TO

THE MEMBERS

OF

The First German Reformed Church,

LEWISBURG, PA.,

OF WHICH THE AUTHOR WAS LATELY PASTOR;

AND,

TO THE MEMBERS

OF

Che First German Reformed Church,

IN

THE CITY OF LANCASTER,

OF WHICH

HE IS NOW PASTOR:

WITH THE HOPE AND PRAYER THAT IT MAY BE A MEANS OF
ALLURING THEIR THOUGHTS AND HEARTS TO-
WARDS THE GLORIES OF

A BETTER WORLD,

THIS VOLUME IS

Affectionately Dedicated.

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PREFACE

то

THE FIRST EDITION.

FOR several years my mind has been specially directed towards the heavenly world. In gathering information on this interesting subject, I was surprised to find that so little had been written directly on it. I have also found, since my own mind has been employed on this subject, that there are many to whom it has been a subject of like interest, and who eagerly read what professes to throw light on it. I have therefore ventured to offer this volume as a contribution to this department of pious inquiry, hoping that the reading of it may be as much blest to the hearts of those

who read it, as I feel the writing of it to have been to me. Any book that will serve, in any degree, to draw the realities of the eternal world-especially of heaven-nearer to us, is not written and read in vain. There is great danger that the perishing objects of this life, because they are so near to us, may have a stronger effect on our hearts than those which are imperishable, because they are more distant. If, however, we can confirm our faith in them, and increase our desires after them, we have gained great helps to practical piety. "We are saved by hope." The sentiment of STILLING on the title-page is most sweetly true: "Blessed are they that are home-sick, for they shall get home." Nothing can better create, or keep alive, this home-sickness for heaven, than a vivid representation to our minds of celestial treasures and attractions.

LEWISBURG, PA., July 22, 1848.

PREFACE

то

THE SECOND EDITION.

It was not a mistaken opinion, expressed in the preface to the first edition of this book, that there are many to whom this is an inte resting subject, and who eagerly read whatever is written on it. Of this, the fact that the first edition was in a very short time exhausted, is the best evidence.

I attribute the favour which this volume has received, partly to the intrinsic interest of the subject itself, but chiefly to its being an attempt to exhibit the proper Protestant and scriptural side of the solemn things after death. It must be a matter of surprise to any one who earnestly pursues the history of this subject, to find how generally the prominent Protestant symbols are contradicted, and how almost every thing

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