Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/49

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heavenly voices. As he desired to know whence this divine harmony proceeded, the youth told him that what he heard were the songs of the blessed; whereupon he awoke, and thought no more of his dream than people usually do. On another night, however, behold, the youth appears to him again, and asks if he knows him? and Sennadius relates to him all the particulars of his former dream, which he well remembered, "Then," said the youth, "was it whilst sleeping or waking that you saw these things?" "I was sleeping," answered Sennadius, "You are right," returned the youth; "it was in your sleep that you saw these things; and know, O Sennadius, that what you see now is also in your sleep. But if this be so, tell me, then, where is your body?" "In my bedchamber," answered Sennadius. "But know you not," continued the youth, "that your eyes, which form a part of your body, are closed and inactive?" "I know it," answered he. "Then," said the youth, "with what eyes see you these things?" And Sennadius could not answer him; and, as he hesitated, the youth spoke again, and explained to him the motive of his questions. "As the eyes of your body," said he, "which lies now on your bed and sleeps, are inactive and useless, and yet you have eyes wherewith you see me, and those things I have shewn unto you; so after death, when these bodily organs fail you, you will have a vital power whereby you will live; and a sensitive faculty whereby you will perceive. Doubt, therefore, no longer that there is a life after death." And "thus," said this excellent man, "was I convinced, and all doubts removed."

We commend this narrative to the serious reflection