone thou
sands of years, will not we be able to
recognize our friends, our relatives, who
have gone only short space of time?
[Dr. Talmage further argued in favor
of such recognition, basing his reasoning
on the scriptures and on the universal
hope and expectation of the human soul,
and then concluded as follows:l
My idea of heaven is while you are
seated there with your family talking
and enjoying the evening hour, there is
knock at the door, and the door opens
and there comes in a brother that has
been long absent. He has been long
gone; for years you have not seen him,
and no sooner do you make up your
mind that it is certainly him, thar you
leap up, and the question is, who shall
give him the first embrace That is my
idea of heaven-a great home circle
where they are waiting for us. Oh, will
you not know your mothers voice there
She who always called you by your first
name long after Others had given you
the formal " mister" You were never
anything but James or John or Mary OF
Florence to her. Viii you not know
YOUR child's voice? She OF the bright
eve and the ruddy cheek and the quick
step, who came in from play and flung
herself into your lap, very shower o.
mirth and beauty. Why, the picture i:
worn in your soul. 1t cannot wear out
If that little one should stand on tbs
other side of some heavenly hill and cal
to you, you would hear her voice above
the burst of heavens great orchestra
Know It'll You could not help but
know it.
Now, 1 bring yeu this glorious con-
ISOLATION of future recognition. If you
could get this theory into your heart, il
would lit great many shadows that
areE stretching across it. When 1 was 8
lad I used to go out to the railroad track
and put my ear close on the track, and
could hear the express train rumblipg
miles away, and coming on, and to-day,
my friends, if we only had faith enough,
we could put our ears down close to the
grave Of cur dead and listen and hear in
the distance the rumbling on of the
ehariots of resurrection victory. 0
Heaven sweet Heaven You do not
spell Heaven as you used 70 spell it.
You used to spell it Heaven, heaven.
But now, when you want to spell that
word, you place side by sideIthe faces Of
the loved ones which are gone, and,