Permitted to be present on every grand occasion or great celebration

But time changed all things, and I must not forget that you are no longer in Fera, but have removed to another country. 1 wonder whether, after our removal to a better country, even an heavenly, we shall be able or be permitted to be present on every grand occasion or great celebration that takes place among the glorified ones above. I know of two bright spirits who had to deny themselves and forego the pleasure of being present on one of the grandest occasions it is possible to conceive. When the Son of God “ went up where He was before,” and all heaven poured forth to do Him honor, and the high command was given, “ Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in,” two of the blessed angels could not be present. They could not delay a moment to view the pageant, but must hasten down to a little mountain near Jerusalem, in order to give some directions to eleven poor fishermen. And how many others were sent off in other directions to other worlds we know not. But was it no self-denial in them to be absent from this most blessed occasion?

Let us, then, learn to exercise self-denial here, that it may not seem hard to us there. Let us learn to exercise faith, confidence, and a firm trust in God here, for we shall have to confide in Him for ever.

Always your brother,

W. GOODELL.

To another friend in this country, with whom he had long been in correspondence, he wrote: —

Occupy hereafter

“I hope that, in some of the many mansions we may occupy hereafter, we shall be much nearer to each other’s habitations than we now are, and that our good Newbury- port friends will be quite in our neighborhood. What blessed introductions await us! And as to our location, and the location of our friends, as to the particular mansions assigned to us or to them, I presume we shall be perfectly satisfied, not having the slightest change to suggest. Well, let us be satisfied with those we now occupy, for they were assigned to us by the same loving Father.”