Southern Christian Advocate

MISCELLANY
DR. DODDRIDGE'S DREAM.
Dr. Doddridge had been spending the evening with his friend Dr. Watts. Their conversation had been concerning the future existence of the soul. Long and earnestly they pursued the theme; and both came to the conclusion, (rather a remarkable one for theologians of that day to arrive at,) that it could not be they were to sing through all eternity; that each soul must necessarily be an individual, and have its appropriate employment for thought and affection. As Doddridge walked home, his mind brooded over these ideas, and took little cognizance of outward matters. In this state he laid his head upon the pillow, and fell asleep. He dreamed that he was dying. He saw his weeping friends round his bedstead, and wanted to speak to them, but could not. Presently there came a nightmare sensation. His soul was about to leave the body; but how could it get out? More and more anxiously rose the query, how could it get out? This uneasy state passed away; and he found that his soul had left his body. He himself stood beside the bed, looking at his own corpse, as if it were an old garment, laid aside as useless. His friends wept round the mortal covering, but could not see him.
While he was reflecting upon this, he passed out of the room he knew not how; but presently he found himself floating over London, as if pillowed on a cloud borne by gentle breezes. Far below him, the busy multitude were hurrying hither and thither, like rats and mice scampering for crumbs. Ah! thought the emancipated spirit, 'how worse than foolish appears this foolish scramble! For what do they toil, and what do they obtain?'
London passed away beneath him, and he found himself floating over green fields and blooming gardens. How is it that I am borne through the air? thought he. He looked, and saw a large purple wing: and then he knew that he was carried by an angel. 'Whither are we going?' said he. 'To Heaven!' was the reply.
He asked no more questions, but remained in delicious quietude, as if they floated on a strain of music. At length they paused before a white marble temple of exquisite beauty. The angel lowered his flight and gently placed him on the steps. 'I thought you were taking me to heaven,' said the spirit. 'This is heaven,' replies the angel. 'This! Assuredly this temple is of rare beauty, but I could imagine just such built on earth.' 'Nevertheless, it is heaven,' replied the angel.
They entered a room just within the temple. A table stood in the centre, on which was a golden vase, filled with sparkling wine, 'Drink of this,' said the angel, offering the vase; 'for all who would know spiritual things, must first drink of spiritual wine.' Scarcely had the ruby liquid wet his lips, when the Saviour of men stood before him, smiling most benignly. The spirit instantly dropped on his knees and bowed down his head before Him. The holy hands of the Purest were folded over him in blessing; and his voice said,—'You will see me seldom now; hereafter you will see me more frequently. In the mean time, observe well the wonders of this temple.'
The sound ceased. The spirit remained awhile in silence. When he raised his head, the Saviour no longer appeared. He turned to ask the angel what this could mean; but the angel had departed also,-the soul stood alone, in its own unveiled presence! Why did the Holy One tell me to observe well the wonders of this temple? thought he. He looked slowly round. A sudden start of joy and wonder! There, painted on the walls, in most marvellous beauty, stood the whole of his spiritual life.--Every doubt, and every clear perception; every conflict and every victory, were there before him! and though forgotten for years, he knew them at a glance. Even thus had a sunbeam pierced the darkest cloud, and thrown a rainbow bridge from the finite to the infinite; thus had he slept peacefully in green valleys, by the side of running brooks; and such had been his visions from the mountain tops. He knew them all. They had been always painted within the chambers of his soul; but now for the first time, was the veil removed.
To those who think on spiritual things this remarkable dream is too deeply and beautifully significant ever to be forgotten.
"We shape ourselves the joy and fear,
Of which the coming life is made,
And fill our future atmosphere
With sunshine or with shade.
Still shall the soul around it call
The shadows which it gathered here,
And, painted on the eternal wall,
The past shall re-appear."