Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-11-24


conclusion, namely:
That ,ce wsH meet our blessed
departed ones at one and the same
place in the realms of Paradise.
Boundless as those realms are they
must contain special parts or divi-
sions, for the text says: I'm My
Fathers house are many mansions"
The locality, glory and splendor of
these mansions are notdescribed to US
and our finite mindscould not graspit;
our eyes would be blinded by the
vision. Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither haue entered into the
heart Of man, the things aohach God
hath prepared for them that loue
him." Whatever the range of the
Inhabitants of heaven, there must be
locality for heavenly meeting and
angelic intercourse, where dwell the
patriarchs, the prophets, the apostles,
the martyrs and all the holy men and
women that have gone before us,and
the inference naturally follows.
2-That zoe aoill k1aoto then, all
as God giuessus TO Enow them.
Shall we know each other there +?
What tremendous question 1t is
enough to make the lip culver and
the soul to thrill at the thought.
Heavenly happiness,-heaYenly bliss,
heavenly enjoyment is pc, feet, and
it could not be perfect were there
no recognition, for then heaven
ly enjoy nent would lack one
of It's principle elements and be
incomplete. The Bible describes
heaven as great home circle, and
would that not be strange home
circle where the members did not
know each other? Heaven is state
Of spiritual expansion. If we know
each other here, we will know each
other differently better there. Here
we see with only two eyes, but there
the soul shall have a million eyes.
Ransomed spirits shall be in colloquy
with ransomed spirits,-victor be-
side victor. "NoU aoe see through
glass darkly, but then face to
face"
The question may arise: How
will We be able to recognize our de-
parted ones, inasmuch as they are
disembodied, and it is by their bodi-
ly appearance, after long separa-
ration, that we recognize any one
whom we once knew ? / answer
that it is spiritual, divinely inspif
ed recognition. At the same time
it is not assuming too much to be-
lieve shat,in-the case Of OUT friends
the lineaments of the face of The spi~-
itual body will be reflection of the
terrestrial body and thus recognized.
There is even on earth, irrespective
of the body, spiritual bond of Atm
ity by which kindred spirits are
drawn toward each other. Nav not,
therefore, this harmony otsouls reach
ing beyond this life, be means in a
higher sense and potency by which
we will readily find and know each
other? Besides, we may be assured
that our Heavenly Father has con.
trived a more perfect means of rec
ognition OF which moctals can form
no conception.
3.-We infer that reunion 0iU
follo,o recognition.
A reunion on earth we can COM
prehend and unde stand, but the ma
ture of a reunion in heaven is be-
yond the ken of mortals. The rela-
ton that the inhabitants of heaven
sustain to each other is essentially
different from that on earth, and as
much higher, pu-er and nobler rs
heaven excels the earth in bee atty,
splendor and glory. Our sensual
cha acter will disappear, Tor Jesus
says: " In the resurrection they
neither marry, nor are gauen IN mar
raage, but are as the angels of God
in heauen." But the inward it
and heart union with God and His
children on earth, will cling to the
soul to be refined and elevated in
heaven, and there run forever in a
perfectly pure channel. Ifthis were
not so, then recognition and reunion
would only be passing appearance,
and heaven a mere condition. But
the circle of blissful associations
and enjoyment in union and love
will be widened the faculties of the
mind that cling TO it will be expand
ed, and unbounded love will fill the
| heart.
"There all the millions of his saints
Shall in one song unite
And each the bliss of all shall share
With infinite delight
III. THE GROUND, OR, EVIDENCE UPON
WHICH THIS DOCTRINE RESTS.
1t may be urged by some that the
views thus far started are but pic
ture of the imagination, or the WIS.,
ion of beautiful dream, whereby we
flatter and deceive our inward long
lngs. Are these views good, Telia-
BILE and tenable, upon which our
faith can rest securely? Yea, do
claim that we find sufficient grounds
for our belief in heavenly recogni-
ton and reunion. Even reasoning