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RECOGNITION OF PERSONS

IN A FUTURE STATE.

IT has been a question, frequently agitated, whether recognition of person will take place in a state of future existencereason would immediately answer in the affirmative; and powerful are the illustrations and the arguments, by which her deductions might be supported and confirmed.--Grounded as they are, and delightful as might prove the employment of tracing and displaying them, we shall, on account of the length to which they would imperceptibly extend, decline to introduce them. And, after all, an apt illustration from the sacred text cannot fail to prove more authoritative and consolatory, on a topic such as this, than whatever the most ingenious, best conducted, and even the most conclusive reasoning can possibly exhibit. But how incalculably great becomes the amount of an assurance, in perfect harmony with

reason and revelation!-Can the force of any testimony exceed such a mighty combination as this?-and, of such, it should seem, we are possessed.-Reason, we have observed, will be found to confirm the doctrine of personal recognition in a state of future existence-this, is an assertion only, or at best, a dogma; but in this place, with a view to brevity-let it pass. It is, however, an assertion, or a dogma, of such description, as is in unison with the feelings and the principles of the heart of man.-Turn we now to two or three passages in the sacred writings

Does not the great Apostle of the Gentiles appear to establish the doctrine of future recognition, when he counsels his Thessalonian converts, in reference to de'ceased friends, "to sorrow not even as others which have no hope." HOPE-of what?-what, but a reunion with those friends in a world of spirits! a felt, a sensible, a palpable reunion-such as necessarily implies perfect recognition. Under any other rendering of the text, it would be found incorrect; that it had tended to mislead: consequently it will not bear any other. It is, therefore, illustrative of future recognition and reunion. Again;--Does

RECOGNITION IN A FUTURE STATE. 157

not the same Apostle manifest a feeling of rapture and of triumph, when, in another place, addressing the same converts, he exclaims; For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord at his coming? for, ye are our glory and joy."-How so, if they were not to be recognized!-Let this solitary question supersede the necessity, and the value, of laboured disquisition..

Once more-the same Apostle has expressed himself thus:-"not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.". -Does not this suggest, that the change, which is to fashion our bodies into glorious bodies a doctrine of this Apostle also,will not operate to destroy, or to confound identity, but to ennoble it!

By a still higher authority than that of an Apostle, the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are represented as sitting in the heavenly state, with whom many "from the east and from the west, from the north, and from the south," shall be hereafter associated. Does it not follow, that these patriarchs are supposed to retain identity, and to manifest their individuality of

persons.

At the transfiguration, Moses and Elias

are related to have been present, and to have talked with that transcendent Personage who was the subject of it. But, if identity and a due manifestation of individuality were wanting, how could they justly be pronounced the persons, Moses and Elias?The same question applies correctly to the instance immediately preceding. Let these few examples, and these few remarks, suffice for present purpose.

Were we to collate at leisure and in length,what the sacred pages might supply on the speculation before us, it appears to me, that a continued, and a decisive course of testimony would be adduced in proof of the future recognition of persons. But, a multiplication of instances is unnecessary, where those, which are produced, require not to be exceeded in pertinence and in force. Such, we conceive, to be the character of those already brought forward; in which the delightful truth, the rapturous joy of future recognition are all but absolutely revealed, and insisted on as doctrine! and, perhaps only not positively taught, because a contrary sentiment was presumed to be entirely out of the question.Throughout the same scripture the act of suicide is not directly prohibited, because its perpetration is never supposed.

REFLECTION,

WRITTEN IN AN INN-BRISTOL,

NOVEMBER EVENING.

HAPPENING to walk up stairs before I poured out my first cup of tea, I found the walls, bannisters, &c. wet, as if they had been well and recently mopped. I knew that the waiter had nothing to say to it, yet I could not forbear from remonstrating when he entered with my dry toast, &c. &c. He replied-but accompanied by a manner not expressive of total indifference to my discovery-"yes, sir, all houses are wet now." "In Bristol, you mean, waiter; my house is perfectly dry now;" he smiled-but, as if he did not question the truth of my remark.That was the only satisfaction I received, or he could supply; and-it was enough.

But, whether our hotel be dry or wet; whether our waiter smile or scowl; no roof, no fire-side, no corner of an apartment associates so charmingly with the

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