Immortality of the Soul—Frank Confession.
By M. E. Cornell
THE following is from the Comprehensive Commentary. Note on Joshua viii, 29. “The Talmudists say—The reason bodies were to be buried immediately was, lest the view of the carcass, should lead the common people into the idea that the soul was also dead; and thus weaken the opinion which needed a revelation from God to make it believed, that the soul was immortal.” According to the above, it was admitted many years ago, that the doctrine of the soul’s immortality, was an “opinion which needed a revelation from God to make it believed.” Now we ask, Has this “necessity” ever been supplied? and answer, It has not. Many have searched in vain the book of the revelations of God, for something to support that “opinion.” Every pretended revelation from God which bears the marks of being genuine, condemns that “opinion” and proves the entire mortality of man. “God only hath immortality.”—Paul
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”—Ezekiel.
“His breath goeth forth, . . . in that very day his thoughts perish.”—David. It appears from the above confession, that certain supporters of the doctrine of the soul’s immortality, were afraid that even nature itself would teach the common people better than to believe the “opinion” in the absence of direct revelation. And they would have us believe that Joshua commanded the dead bodies to be taken down immediately, lest the ignorant should learn from nature a truth, which has from the beginning been plainly revealed; for God declared to Adam, “Thou shalt surely die.” God has never revealed anything concerning man’s former, present, or future state that is contrary to nature; for the God of the Bible is the God of nature; hence if the doctrine of the soul’s immortality was truth, there would be no danger that the faith of the unlearned, could be “weakened” in that “opinion” even though they should be constantly surrounded by thousands of dead carcasses. But by reference to Deut. xxi, 22, 23, we learn that the commandment of Joshua was according to the commandment of God; and it is not to be supposed that the system of truth revealed by the God of nature, is out of harmony with nature itself. The reason there given for burying the dead immediately, is, not lest a view of them should lead the common people away from any opinion founded on truth, but, “That thy land be not defiled, &c.” What a gross misrepresentation of revealed truth is the above! He that originated the first lie ever believed by man, was no doubt the author of this perversion of God’s Word. Satan has a long time been aware that his first sermon to our race (or that part of it which says “thou shalt not surely die,”) never would be believed by all without a special revelation. He knows that dogma of an “opinion” needs a revelation to strengthen it; and knowing also, that he has but a short time, he has already commenced a system of revelation, manifested by great “power, signs, lying wonders, and deceivableness, &c.” He is not slow to confess that all this mysterious rapping, writing, speaking, and moving tables &c., &c., is to “convince men of the immortality of the soul.” He has succeeded in this last mighty effort wonderfully. Millions are already deceived beyond hope. No view of a dead carcass can make any impression upon their minds now; for they are taught that the long “needed revelation” has at last come; besides they are made to believe that the body is a mere prison house, from which the soul escapes at death, never more to be bound. They now have strong delusion. In all this it is Satan’s object to rob Christ of his glory, the resurrection of its importance, and bring the Bible into general disrespect; and thus hopelessly deceive the world and add to the number of the mighty host, which he will finally marshal to encompass the city of New Jerusalem and camp of the saints; when he shall make his last effort in wrath against those that keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. O may the Lord save the honest from this fatal snare.