Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-17

vastly more of what lies about us.
And if this be so in regard to the natu-
raj world, is it not even more true of the
intellectual and spiritual? Who does not
feel at times the pressure of narrowness
and limitation? Who does not feel that
they are not all they could be? Who
does not feel powers and possibilities strug-
Cling for growth and expression? In
everything of mental or spiritual nature,
whether it be in regard TO civilization or
the individuals growth and progress time
enters in as an essential element. God be-
slows this higher knowledge just as 4 race
or an individual is fitted and prepared to
receive it. The world has been advancing
through its various grades and stages up
ward, and God has dealt with humanity
just as the wise school-master deals with
his scholars. He has promoted it accord
ing to its fitness and attainments, and now.
in this age, the best scholars are being ad-
vanced into the higher grade-the last
class-these spiritual and preternatural
discoveries. Do we come in contact with
a spiritual realm? My friends, this may
be utilitarian age, and although we may
seek the positive and material, "yet man
does not live by bread alone" He lives to
improve and develop as much as to exist
In fact, his intellectual and spiritual de-
velOpment is his only true and real ex-
istence.
What brings home to our realization
and consciousness the greatness and vast
ness of Gods realm OF life and nature
even though we see it not with our eyes,
nor hear it with our ears, nor feel it with
our hands, is something more than mere
impractical theory Who does not realize
that there must be vastly more to Gods
great universe than what we see and feel
about us? Do YOU ask, what is the use.
the benefit, of these higher and deeper
thoughts and investigations? | say this
life is not our real and lasting abiding
place, and though, during our tenancy of a
few years, it behooves us to use our best
energies IN the cause of our earthly well
fare and happiness, and the interest of
those who are near and dear to us, vet.
if our permanent dwelling place is soon to
be established elsewhere, and if, as the
years go by, our affections are stealing
thither before us; if the home circle is
gradually dissolving here to be re-estab-
llshed in another region, shall we regard it
as matter of mere idle curiosity to en-
deavor to ascertain whether knowledge of
and contact with that spiritual realm is
permitted us now before We reach it? With
many homes the majority are already on
the other side. To many of us sweet
visions of loved and shadowy faces, and
grassy mounds in cemeteries and grave
yards, proclaim how little is here, how
much is yonderl
Is it idle and curious to dwell and
ponder upon its blessed realities and prec-
ious inmates? Is it foolish and weak to
dwell upon the visions and memories of
our loved ones? No, my friends. such
thoughts come from our highest and holi-
est longings and impulses. The word of
God teaches and reteaches the contact and
Intervention of that spiritual realm with
this world. The Bible gives instance after
instance that have come to those more
preterna turally endowed or spiritually
gifted, and nowhere does it say that hence
forth these visitations will cease forever.
And why should we suppose that there
Is less interest in heaven for this earth
now than in the days of the patriarchs and
apostles? We have the inspired record of
the return of five persons from that other
realm of existence to this one The
prophet Samuel to Saul, King of Israel,
Elijah, Moses and Christ on Mount Tabor.
Our Lord himself, after his resurrection
and the Apostle Paul after being caught
up into the third heaven. The gospels de-
clare that after the crucifxion many of
the bodies of the saints which slept arose
and came out of their graves and appeared
unto many" And in the Old Testament
scriptures, angelic visitations were many
~ nd A ha
writers mention such occurrences. Milton
says: "Millions of creatures walk the
earth unseen, both when we sleep and
when we wake !"
"Why come not spirits from the realms of glory
To visit earth, as in the days of old;
The times of ancient writ and sacred story
Is Heaven more distant or has earth grown
cold ?"
Nay, is not this truth an essential ele-
ment of our religious faith 1t is that
cold practical skepticism of those who are
morally and spiritually untitled and un-
intellectual things of this higher order
who say that these things, which are posi-
BILE and glorious, to finer and more gifted
natures are incredible or impossible. Is it
so that there are ministering spirits sent
forth to do Heavens errands of love, good
ness, tenderness, persuasion and influence
They come, they go. We cannot tell
whence they come nor whittier they go.
They enter the hushed chamber, where
some loved one is slowly breathing life
away, and wait, with folded wings, the
departing spirit, and at times we
can almost feel their presence. Nay, may
not the fact of their near presence, discoy-
cred to eyes that the nearness OF death has
given the beginning of power to see spir-
itual existences, be due that radiant ex-
preston which lights up many dying
face as the curtain of life falls upon time
and rises upon eternity. "There is Joy
among the angels of God over one sinner
that repenteth," said our blessed Savior.
Was that stirring utterance only a pretty
figure of speech with no objective reality?
No, careless of the events that agitate
worldly society; intent on other strifes than
money, position and earthly projects, and
with thoughts fixed on kingdom and ex-
istence, which must endure forever, they
rejoice in every accession which that king
dom receives, and in the rank and condi-
tion which death-born soul will enter
upon within it-in the lowest, poorest
wretch who cries out in his despair
and sorrow. "God be merciful to me,
sinnerl" or in the coming in of a Prince
and leader who has loved his lord
and served his fellowmenl Make all the
allowances you can for fgurative language
and poetical allegory, yet there remains
vast, calm, and not to be mistaken, the
firm faith of thousands, proved by strange
and indefinable experience, and by the
testimony of the Holy Scriptures
fact of the reality and the influence of
the world of spirit and spirits upon our
lives and actions and the wonderful and
preternatural powers with which some have
been gifted.
We may not be able to explain modes
and processes, but we are left to tread our