Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-11-24
MARTnsBURe W. VA. SATURDAY. NOVEMBER "a 1894

in our hearts the desire to love and
be loved. And the character of love
as emanating from God is such as is
not confined or limited to earth, but
it is plant that stretches out and
fastens its tendrlls upon objects in
heaven, where it viii live, expand
and grow after all relations on earth
are dissolved by death. An unend-
ing love for our dear ones is deeply
rooted in our heart, that longs for
an everenduring companio hip.
Can it be that the good, all-wise and
just Creator has kindled in our
hearts al ever burning flame without
an object and a purpose? Unques-
tionably these intense feelings OF
love between dear friends, if real
and pure, constitute, apart from the
1--we of God, the sweetest enjoyments
of the human heart. And must they
cease in death? God Forbid On
the other hand al eternal separation
from the objects of our love, even in
heaven, is terrible to every tender
and feeling heart. 1t is Incompatible
with the character of God to i'm
plant in our hearts longing which
he is unwilling to crafty. He dries
the tears of the mourners at the
grave of their friends by the solacing
assurance of a recognition and reun-
ion in the blessed beyond. We infer
this doctrine.
2.-Fron, the Noture Of Eternal
Life.
True, as already stated, we in our
present state, can have no true con-
ception of the nature Of that world.
other than the light thrown upon it
by the wo- d of God, and our ignor-
ance of its true nature will not keep
US from heaven, if otherwise prepar-
ed for it. From the knowledge we
have as furnished by the Scriptures,
we know that The redeemed there
lead a spiritually social life of tie
highest order. "And they shall hun
ger no more, neither thirst any more;
neither shall the sun light on them,
nor ana heat. For The Lamb aoit5ch
as IN the midst of the throne shall
feed them, and shall lead them unto
living fountains of aca'er, and God
shall acape aaoay all tears from their
eyes.
IF the redeemed ones are to be re-
compensed in that higher and better
life for their sorrows, trials and suf
ferings in this lower life, it seems
just and proper that the society of
their loved ones in glory should form
a part of that recompense, while at
the same time, their embosomment
in the love of their Heavenly Father
will obliterate every vestige and rec
objection of earthly suffering. Here
on earth the most eminent and faith.
ful of Gods children live and die
with longings in their hearts for
heaven and heavenly companionship,
and the entire wide earth, with all its
riches, is too poor to satisfy their
longings But in the heavenly man
sions are their treasures and their
friends. There all aspirations are
satisfied, all wishes and hopes real
lied, and the reward is perfect.
Heaven will not deny what was
promised on earth, but will restore
to US what we gave up on earth
our departed and glorifed friends.
But this subject is not left to sur
mise or conjecture. More positive
proof we find
3.-In the Word Of God.
The Bible indicates over and over
again, that the angels know each
other, and then says too that we
shall be as the angels, and if the an
gels have the power of recognition,
shall not we? This doctrine per-
meates the whole New Testament by
plain inference and conclusive de-
duction. All the writers from Gen.
esis to Revelation take it for grant
ed, and SO can we. DR.. Talmage
says: 1.-The kiss of reunion at the
celestial gate will be as certain as
the dy ing kiss at the door Of the
sepulchre.' And he bases this upon
Gods eternal word as affirmative OF
this doctrine. King David said upon
the death of dear child, II shall 60
to him, but be shall not return to
me.o 1t was consolation to David
to know that he would see his darl-
ing child again, but what consolation
would it have been to bim if ne
would not know it when he got TO
heaven? 1t was this inspiring
thought that aroused him from his
grief and restored him to himself.
OF the patriarcbs the Bible says,
"They died and we're gathered to
their people" What people ? Why,
their friends, their comrades and
their companions in heaven. Peter
James and John folio wed Christ into
the mountain. A light falls from
heaven on that mountain. Christ's
garments glow and his face shines
like the sun. The door of heaven
swings open. Two spirits come
down. The disciples look at them
and recognize them as Moses and