Preface
Editors Note: Marietta was
not a born again Christian when Jesus sovereignly took her up to heaven and
later down into hell. Here story
focuses a great deal on what happens to still born children and children who die
right after birth, about nurseries in heaven and how children are raised and
educated by angels in heaven. She also describes the contrast between
those unredeemed and the redeemed in the constitution of their makeup and why
heaven for the lost is hell and why, and why there must be forever a gulf fixed
between the two. She explains the principle of violated law, how this
effects man's nature now and in hell and in eternity. The story also talks about her experience of
heaven and of hell.
Dale P. Kruse
Pastor-Evangelist
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STATEMENT OF ORIGINAL PUBLISHER
The increasing demand for this work, with so little effort to
call public attention to it, confirms our first impressions, that it is the Book
for the age; one greatly needed to supply the deficiency intuitively sensed by
the mind of the present generation.
Edition after edition has been published and passed silently
into the hands of the reading public. Reports of an encouraging nature reach us
from all sections where it has found its way; and the united testimony of those
who avail themselves of the work is, that, to read is to be benefited.
Its sound theology, purely religious sentiment, and thrilling
descriptions of scenes enacted beyond the grave, as seen by the spirit of the
young girl, while her body lay entranced, cannot, it seems to me, fail to
strengthen the faith of the Christian in the truths of Revelation. More
particularly is it adapted to the youthful mind of this age, to awaken in it a
love of the Christian Religion as it unfolds so graphically the great plan of
man’s Redemption,-- "which things the angels desire to look into."
I have witnessed its effect upon the youthful mind. They,
while listening to the thrilling story of Marietta, seem borne along with her
enraptured spirit, and with it to witness the unfolding of visions, by which the
Infants are being taught to know their Redeemer, that they too, might be able to
realize and love Him, who was once a babe in a manger; then a man of sorrows
acquainted with grief; then suffering death and triumphing over the grave, for
the redemption of a ruined and forlorn race.
I unhesitatingly state it as my firm and unwavering belief,
that the spirit of Marietta Davis, like John, the Revelator, while his body was
in the Isle of Patmos, visited scenes beyond the grave, and there saw and heard
what she relates. However this may be, if the truth can be brought to reach the
mind, and win the affections to the Christian Religion, all is gained that
should be desired.
STEPHEN DUEL
Dayton, OH, September 1, 1856
TESTIMONY AUTHENTICATING THE VISION
The following testimonials from the mother and sisters of
Marietta Davis; and from Emerson Hull, M.D., who had been a resident of Berlin
for many years, and is a physician of eminence, are but a part of those in
possession of the editor, but are considered sufficient to authenticate the
narrative.
1. Testimony of the Family
Berlin, New York, Nov. 15, 1855.
Rev. J. L. Scott:
Dear Friend:—Since you have been publishing
the trance of Marietta Davis, in the Mountain Cove Journal, some of the readers
have written to us to ascertain its authenticity. Upon this account, and to
relieve you from embarrassment, we submit the following for your disposal:
Marietta Davis was a member of our family;—she
was born in this town, where she lived until called by death from us.
She was not of open religious habits; being
disinclined to religious conversation. During the revival in the winter of
1847-48, her mind, as you well know, was religiously exercised; but she could
not realize what others professed, so as to enable her to unite with her young
friends in the ordinances of the Gospel. In August following she fell into a
sleep, or trance, from which she could not be awakened.—In that state she
remained nine days; and when she awoke, she said she had been in Heaven; that
she had seen there many of her old friends and relations who were dead; and
Jesus the Redeemer. From that time her hope in heaven through Jesus, was strong;
and she rejoiced in the prospect of a final admission into the Paradise of
Peace.
During her short stay with us, after she came
out of the trance, she related what she said she had seen, heard. and learned
during her sleep; but much of what she told us, she said she wished should not
be mentioned then, for the world was not prepared to hear it. The trance, as you
published it, as far as we can recollect, is correct; only you have omitted
much. Marietta fell asleep in August, 1848, and died the following March, and at
the time and in the manner predicted by herself.
Yours,
Nancy Davis, Mother,
Susan Davis, Sister,
Sarah Ann Davis, Sister.
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2. Testimony of Attending Physician
Berlin, New York, Nov. 15, 1853.
Rev. J. L. Scott:
Dear Sir:—In the summer of 1848, with
yourself, I visited the widow Nancy Davis, of this town, in the capacity of
medical attendant upon her daughter Marietta, who had fallen into a state of
catalepsy, or trance, in which she remained nine days, and from which to awaken
her human skill seemed unavailing. When she returned to her normal state, she
related much of a remarkable character, which she said she had learned while in
the trance.
Having read portions of what you have
published in the Mountain Cove Journal, I am prepared to give my testimony as to
its strict correspondence to what I heard her relate before her death.
Your Obedient Servant,
EMERSON HULL, M.D.
3. Testimony of Prominent Ministers
Living at the Time of the Vision
Lest some who have not read this Trance, and are therefore
unacquainted with its character, should class it with books "got up"
by the "spirit media" of the day, and to assure the reader that its
correct sentiment and pure spirit commend it to the confidence of the Religious
Public, we insert the following statements of the Rev. Mr. Waller, of Kentucky,
and the Rev. Mr. Miller, of Springfield, Ohio.
Rev. G. Waller, one of the first ministers of the Baptist
order, in Kentucky, whose sound Theology and good sense won him, for twenty-five
consecutive years, the highest office in his denomination, and whose name is
sufficient commendation for any Work through the wide field of his usefulness,
and wherever his name is known, writes as follows:
"I have carefully examined a book bearing the title:
"Scenes Beyond the Grave," purporting to be a simple narrative of
scenes enacted beyond the grave, and witnessed by the spirit of a young girl
while she lay entranced, as the testimony shows. Of this I express no opinion;
but fully approve of its pure and deep-toned spirit of Christianity, and sound
Theology.
"The Scenes are so truly depicted, and so beautifully and
thrillingly told, that it cannot fail to secure the judgment, and win the
confidence and affections of all who read it.
"I am constrained to say, that in purity of style, and
richness of composition, it is not excelled by any work I have read. I should be
pleased if it could be placed upon the table of every family, and read in every
common and Sunday school in the land. Infidelity can have little influence where
it is read. It is particularly adapted to the use of families and schools, to
form in the young mind the first impressions. I therefore, very cheerfully
recommend it to the public, and particularly to all who love the Bible and the
Christian religion."
GEORGE WALLER
Louisville, Ky., June 15, 1855.
Rev. Mr. Miller, of Springfield, Ohio, Minister of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, a man of deep devotion and marked piety who has not
only the confidence of his Church, but for some twenty years has held a
responsible office—the gift of the people of his City and County—in a letter
speaks thus:
Rev. J. L. Scott:—
"I have before me the first part of the Trance of
Marietta Davis, entitled "Scenes Beyond the Grave," which I have read
with inexpressible delight; and it so far exceeds any work I have previously
read, which treats upon the lost state of man, and his redemption through our
Lord Jesus Christ, that I am constrained to urge upon you the necessity of
placing it in the hands of every family in the land.
"Its richness, and purity of style, its poetic grandeur
and figurative excellence, so possess the mind of the reader, that he seems
himself ‘entranced,’ and borne far beyond the darkness and imperfections of
earth, to be an observer with the spirit of Marietta, of the lovely scenes that
occupy the inhabitants of heaven; and also as was revealed to her, the reader
realizes most deeply the depth of iniquity into which man is fallen by reason of
sin, and becomes lost in the contemplation of the boundless goodness bestowed in
his redemption.
"Her description, as revealed to her, of the display of
Justice, and Mercy, the meekness, love and suffering of the Savior, in the
purpose and completion of the plan of Salvation, is unequalled; and the
narrative of what she saw in Paradise, where the infants from earth are
received, agreeing so perfectly as it does with our highest hopes of the
blessedness of our little ones, who have departed this life, fills the reader
with ecstacy.
"No language of mine is in any way capable of explaining
the feelings that awaken in the soul, while reading the narrative, and whatever
may have been the inspiring cause (and I believe she saw what she relates), I
feel that whoever reads the Trance with any degree of care will receive from it,
lasting benefit.
"I am therefore solicitous that it should be spread
abroad through the land, and the more especially, since it is so well calculated
to counteract the destructive influence of that Infidelity, now so abundantly
promulgated, by the advocates of modern Infidel Spiritualism. In the bonds of
Christian affection,
I am yours,
REUBEN MILLER
Springfield, Clark Co., O., June 9, 1855.
4. Testimony of Marietta’s Pastor
The work now presented to the public as depicting "Scenes
Beyond the Grave," does not come without authority for its somewhat
startling title. In the summer of 1848, a young woman named Marietta Davis, aged
twenty-five years, residing with her mother Mrs. Nancy Davis, at Berlin, New
York, fell into a sleep or trance, in which she remained for nine days. All
endeavors on the part of her friends and of her physicians failed to arouse her
from this unnatural state. When at last she awoke to a consciousness of external
things, she was in the full possession of all her natural faculties, with an
almost supernatural acuteness of perception superadded.
Before she fell into the trance, her mind had been
considerably exercised in regard to her ‘future state; but there was yet a
lingering doubt which greatly disturbed her. Her mother and sisters were
exemplary members of a Baptist Church, in Berlin, then under my pastoral charge,
but Marietta’s doubt seemed to have kept her from the enjoyment of the hope in
which her family so confidently rested. But when she came out of the trance, in
which she had lain for so many days, it was with joy and rejoicing over the
unspeakable things which she had seen and heard. Her mouth was filled with
praises to God, and her heart swelled with gratitude to Him for His loving
kindness. She averred that while her body lay as it were in death, her spirit
had visited the eternal world. She informed her friends that she was not to
remain long with them: but should soon go hence to enjoy a mansion prepared for
her in her heavenly Father’s Kingdom. After this she lived seven months and
died at the time predicted by herself; and so perfectly did she know the hour of
her departure, that when it arrived she selected a hymn and commenced singing it
with the family; and while they sang, her spirit took its flight so gently as
not to attract attention. Thus the hymn commenced with her friends on earth, was
doubtless concluded with the angels in heaven.
The style of Marietta’s narrative is peculiar. She regretted
her inability to express her conceptions of what she had seen and heard, so as
to give a definite idea of the glories of the heavenly world. I have not felt at
liberty to change the style of her narrative, and as far as possible have
employed her own language. Having received the story from her own lips, I have
so preserved it, as to make it in truth the relation of her own experience.
The tone of the trance is exalted and Christlike; and
therefore its influence cannot fail to be of a useful and sacred character.
Confident of this, I offer it to the public. If read in the spirit in which it
was given, it cannot fail to gladden and encourage the Christian, and to lead
the thoughts of the man of the world beyond his material existence. For while
following her in her wide range of spiritual thoughts and visions, forgetting
the outer world, we fancy that the heavens are opened to our view, revealing
their glory and magnificence. We seem to see the moving multitudes, who with
golden harps and angelic voices are chanting praises to God. With ecstacy we
behold, as mirrored before us, the Infant Paradise; and appear ourselves to be
observing the order and harmony of the inhabitants of that divine sphere. Then
borne onward and upward by her entrancing story, in the spirit we seem to arise
with saints and angels and become familiar with the inhabitants of the Celestial
Heavens, and are led to exclaim, "Marietta! thou favored of Heaven, we
bless that Providence which unfolded thy vision, while we read with delight of
soul, the revelations of thy entranced spirit!"
J. L. SCOTT.
Chapter
1 Table of Contents
Heaven
& Hell