The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-25

open. Two spirits come down ana alignt
on that mountain. The disciples look a
them and recognize them as Moses and
Elias. Now. if 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
eyesight, will not be able to recognize
those who have gone odt from among US
only five ten, twenty, thirty years ago.
The Bible indicates over 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
ana as good capacity2 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 win see him
again. Thy brother shall rise again"
The Bible describes heaven as great
home circle. Well now. that would be
very queer home circle were the MEM
bers did not know each other. The Bible
describes death as a sleep. If we know
each other before we so to sleep, shall we
not know each other after we wake up?
Oh, yes. We will know each other
great deal better then than now; "foG
now" says the apostle, I'VE see through
will be my purified enthroned, and glo-
rihed body gazing on your purified en-
throned and glorifed body.
Now, l demand if you believe the BIZ
BILE, that you take this theory of future
recognition out of the realm of specula
ton and surmise into the region of posi-
tive certainty, and no more keep saying;
Il hope it is so; have an idea 1t is so; l
guess it is So" Be able to say, with all
the concentrated energy of body, mind and
soul, Il know 1t is sou
There are in addition to these Bible ar
guments, other reasons why / accept this
theory. In the first place, because the
rejection Of it implies the entire oblitera-
ton of our memory. Can it be possible
that we shall forget forever those with
whose walk, look manner we have been
so long familiar? Will death come and
with a sharp, keen blade hew away this
faculty of memory? Abraham said TO
Dives, "Son. remember" If the exiled
and the lost remember, will not the en-
throned remember?
You know very we'll that our joy in any
circumstance is augmented by the COM
partnership of our friends. We cannot 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 sympathes; 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 blessed and when there
surges up in our ear the jubilate of the
saved. Heaven is not a contraction. 1t
is an expansion. If / know you here,
will know you, better there. Here | see
you with only two eyes, but there the soul
shall have a million eyes. 1t will be i'm
mortality gazing on immortality-ran-
somed spirit in colloquy with ransomed
epirit-victor beside victor. When john
Evens. 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 heaven He turned
to her and said, my dear, do you think
we will be bigger fools in heaven than we
are here?"
Again, l accept this doctrine of future
recognition because the worlds expect
ancy afirms it. In all lands and ages
this theory is received. What form of re-
ligion planted it? No form of religion,
for it is received under all forms of reli-
gion. Then, / argue a sentiment, feel
ing, an anticipation, universally planted
must have been God-implante and If
God-implanted 1t is rightfully implanted.
Socrates whites, who would not part
with a great deal to purchase a meeting
with Orpheus and Homer? If 1t be true
that this is to be the consequence of death,
/ could even be able to die often"
Among the Danes, when a master dies
his servant sometimes Stays himself that
he may serve the master in the future
world. Cicero, living before Christ's COM
ing, said, "Oh. glorious day when l shall
retire from this low and sordid scene, to
associate with the divine assembage of
departed spirits and not only with the one
| have just mentioned. but with my dear
Cato, the best of sons and most faithful
of men. If seemed to bear his desth with
fortifude, it was by no means that / did
-gt.f.- 1al ~. I
tanned. 1t was because l was supported
by the consoling reflection that we could
not long be separated"
The Norwegian believes it. The Indian
believes it, The Greenlander be-
lieves it. The Swiss believes it.
The Turks believe it. Under every
sky by every river, in every zone,
the theory is adopted; and so ! say prin-
ciple universally implanted must be Cod
implanted, and hence a right belief. The
argument is Irresistible.
Again, / adopt this theory because there
are features of moral temperament and
features of the soul that will distinguish
us forever. How do we know each other
in this world? Is it merely by the color
of the eye, or the length of the hair, or the
facial proportions? oh, no. 1t is by the
disposition as wen, by natural affinity.
| using the word in the very best sense ana
| not in the bad sense; and if in the dust
| our body should perish and lie there for
ever, and there should be no resurrec ton,
! still the soul has enough, features and the
disposition has enough features to make
/ US distinguishable. ! can understand how
in sickness a man viii become so delirious
| that ne will not know his own friends; but
will we be blasted with such insufferable
| ldiocy that, standing beside our best
| friends for all eternity we viii never
| guess who they are?
! Again l think that one reason why we
ought to accept This doctrine is because
we never in this world have an opportuni-
~ TO give thanks to those 70 whom we are
spiritually indebted The joy of heaven,
We are told, IS to be inaugurated by a re.
view Of lifes work. These Christian men
| and women who have been toling for
Christ. have they seen the full result OF
their work. Oh, no.
IN the church at Somerville New Jer-
sey. John VrcdcuDurgh preached for a
great many years He felt that his min
istry was a failure although he was a
faithful minister preaching the Gospel all
The time. lie died. and died amid dis
couragements. and went home to God: for
no one ever doubted that John Vreden.
burgh was a good Christian minister \
little while after MS death there came q