If we do not mistake the scriptures, our pious departed friends may sometimes attend us, and witness the manner in which we act our parts.

Natural relations terminate with life; but we do not believe that the friendships here contracted cease at death; that the remembrance of the kind offices done to a good man here is then obliterated; that those who had been helpers of one another in this life are forever lost to each other when they cease to be together here; or that the endearments of friendship and reciprocal affection are then extinguished to revive not more.

Departed spirits must retain a remembrance of what they did here, and of those who acted with them.  They cannot otherwise give account of themselves; or witness the divine justice and impartiality relative to matters which had been common to themselves and others.  But these will be made manifest.  All in heaven and on earth will see and confess the perfect rectitude of the divine administration.

Some suppose that the knowledge of things done on earth, and regard for mortals would render departed saints unhappy; that therefore they are incredible.

But is not God grieved at the obstinacy of sinners?  “When God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth—­it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” * Was he then unhappy?  Departed saints may have similar sensations, whatever may be implied in them.  The same objection may be made to the divine knowledge of mankind, as to that of the saints—­We do not take it on us to explain either.  The same may also be objected to supposing that the saints will be made acquainted with the decisions of the Judge at the great day—­that they will then see any who were dear to them here, sent away with the workers of iniquity.

* Genesis vi. 5.

If the manifest rectitude, and moral necessity of the divine decisions, will then satisfy the righteous, and their greater love to God reconcile them to the execution of his judgments on all the impenitent, why not as soon as they shall have put off the remains of depravity, and become “the spirits of the just made perfect?” THOSE in glory are doubtless acquainted with the moral state of the world —­“There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” *

* Luke xv. 7-10

That the powers of light and darkness take part in the concerns of mankind, and interest themselves in their affairs, and that they conflict with each other on their account, we are taught in revelation. *

Our departed friends who have known and loved us here, may be among the invisible witnesses of our conduct, and among our invisible helpers.  They may rejoice, if we act well our parts, or weep if we are numbered among sinners, or careless neglecters of the grace of life.

* Daniel x. 13.  Jude 9

Perhaps the pious parent who hath died in the Lord, may regard the little orphan which he hath left behind.  Experienced in the troubles and difficulties, snares and temptations of this life, he may watch over it, and in ways to us unknown “do it good and not evil all the days of its life.”  Little ones are not destitute of invisible keepers —­“Their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” *