Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-02-02

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 purple clusters
of consolation. James. John, and Peter
followed Christ into the mountain. A
light falls from heaven on that noun
tain and lifts il 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 noun
tain. The disciples look at them and rec
ognize them as Moses and Elias. Now,
IL those disciples standing on the earth
could recognize these two spirits who
had been for years in heaven, do you
tell me that we, with our heavenly eye
sight, will not be able to recognize
those who have gone out from among
us only five, ten, twenty, thirty years
ago?
You know very we'll that our joy in
any circumstances is augmented by the
companionship of our friends. We can
not see a picture with less than four
eyes, or hear a song with less than
four ears. We want some one beside
us with whom to exchange glances and
sympathies; and l suppose the JOY OF
heaven is to be augmented by the fact
that we are to have our friends with us
when there rise before us the thrones
of the blest and when there surges up
in our ear the iubilate OF the saved.
Heaven is not contraction. 1t Is
an EXPANSION. If l know you here,
| will know you better there. Here l
see you with only two eyes, but there
the soul shall have q million eyes. 1t
will be Immortality gazing on immor-
tality-ransomed spirit in colloQuy with
ransomed spirit-victor beside victor.
When John Evans, the Scotch minister.
was seated in his study, his wife came
in and said TO him. MY dear, do you
think we will know each other in hea-
ven?" He turned to her and said, My
dear, do you think we will be bigger
fools in heaven than We are here?
Again, / accept this doctrine OF fut-
ure recognition because the worlds eX-
pectancy affirms it. In all lands and
ages this theory is received. What
form OF religion planted 1t? No form
of religion, for it is received under all
forms of religion. Then, / argue, a
sentiment, a feeling, an anticipation.
universally planted. must have been
God implanted, and il God-implanted.
It Is rightfully implanted. Socrates
writes: "Who would not part with a
great deal to purchase meeting with
Orpheus and Homer? II it be true that
this is to be the consequence OF death,
could even be able to die often"
There is a mother before the throne
of God You say her JOY is full. Is it?
You say there can be no augmentation
of it. Cannot there be? Her son was
a wanderer and a vagabond on the
earth when that good mother died. He
broke her old heart. She died leaving
him in the wilderness of sin. She is
before the throne of God now. Years
pass, and that son repents OF his crimes
and gives his heart 10 God and be-
enters the gates Of heaven. You tell
me that that mothers JOY cannot be
augmented. Let them confront each
other, the son and the mother. oh,
she says to the angels OF God. re-
joice with me! The dead is alive
again, and the lost is found. Hallelu-
JAN! ! never expected to see this lost
one come back" The Bible says ma
tons are TO be born in a day. When
China comes to God will it not know
DR.. Abeel? When India comes. will 1t
not know DR.. John Scudder? When the
Indians come to God. will they not
know David Brainerd?
l see soul entering heaven at last
with covered face at the idea that it
has done so little for Christ and feel
ing borne down with unworthiness, and
it says to itself, Il have no right to be
here" A voice from throne says,
"Oh, you forget that Sunday school
class you invited to Christ! / was one
of them" And another voice says,
You forget that poor man to whom you
gave a loaf of bread. / was that man"
And another says, You forget that sick
one to whom you gave medicine for the
body and the soul. l was that one"
And then Christ, from a throne over
topping all the rest, will say, "Inas-
much as We did il 20 one of the least
OF these, you did it to me-" And then
the seraphs will take their harps from
the side of the throne, and cry, What
song shall it be-" And Christ, bending
over the harpsrs, shall say, 1T shall be
the Harvest Home"
One more reason why l am disposed
to accept this doctrine of future recog-
milton is that so many in their last
hour on earth have confirmed this the
DRY. ] speak not OF persons who have
been Gelirious in their last moment,
and knew not what they were about,
hut of persons who died in calmness
and placidity, and who were not nat
urally superstitious. Often the giories
of heaven have struck the dying pill
low, and the departing man has said
he saw and heard those who had gone
away from him. How often 1t is in the
diving moments parents see their de-
parted children and children see their
departed parents. / came down to the