Year: 1868

| make some reply do so cheerfulIy But IL
would not be worth while to go into all the ques-
tons which have been raised respecting the
points here mentioned; nor indeed, to enter into


arguments at all. will give, in a simple manner,


the results to which my own mind has been
brought:


dear SRA few weeks since question
came up before the teachers meeting. OF the
| Presby yterian Church, where some of US very
good na,uredy disagreed. Part Of the officers Of
the church, and one reverend, maintained that


though It were just possible we might recoguizs


our friends in the other world, we should feel no
more affection for them than for perfect stran.
gers; and that the body with which our Savior
rose from the dead underwent another transform
alton, and became eiherealzed before IL ascended
TO heaven; and in like manner at the resurrec-
ton Of our own bodies we will be furnished With
vague, shadowy forms.
Nov, Mr.. Beecher. last Thursday our little
three year Old baby left Us. She was the sun-
light OF our home here and Is II true that when
too. cross the river, shall not know her, and
knowing, shall not love heri IA. AZ
The nature Of the body to which we come by
resurrection is matter purely OF speculation.
Nothing conclusively Ia taught by the Scriptures.
Paul declares that flesh and blood shall not in
he'7t the kingdom Of God. So far as this mega
tive reaches the teaching is clear enough. WHAT
ever the body is, II is flesh and blood. But what
conception can we form of a body except of that
flesh and blood body in which we have always
dwelt! The apostle seems to teach that our spi-
ritual body, without being material, will be one
which shall correspond to our earthly one Ii
will answer our spiritual condition just as the
mortal body does our earthly state. Beyond this
all is fancy and speculation. Every one trying to
fashion conception OF spiritual bsdy, will fol-
low the pecuiiarites Of his own mind or his hab-


its Of thought and the tendencies in which be has
been educated. As an exercise Of the imagna-
tion such speculations may Dot be without some
benefit. They will certainly be harmless il cue
does not fail into the eonceit of thinking that his
ldeallzings are literal truth.


Good men and learned men have in every age
so differed among themselves as to the probable
spiritual that no one need be afraid of differing
from everybody else. Even Paul could not ex-
plain the facts TO us. Instead, he drew ilustra-
tions from the vegetable kingdom. implying that
as kernel Of wheat when planted did not come
up with the same body form, bat that it de.
veloped new form out of the seed which was
planted, so it should be with the hunan body.
The main truth to be cherished, is, that we
shall really live on after death and that our
identity will not be lost, but that the heavenly
state will SO develop itself out of the materials


gathered in the earthly, that shall be the same


employ the same faculties, and carry forward that


very mind and disposition with which We left the
world.


But shall we recognize each other in heaven?


This precise question Is neither put nor answered


IN the sacred Scriptures But, beyond all dis


pute, il is implied, assumed a. the very necessity


Of moral state, that the principle Of memory


will ex st that the sufferiDgs, temptations tri-


umphs of men over evil that the divine helpful


ness aud fidelity displayed during the whole of
mems earthly lives, will be an occasion of thanks


giving and praise. Now. if memory survives. why


should its action be limited to one class of ex.


periences? Why, II we remember earthly suf-


feriDgs, should we not remember those who
soothed or sympatbized in them! II we remem-


Der adult friends. why should we forget little
children, which take hold upon the heart with
grasp even firmer than any grown person can?
There is no authority for suppositiOns which


parcel out the memory and limit its free activity.


kA nN.I- ~u1I 49,


IaLy Of mourDers whose children have gone away
ircm them. God has taken your babesi They are


safe. They did not venture out into some great


void, some vague and unexplored way, where the


little wanderers were left TO find their own way.


II there be use for angels. surely there is none
more fit and beautiful than TO bear in their bosoms,
and convey to the presence of the All-loving, the


tender spirits of little children. .a


Nor DO we need to doubt that there is in the


Fathers house place for them, aud sweet CON-


psny, and perfect blessedness, and gladness. ia-
nocence. and friendship, such as they could never
have had on earth.


Our children are cared for. He that was greved


wien little children were kept from Him, who


took them up in His arms, laid his hands upon


them and blessed them-is He any less lover OF
children in Heaven than be was upon earth,


But shall we know them, Why not, Where is
there intimation n Scripture to this effect? IL


is not positively affirmed; but it is implied that
men, dropping ct death all that is Of the flesh,


will rise into the communion OF heaven, carrying
the same affections, sentiments, will and intelli-
gence that they had on earth. Otherwise, of


what use are discipline, education, earthly expe-
riencei 1t is the saint made perfect, not made up
Of q new pattern, that we shall meet ia glory.


Let no mother be driven frsm the hope OF meet
ing her children in heaven. Let mothers comfort
themselves in believing that the loves of earth


will 90 on in heaven, and that whatever was pure,
noble and true on earth will go on with them for
ever. Among all ether griefs. let not this un-
necessary one arise that you have lost your chill
Iror. fore ua wkr f.-e 49,. ill
keep them for you. They will be more beautiful,
sweeter, more glorious in preciOusness. they


will be enough the same to make you glad for all
The growths, additions and rednements of their
charnna r,rrlNrI Ira nm rnr rlrrrn