The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-07-19

pationP We read in the first book of
the Bible Abraham died and was gath
cred to his people. Moses died n was
gathered to his people. What people?
Why their friends, their comrades, their
old companions. OF course it means
that. 1t can not mean any thing else.
So in the very beginning of the Bible
four times that is taken for granted.
The whole New Testament is an arbor
over which this doctrine creeps like a
luxuriant vine full of the purple clus-
tiers of consolation.
The Bible indicates, owe and over
again, that the angels know each other;
and then the Bible says that we are to
be higher than the angels and if the
angels have the power of recognition,
shall not we, who are to be higher than
they in the next realm, have as good
eyesight and as good capacity? What
did Christ mean, in His conversation
with Mary and Martha, when He said:
''Thy brother shall rise AGAIN." 1t was
as much as to say: Don't cry. Don't
wear yourselves out with this trouble.
You will see him again. Thy brother
shall rise again" The Bible describes
Heaven as q great home circle. Well,
now, that would be . very queer home
circle where the members did not know
each other.
There are, in addition to these Bible
arguments, other why l accept
this theory. In the first place. because
the rejection OF It implies the entire
obliteration of U memory. Can 1t DO
possible that we shall forget forever
those with whose walk, look, manner,
we have been so long familiar Will
death come and with q sharp, keen
blade hew away this faculty OF memory
Abraham said to Dives: 'Son, remem-
ber." II tho exiled and lost remember.
will not the enthroned remember? You
know very we'll that our Joy in any cir
cumstance is augmented by the com
~nanionship OF our friend. We can not
see q picture with less than TOUR eyes,
or hear 9 song with less than four ears.
We want some one beside us with whom
to exchange chances and sympathies;
and l suppose the Joy of Heaven is to be
augmented by the fac that we are to
have our friends with us when there
rise before us the thrones OF the blessed.
and when there surges up in u ears
the jubilate of the saved. Heaven Is
not q contraction, it is an expansion.
II I know you here, / will now you
better there. Here 1 see you with
only two eyes, but there the soul shall
have q million eyes. 1t will be immor-
tality gazing on acknowledgements
spirit in colloquy with ransomed spirit
victor beside victor.
Again: 1 accept this doctrine OF fu-
ture recognition because the worlds ex-
pectancy afirms 1t. In all lands and
ages this theory Is received. What
form Of religion planted 1t? No form
Of religion, for 1t is received under all
forms Of religion. Then, l argue, a
sentiment. a feeling, an anticipation.
universally planted. must have been
God-implanted, and IL God-implanted, 1t
is rightfully implanted.
Among the Danes, when a master dies
his servant sometimes stabs himself
that he may serve his master in the flu
ture world. Cicero, living before
Christ's coming, said: 20, glorious day
when / shall retire from this low and
sordid scene, TO associate with the d.
vine a~ssemblage, of departed spirits, and
not only with the n ] have just now
mentioned, but with my dear Cato, the
best Of sons and most faithful of men.
II l seemed to bear his death with forti-
tude. 1t was by no means that did not
most sensibly feel tho loss I had sus-
tanned. It was because I was supported
by the consoling reflection that we
could not long be separated" The Nor,
wegian believes 1t. The Indian believes
1t. The G~reenlander believes 1t. The
Swiss believes 1t. The Turk believes
II. Under every sky, by every river, in
every zone, the theory Is adopted; and
so I say a principle universally i'm
planted, and so a right belief. The ar
gument is irresistible.
Again: I adopt this theory because
there are features Of moral tempera'
ment and features Of the soul that will
distinguish US forever. How do We
know each other In this world? Is
merely by the color Of the eye, or The
length of the hair, or the facial proper
tions? o, no. 1t is by the disposition
as we'll, by natural affinity, using the
word in the very best sense and not II
the bad sense. and II in the dust on
body should perish and lie there for
ever and there should be no resurrec
ton. still the soul has enough feature
and the disposition has enough feature
TO make US distinguishable.
Again: I think that one eason VIII.
we ought to accept this doctrine Is be
cause we never in this world have al
opportunity to give thanks to those t.
whom we are spiritually indebted. TIL
joy Of Heaven, we are told, is to be in
augurated by q review Of LIES work
These Christian men and women VIII
have been -toiling for Christ. have the,
seen the full result of their work? O
no.
In the church OF Somerville, N. j.
John Vredenburg preached for q grea
many years. He felt that his ministr,
was O failure and others felt so. although
he was q faithful minister preaching tn
Gospel all the time. He died, and die,
amid discouragements, and went hom
to God. for no one aver doubted tina
John Vredenburg was q good Christian
minister. A little while sitter his deaf
there came a great awakening In SomeI
Wig ana one oaDDaJn 3UO Souls StOOu u
at the Christian altar espousing tn
capse Of Christ, among thsm my owl
lfAther and mother. And what was pc
culiar In regard to nearly all those 30
souls was that they dated their reltg
ious impressions from the ministry O
John Vredenbnrg. VIII that goo'
Christian man before the throne Of Go
never meet those souls broaght /
Christ through his instrumentadty? Q
of course he will know them. I remem
Der one Sabbath afternoon, borne dow
with . sense OF my sins and KNOWN
not God. I took up Doddridge.s iris
and Prog ress." o. what q dark after
noon 1t was. and I read the chapters
and I read the prayers. and l tried Z
make the prayers my own. O, mus
see Philip Doddridge, A glorious OF
book he wrote! 1t 10 out Of fashion now
There IL o mother before the throne c
God. You say her Joy is full. Is II
You say there can be no augmentatio
Of It. Can not there be? Her son wa
q wsnderer and q vagabond on tho cart
when that good mother died. He brok
her old heart. She died leaving him 1
the wilderness Of sin. She is before tn
throne Of God now. Years pass an