: ed thoroughly but may the time never come, when in the room of calm tranquillity, or the sweet melody of praise, there shall be heard in the houses of professors, the boisterous and noisy merriment of the giddy and thoughtless. As to the company in which recreations should be enjoyed. We have in a manner, anticipated the thoughts that might have been introduced. In our view, people do not reason soundly when they observe, that such and such amusements were improper, because they were shared in the presence of worldly people. Is a wrong, act made right by the absence of unconverted spectators? Is it not better to pursue that dignified, or at least, allowable course of entertainment, which, while it would remove prejudices against christianity as leading to a gloomy kind of life, would furnish no just ground of accusation to any observer. The great point is, to do nothing which indicates a want of reverence for divine authority; and to sanction no wrong principle. Christianity seeks no concealment, unless for private devotion, and fears no enquiry or inspection. But, on the other hand, it is better, we confess, to choose serious companions. Commingling with worldly characters in recreations is at once reprehensible and dangerous. They may make choice of amusements which we ought not to tolerate; or, they may wound our feelings by vain or impure conversation. "Evil communications corrupt good morals." They may in a moment give a misdirection to thoughts, and excite wrong emotions, or infuse a leaven of scepticism which will be of a most injurious tendency. But suppose none of these evil consequences ensue, a voluntary association with the worldly in an excursion for mere pleasure" is not of good report." We add two further reflections. Recreations, in whatever company enjoyed, and in whatever time or The last enemy has The other reflection is, that if religion be allowed to reign over the whole man, and to exclude everything from our recreations which is inconsistent with duty, truth, and decorum, she will forbid no pleasure that is worth enjoying; but those only which are deceptive, unsatisfactory, and followed by painful reflections. The melodies of sound addressed to the ear, the beauties of nature and art, presented to the eye, and even the pleasures of the table may surely be enjoyed with moderation; and as to the delights which spring from society, friendship, and love, she purifies, heightens, multiplies, and guards them, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to every one that findeth her, and happy is every one that retaineth her." JOSEPH WALLIS. THE TWO SPIRITS; OR, FACTS AND IMAGININGS. Remarks Preliminary.-A short time since, it pleased God to lay his hand of affliction upon me. Various trains of thought passed over my mind during the period I was confined to my room. Perhaps the circumstances in which I was placed contributed to lead my mind to a subject which has frequently occupied my thoughts,-I refer to the state of happy disembodied spirits. To me it is a sweet thought, that between death and the resurrection the christian will be a living, conscious, active being. Can this be doubted for a moment, after reading that "to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord ?" 66 The answer which Jesus gave to the believing prayer of the penitent thief, is an additional confirmation of the truth of this cheering doctrine, Verily I say unto thee, to day, shalt thou be with me in paradise.' These words were uttered by Him who cannot lie. They were addressed to an humbled and penitent sinner. As to time, they regarded that day, the suffering hours of which were passing away. As to place, they referred to a place in the universe of God, called "paradise ;"-the state and place of happy disembodied spirits. As to companionship, whatever else they might mean, they referred to our Lord himself. Thou shalt be with me." I see the world as I saw it this, morning, when I was led to execution. I see the city too; but I see another world,-I am in another world. How near is the spirit-world to that of the material! They mingle, yet they are distinct. [2 Kings, vi. 15, 16, 17. Luke ix. 28-31.] Such were the thoughts uttered by one of the spirits referred to. He looked on his right hand, and he beheld another spirit, bearing a close resemblance to Him whose mercy he had sought, and had not sought in vain. From his face shone forth glory and majesty, while the wellknown words were once more uttered, Verily I say unto thee, to day, shalt thou be with me in paradise." When the spirit of the Redeemer had uttered these words, addressing himself to the saved spirit, he said, "We are here--you are saved; saved by grace 66 saved for ever! That dreadful scene is past! You enjoy the blessedness of confiding in me as your Saviour." He had scarcely uttered these sentiments, when the saved spirit threw himself before him, exclaiming, "Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen." The spirit of the Redeemer said, We must leave this place, to day, shalt thou be with me in paradise." The spirit of the saved sinner said, "Lord, I remember thy words, what peace they brought to my guilty, troubled mind! What joy in sorrow! What life in death! is not this paradise? Surely where thou art is paradise." "I know it," said the spirit of the Redeemer," but this is Calvary, not paradise; yet Calvary is the way to paradise." But It was on the afternoon of the sixth day of the week, and in the same month that the Jews observe the feast of the passover, and in the year thirtythree of the new dispensation, that two spirits stood upon the summit of a hill, outside the walls of the ancient Jerusalem. What am I? Where am "Before we leave this place," said I? What a burthen gone! What a the Redeemer, "let us look once load removed! I am light as the more upon those bodies from which passing breeze! I feel as if I could we have just departed." They turned outfly the rays of light to do his com--they looked. In silence they lookmand, who redeemed and sanctified my spirit. ed. No interchange of thoughtthought is word in the spirit-land. The body of the Redeemer seemed saturated with blood. The countenance still retained the marks of intense agony, now for ever past, marks blended with a holy calm. The countenance of the other appeared as if the mind, of which it had once been an index, had been relieved from a tremendous load of woe. There were indeed the outlines of suffering still remaining, but there was a blending of holy triumph with those outlines. The spirit of Christ said, while his eye passed from one body to another, "O sin!" Scarcely had he uttered these words, when he exclaimed, "Mercy, love, compassion, these have triumphed! these have triumphed." The saved spirit took up the last words uttered by the Saviour, while he gazed upon his own character and condition, and felt that a new creation had passed over his once fallen and polluted spirit, and exclaimed, "These have triumphed! these have triumphed." There was another body there (for Christ was crucified between two thieves), both looked upon it. In silence they looked upon it. From that body too the spirit had departed, but it had immediately passed away. Between that spirit and the other two, there were no kindred feelings; therefore it had departed immediately. Again, the spirit of the Redeemer uttered the words, "today, shalt thou be with me in paradise." Just before they rose from the summit of the hill,-a hill never to be obliterated from the geography of christianity or the records of eternal love and mercy, he said, saved spirit, look yonder," while he pointed to a little group still remaining at the foot of the cross, "there is confidence -there is love." Again he said, "let us leave these scenes-look right onward." He looked, and there was a pathway of light presented to his view; a pathway more beautiful than the milky way when it shines out cloudlessly across the bright blue heavens. Beautiful emblem, still but an emblem, of the highway travelled by saints and angels, between earth and the paradise of God. They move, they rise, they fly, onward and onward they go, the pathway of glory still brightening. Who are these coming to meet us?" said the saved spirit, "they are beautiful to look upon, they have flowing garments, white as the driven snow. "They are angels from paradise," said the spirit of the Redeemer, "they are going to yonder world which we have left far behind. We shall see others approaching for the express purpose of returning with us." While he spake, a band of happy spirits approached, and while passing, bowed with the profoundest reverence, at the same time, I perceived that they looked upon the saved spirit with unutterable satisfaction. Onward these happy intelligences urged their way to fulfil the designs of God with regard to angel duties, in connection with the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Soon another and another band were seen advancing, while the pathway seemed to terminate in a vast body of brightness and glory. The saved spirit could no longer contain, but exclaimed, in the hearing of vast numbers of sinless beings, who had just come up and formed themselves round the Redeemer, "Lord, this is heaven! Lord, this is heaven!" The whole band which had just arrived, waited until the saved spirit had given utterance to his feelings of holy gratitude and love, and then with one voice they sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good-will to men." These words were caught by other bands still in advance, and passed onward until the last sounds of the angelic hymn came forth from the interior of the celestial portals. Side by side they moved along, as if, in the most literal sense, the saved spirit was determined that every word FACTS AND IMAGININGS. of the promise should be fulfilled, both rejoicing, both exulting. They have arrived, What wonders now open to the saved spirit! He beholds myriads of happy beings forming immense lines along which the Redeemer and he are to pass. Millions bow in holiest adoration, and rising up, they sing, "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, unto God and the Lamb be glory for ever and ever." The saved spirit still keeps near his side; but the scene which he had just now witnessed acted so powerfully upon him, that in the presence of myriads of spirits, he threw himself at the feet of Jesuswhile he exclaimed, "Look on me. He loved me, and gave himself for me." The seventh day of the week had not commenced on earth when they entered the paradise of God. The saved spirit remembered the words, "to-day, shalt thou be with me in paradise." I observed in the first rank of happy beings were the first parents of the family of man. They looked with joy unspeakable upon the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. They saw in the seed of the woman the bruiser of the serpent's head. He beheld as he passed along-and Abel, Enoch, Noah, with all the pious of their generations were there what a glory sat upon the face of Abraham, the friend of God. Isaac and Jacob were there. Jacob remembered his fixed determination when he said, "I will not let thee go unless thou bless me." The angel of the Covenant remembered it too. Soon was Moses at his Lord's feet; Aaron and Miriam were close behind. The face of Moses shone far more glorious than when he descended from the summit of Sinai. The saved spirit said, "Lord, I see a man approaching, who seems to excel in majesty and glory." That is Elijah," said the Saviour, "my Father sent one of his own chariots to bring him hither. He did not 67 taste death, he was translated, but changed while on his way to this place." "Lord, how wonderful the change," said the saved spirit. "Yes, all God's works are wonderful. The same change will take place on the living saints when I come in my kingdom." With what joy did Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, and all their brethren the prophets, and thousands of thousands accompanying them, all bowing as they came up, approach the Saviour! Joy and gladness beamed from every eye-heaven sat on every face. Amongst the ranks of happy spirits which came up there was a band which appeared like angels of a smaller growth, yet they were not angels. "Lord," said the saved spirit, "who are these?" "These," said he, "are the spirits of the little children whom God permitted Herod to destroy when he thought to have destroyed me. They were martyred on my account. They are objects of peculiar regard even here; although they knew not for whom they suffered, yet coronets if not crowns shall adorn their brow." I saw Simeon and John the Baptist; they approached the Saviour with countenances radiant with joy and glory. As Simeon came up, he lifted up his hands and with a loud voice exclaimed, "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Simeon had scarcely finished, when John spoke as with an angel's voice, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." The Lamb of God," was repeated by thousands of thousands, millions of happy spirits-rank after rank-repeated the glorious truth, "The Lamb of God." The angel voice of John was again heard, "That taketh away the sin of the world." Again rank after rank uttered the cheering announcement, until the sound died away amidst the distant multitude, "That taketh away the sin of the world." I could perceive that the saved spi "In rit was much more taken up with the, and hell are vanquished foes." a little while and ye shall see me." Jesus had spent the Jewish sabbath in paradise. The spirit, saved in the eleventh hour, had accompanied him and been "with him," according to his own words. But now He must return to the scenes of his suffering not to suffer; but to be confessed the Son of God with power. The seventh day was closed on earth, and the hour that commenced a new era in the world's history had now passed. The world was still in darkness, but all was light in these happy regions. Jesus, with a voice which language was never designed to describe, while he waved his right hand with majesty to call the attention of the happy myriads, said, "I go, ye happy spirits, I go. The resurrection morn is come. This day my Father shall glorify me on earth. It will be seen before the sun of earth sets to-day, that death At the celestial gates, a band of angels were in attendance to escort the Saviour back to earth again, while the saved spirit joined his new companions to walk by the river of life, to eat of immortal fruits, and to drink of living fountains until his Lord's return. The spirit of the Redeemer was on his way to earth. Soon the city is discovered, although "it is yet dark." Jesus approaches the new sepulchre, A messenger with an angel's might rolls back the stone. The soldiers are affrighted-terrified. A heavenly band now approaches the tomb, The spirit of Jesus enters and in a few moments the animated body of the Redeemer comes forth-uttering the prophetic words, "Thou wilt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Thus dawned the first christian sabbath upon a guilty but redeemed world. A Sabbath on which Jesus was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead:" a Sabbath, lovely emblem of the rest which remains for the people of God above. H. S. THE SYMBOLS OF SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATED. “The days of thy mourning shall be ended." ISAIAH LX. 30. THE present world is a Bochim-a "The path of sorrow, and that path alone, The Jews called one of the valleys of their delightful country Achor, or trouble, to remind them of some of the sorrows of their militant state. The dearest children of heaven's King have had their troubles. It is as true now as it was in Job's day, that "man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward." Even the prophets, those holy men of God who spake as they 66 |