weight. If not sight as we understand sight, it implies a sense which takes the place of sightcertainly not inferior to it as regards the saints in Paradise. Again we find St. Paul stating of himself: "How that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not possible for a man to utter." II Very definite again. Whether the language were entirely different from all earthly languages, and Paul was permitted to understand without having the power to translate ; or whether the thoughts expressed were simply so high above human intellect, that he could not attempt to reproduce them either way, there was speech, there was language, there was hearing, there was understanding; "whether in the body or out of the body," Paul himself could not tell. He only knew that it was Paradise. "O Paradise! O Paradise! Who doth not crave for rest? "O Paradise! O Paradise! The world is growing old; 'Tis weary waiting here; "O Paradise! O Paradise! "O Paradise! O Paradise! I shall not wait for long; "Lord Jesus, King of Paradise, And guide me to that happy land "Where loyal hearts and true All rapture, through and through, References. Rev. vi. 11. 4 Job iii. 17. 5 Rev. vii. 15. 8 Phil. i. 21-24. 9 1 Pet. i. 8. marg. FABER. 2 Rev. xiv. 13. 3 Heb. iv. 9. 6 Rev. vi. II. 7 2 Cor. v. 1-8. 10 1 Cor. xiii, 12. 11 2 Cor. xii. 4; RECOGNITION OF FRIENDS. HERE is one Paradise-joy to which we cling greatly in anticipation, yet about which little is definitely told us in the Bible. This is the joy of re-union with those who have gone before us, or, as it is often expressed, "the recognition of friends in heaven." "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me," spoke King David of the child he lost, dimly foreseeing the future. To expect to "go to him," yet not to know or be known by him, would in effect be the same as to believe that they had said good-bye for ever. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, there was clearly recognition between the two, and between them and Abraham, in Hades. The fact is mentioned incidentally, as one mentions an undeniable truth. St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 2 This is not spoken with regard to the intermediate waiting in Paradise, but with regard to the glorious day of Christ's appearance. If, however, the mutual recognition of friends is true of any part of the great future, it can scarcely fail to be true of Paradise also. It is very certain that Paul could not have expected to rejoice in these converts of his in the day of Christ, unless he had expected to recognise them. I know the difficulty which runs alongside with this expectation of mutual recognition. I know the bitter heartache with which one and another will respond: "What, am I to dwell in Paradise, vividly remembering the past, finding one dear to me there, but knowing that another, once tenderly and passionately beloved, has gone down to the dark prison-house of lost souls to be for ever parted from me! How could Paradise be Paradise to me then ?" It is a natural feeling, and one that scarcely admits of argument. I might answer you that you do not know your loved one to be lost. Many and many a last pleading clinging glance may have been cast towards the Saviour of sinners, unknown to friends. It may be that you will find your dear one unexpectedly in Paradise; not indeed ranking as one of the King's faithful and honoured servants, not indeed one to whom the glad "Well done" shall resound before Heaven and earth; yet just borne through the waters, just saved as a brand plucked from the burning. There are perhaps comparatively few instances in Christian households absolutely devoid of all possibility of hope. Yet there are a few. And for any such, I can only say to you, "Trust in the Lord at all times." Trust His love, even when the mysteries of its action seem darkest. It would avail little now to go into the true explanation of the difficulty; to tell you how in Paradise your whole being |