Page:The Judgment Day.pdf/106

 like nothing more than fancy; but to the mind that has any true affection for spiritual things, it is the expression of a deep and fondly cherished belief that there are external objects and scenes in that world as well as in this. And though the popular systems, either of religion or of philosophy, find no place for such a belief, yet it is gratifying to know that there is a system of doctrines within our reach, which fully responds to this deep feeling of the human heart, by not, only admitting, but demonstrating that there are external forms, as well as internal realities, in that world which is to be our eternal home. It is there shown, that by the power of the spiritual sun, each spirit is surrounded with ultimate spiritual forms corresponding to his state. The good spirit is clothed in beautiful garments, dwells in splendid mansions, walks forth over gardens and fields blooming with beauty, and in every respect is surrounded by those external scenes which are the faithful representatives of his good affections and true thoughts; while on the other hand, those spirits who are evil and unhappy, dwell in the midst of the most loathsome and disgusting scenes. They are clothed in filthy garments; they wander over barren deserts, or amidst stagnant and filthy lakes, surrounded and infested by venemous reptiles and beasts of prey, all corresponding to and representing the vile affections and lusts of the unregenerate heart.

For the purpose of more fully unfolding the views here presented, I will insert a few paragraphs from the works of our author. The extract that follows is taken from the Apocalypse Explained, No. 926.

"In general, whatsoever appears in heaven, appears altogether similar to what exists in our material world in its three kingdoms; and those things appear before the angels altogether like such as are of those three kingdoms before the eyes of men in the world: there appear there gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, stones precious and not precious, ground, earths, mountains, hills, valleys, waters, fountains, and other things appertaining to the mineral kingdom; there ap-