IN WHOM IS YOUR HOPE OF IMMORTALITY.
The Christian Conservator of November 30 edited by Bishop William Dillon (United Brethren), says:— While materialists and Adventists descant on man's mortality, and deny him the capacity to survive death, it is refreshing to read the sound words of J. F. Clark, who says: “One of the most convincing arguments for immortality is the undying appetite of the soul for knowledge, love, progress. As we approach the turn of life it never occurs to us that it is time to fold our arms, close our eyes, and bid farewell to nature, poetry, art, friendship, business. . . . We build houses, begin books, undertake operations, just as if we were to live forever, which shows, I think, that the sense of immortality destroys all sense of death as we grow old.” Or read Plato's language: “Can the soul be destroyed?—No; but if in this present life it has shunned being governed by the body, and has governed itself within itself, and has separated from the body in a pure state, taking nothing sensual away with it, does it not then depart to that which resembles itself—to the invisible, the divine, the wise, the immortal? And on its arrival there, is it not freed from errors, ignorance, fears, wild passions, and all other human evils? Does it not in truth pass the rest of its existence with the gods?” We wish to call the reader's attention to the above, from a paper edited by one who has for years made it a sort of specialty to defend man's inherent immortality. Here are two evidences presented, one from the natural man's desire, and the other, the reasonings of a pagan philosopher. Of course man desires life. Satan recognized this when he said, “Yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” And, knowing that men desire above all things else to live, he has deceived them the more readily as to the conditions of life. The greater part have been led to believe that man has life in himself. It is the old Edenic falsehood, “Ye shall not surely die; . . . ye shall be as God.” “The desire of the wicked shall perish.” Ps. 112:10; Prov. 10:28. All the pagan idolatry, all the errors of Spiritualism, the adoration of saints, and the worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the “orthodox” hell, and the Catholic purgatory, are based upon the old Satanic lie, “Ye shall not surely die.” And the best evidence which can be presented that man is immortal, is this false hope of carnal men and pagan philosophy. God “only hath immortality.” Christ will bestow it when He shall come again, to all who seek for it by “patient continuance in well-doing.” 1 Tim. 6:16; Rom. 2:7; 1 Cor.715:51-54. There is life only in Christ. In whom do you trust, friend, Satan and Plato, or Christ and His Word?