SCENES BEYOND THE GRAVE
Chapter 2
Man At Death
"Wouldst thou know the condition of the departed members
of thy race, and be made familiar with the effects of the habits and
associations of perverted man? Measurably thou mayest; but know thou that their
conditions are varied." Then bidding me look upward she said, "What
beholdest thou?" Obedient, I looked above me, and with wonder beheld an orb
brighter by far than the sun of earth in its meridian glory. Light, pure,
beaming along the celestial skies, radiated therefrom."There," said my
guide, "are many thou wouldst see, who, clothed in raiment soft and white,
move in harmony. There, night-shades never fall, and death and gloom have no
element. Those who enjoy that blest abode do not suffer; no sin or pain disturbs
their calm repose. But more of this thou shalt hereafter learn. Other scenes
less joyous must first be given thee. Marietta, thou knowest well, that with man
are varied characters. The departure of the spirit from its unsettled and
shattered habitation below, worketh no change in its nature." Then touching
my forehead, again she said, "What seest thou?" My vision being opened
to a new scene, I beheld before me forms without number, struggling in the
agonies of death. Some in kingly palaces on dying couches richly hung with
drapery of costly price. Some in humble cottages; others in gloomy prisons;
haunts of vice and iniquity; lone forests; barren deserts, and in deep and wild
waters. Some lying beneath the scorching sun; some perishing upon bleak and
snowy mountains; some surrounded with weeping and attentive friends; others
dying alone and forgotten. Some expiring from wounds inflicted by the assassin;
others crushed beneath the heavy tread of the war-horse in the battle-field.
Effects of the Violated Law
Thus where time and eternity meet, was revealed a scene of indescribable
misery. "This," said my guide, "is but a faint view of the
effects of violated law."
Touched again by the light beaming from her right hand, I beheld the
immortality of those who were quitting their house of clay, entering upon the
regions of eternity and commencing new and untried realities. Around each dying
form were gathered spirits, varied in appearance and in movement.
Man at Death Gravitates to His Own Place
Over battle-fields were congregated spirits of the dead, and according to the
moral nature of the dying, was that of attending spirits who awaited their
arrival in the spirit world. In like manner, all classes and conditions are
effected, since this intermediate state or vestibule of the spirit world, is
visited by beings varying in character from the unholy and wretched, to the
bright and sanctified angels who in multitudes congregate at the portals of
death, as messengers of God. And all classes as they emerge from the physical
form are attracted to and mingle with kindred associations, beings to whose
character they assimilate. Those of discordant and unhallowed natures are
attracted by like elements, and enter into regions overhung with clouds of
night; while those, who for the love of good, desire pure associations, are by
heavenly messengers conducted to the orb of glories appearing above the
intermediate scene.
The strange sensations of human spirits as they mingled with the disembodied
multitudes, beholding what was transpiring around them, excited my wonder, and
while watching their movements, I began to ask myself, if what I saw was a
reality or mere imagery reflected upon my mind in a dreamy state? Upon
discovering my thoughts, my guide took me by the hand saying, "These beings
moving about thee, once the inhabitants, of earth whence thou art, having left
their mortal dwelings, are commencing a new state of existence. Their surprise
is the effect of their sudden change from external objects and sense to
spiritual, and their more immediate knowledge of cause and effect. But more of
this state and their condition shall be revealed, when that instruction will
better befit thy mind. These scenes we will leave and ascend to yon bright
orb." Thus saying she led me toward the cloud of light.
While passing the intermediate she touched me again, and I became conscious
of additional and expanded vision.
"Behold," said she, "the countless, planetary hosts. Mark the
rolling orbs, suns, and systems of suns, moving in silence and harmony. The vast
expanse is occupied and peopled with universes, constructed in infinite wisdom.
These are inhabited by holy beings, happy and immortal, though varied in degree
of development and refined spirituality."
The Ministry of Angels
Again the organs of perception were touched, and lo! above and around me, and
far in the distance, were passing and repassing with the quickness of thought,
spirits of pure light.
"These," said my guide, "are ministering angels; their supreme
delight is to go upon errands of mercy. Their home is with the ever blest. They
are employed as guardian protectors and messengers to those in conditions below
them."
While beholding them ascend and descend, one drew near me, in whose arms, and
borne upon whose angelic bosom, was an infant spirit. The angel passed, and I
saw that the nourished nestling rested in calm security, apparently conscious of
its safety in the hands of its protector. "Whence came this?" I
inquired; and the angel answered, "I received it from a heart-broken mother
at the gateway of death, as the spark of life expired in the external world, and
am conveying it to the sphere of infancy in the paradise of peace."
Entering Paradise
As the infant’s guardian spirit proceeded, we moved silently in the same
direction, until the scenes below perished from my vision, and my being was
absorbed in the bright light descending from the orb we were approaching. Soon
we entered a plain, whereon were visible trees, bearing fruit. Passing through
these shadowy, groves, I was delighted with the melody of the birds, whose
warbling notes arose in sweetest song. There we paused. Supposing that I was on
some terrestrial orb I inquired its name.
My guide answered, "These trees, these flowers, these birds occupy the
outer expanse of the spiritual paradise. So pure are they, and so refined, that
mortals with beclouded vision may not behold them. And so soft their notes that
they are not made audible to the dull hearing of men. Beings inhabiting forms
more gross, do not conceive the reality of the existence of nature so refined.
Absent from thy body, thou canst comprehend through spiritual senses the
existence and reality of spirual habitations; but what thou dost now behold is
but the outline and more exterior of the home of spirits. These floral plains,
and warbling melodies, are but the lower order of the external habitation of the
sanctified.
"Here the redeemed are first conducted by their guardian protectors, as
they leave the valley and shadow of death, and here they are taught the
rudiments of immortal life. Here they receive instructive lessons relative to
their heavenly abode, and learn the nature of pure love, unmarred by sin. Here
friends who have advanced in spiritual attainments return from higher employment
to welcome the spirit on its entrance upon this plane of the spirit world. Here
kindred are permitted to meet and hold converse; and ‘tis in these immortal
groves where spirits first attempt in unity the song of redeeming grace, and
reposing in soft and heavenly sweetness, breathe the pure air of paradise."
While listening to this strange, though welcome address, my spirit burned to
meet the friends long lost to me on earth. The angel said, "Thou art not to
tarry, since thy present mission is to learn the condition of the departed child
of God. When thy course on earth is ended, here thou shalt mingle in the infancy
of thy immortal state, with thy kindred and receive lessons, preparatory to an
advance to more exalted mansions, the more glorified home of the blessed."
Then she reached out her hand, and plucked a rose that hung over us, and
bidding me receive its fragrance, with it touched my lips. Again a more interior
sight was given, and I beheld around me, and moving in every direction, through
the varied floral scenes, happy beings without number. Desiring to mingle with
them, I sought permission; but my guide moved on, and upward through forests
becoming more pure and fair as we ascended.
Heaven
& Hell