The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-08-30
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Heavenly RECOGNITION.

Continuing where left off last week
let me say that, the many mansions of
heaven suggest the home life of the
place. In these the saved live, not as
hermits, but in groups, gathered by
some law of association probably the
same IN principle that brings kindred
spirits on earth together. In this con-
nection let me quote the words of an
other, Heaven is furnished with every
accommodation. In it all those COM
forts will be found which we usually
enjoy in home such as rest, peace,
society and friendship. 1t is a place of
final meeting for the children off God.
as the members of a human family,
who are separated during the day and
scattered abroad in pursuit OF their re-
spective employments, assemble in the
evening in their common habltation "
Christ's description of the final judg-
ment is evidence of the truth of the
doctrine. In that description men ap-
pear not only as individuals but as
social beings recognizing and comnun-
ing with each other. Men are witness
es. Iquote just here the words of an
eminent theologian who said, "a judg-
ment which will right all the moral In
equalities of this stage of our existence
is necessity and unless the saints
should know each other in the next life
they could not acquiesce in the justice
of the sentence pronounced on all. >"
See Matt. %: 31-46. Paul doubtless ex-
pected to know his Philippian brethren
on that day and to rejoice in them as
his crown of rejoicing. What an ele-
ment of joy it will be then to every
Christian heart when those he has
been instrumental IN saving have been
publicly received in heaven. How the
Christian mother who has gone on, will
rejoice to welcome her children, whose
tender minds she instructed in the
words of God; whose feet she had d.
rected in the way of holiness and whom
she had taught to say, Our Father
who art in Heaven"
''In the world to come, should they go
first,
How warm will be their greeting, when
with tolls
Finished on earth, we reach Jerusalem,
Which is above. and these in glory see,
Where the saints dwell and Christ for
ever reigns.
Be this our consolation and our hope. !"
Our knowledge will not be more limit
ed there than it is here. Though we
see through glass darkiy now, there
it will be face TO face God has made
US social beings and for an object. To
attain this object we must be capable
of knowing those by whom We are sur
rounded and unless death changes the
faculties Of our minds we will retain
the same social natures we have on
earth and hence to receive all the graft
tication We are capable of we must be
able to recognize our associates there.
The TRANSPORTATION scenes confirms
our belief. Some of Christ's followers
knew the spirits of the Just and if
while on earth they could, shall not this
privilege be enjoyed when by the grace
of God, we have entered the abodes of
glory. Death does not change our
natures, but purifes and exalts them
and strengthens our powers and ca
capacitief to an infinite degree. The
soul freed from sin and its effects, goes
to the presence Of God.
They do not cease to love, and in
order to love they must know. Mem
DRY will doubtless retain the pure treas
ures it has gained on earth. The sane
tilted friendships of earth are written
on the memory, and as friends know
each other here by some characteristic
so, 'amid the perfectly refined spirit
uality of heaven in bonds of eternal
love- Death of course DESTROYS the
pleasures of time which arise from the
constitution of our bodies. There can
be no sinful enjoyments, but at the
same time, no pure spring of happiness
from which the soul now drinks will
ever cease its flow. Exalted friend