OCCUPATIONS IN HEAVEN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3508, 4 October 1882, Page 4

OCCUPATIONS IN HEAVEN.

Few ministers in any land are more distinguished for uttering strong and startling words fchan the Rev. T. Dβ Witt Talmoge, D.D. of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. In a recent issue of the Neve York Tribune we find the following report of a sermon, which we think will interest some of our readers :—

" What are our departed Christian friends doing now ?" This question is more easily answered than one would suppose, said the preacher. ITrom inference we can decide •what is the occupation of our transferred kinsfolk. By the inevitable law of common sense we must conclude that in hearen we shall be as different as on earth, and there will be as many different employments. All those departed Christians who found great joy in fine arts on this earth are now indulging their taste in that direction, but with a keener appreciation of beauty. Raphael could improve on his masterpiece, " Michael the Angel," now that he has seen him. We hare excellent color here, but the grander studies and galleries are higher up, and are reached by the marble staircase of the sepulchre. All the departed friends fond of music are still gratifying their taste. The Bible is full of references to the songs of heaven. What if the ear fails in death ? Do you not suppose that the soul can hear ? And if the soul can hear, it can hear music. Departed Christian friends who formerly had a strong military spirit are now in the armies Celestial, and are engaged in bloodless battles. There are plenty of volunteers for the heavenly campaigns. There are grand parade days when the king reviews the troops. There are escorts to bring up from earth these more than conquerors. But what are mathematical friends to do in heaven ? They are busy with figures yet. There 18 no place like heaven for figures. Tf hat fields of space to be surveyed ; what distances to be measured ! Even didactic Dr Dix said that time in heaven woulrl be spent in studying higher mathematics. The metaphysician there is studying the mind, but in better conditions than when here, for there the mind is free from the body. Have you any doubt as to what Sir William Hamilton is doing, or what Dugald btewart ie doing ? They are still studying the glorious metaphysics. Those who are explorers there, comprehending at a glanco a world and in a minute a system of planets. Christian Do Lon,* is no longer trying to free the Jeanette from the ice fields, but with one look, in the twinkling of an eye, beholds what was unapproachable on earth. What is the physician doing, for there is no sickness in heaven ? No sickness in heaven, hut plenty here on earth. You cannot understand why the man, given up by the prominent physicians of New York and Brooklyn suddenly rallies and is restored to health. Perhaps ifc is a heavenly physician, who, coming with lightning rapidity, touches that man with the hand of health. Some are very fond of sodality and conversation. What a place to visit when your neighbors are kings and queens. If you want to know how the sun stood still, you have only to go over and ask Joshua. If you want to find out about the Garden of

Eden go over and ask Adam. Yo who are fond of flowers think of Paradise. All departments of usefulness are going right on in heaven. George Peabody still watches over the poor. The tombstone is not the terminus but the starting point. But hark ! the cathedral bells are Tinging. What is the matter now ? There is going to be a great meeting in the temple. Christ is to be there. Those loving music go to hear his voice ; those loving the beautiful go to see the rose of Sharon. The astronomer is to see tho morning star, the lawyer will see the great Judge, and the physician will see Him who was wounded for our transgressions.