FAITH OF GOOD MEN by John Norton Loughborough

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1856

FAITH OF GOOD MEN.

By John Norton Loughborough

[From the Work entitled, An Examination of the Scripture Testimony Concerning Man's Present Condition and his Future Reward or Punishment, by John Norton Loughborough.]

It is claimed by many, (when they find the Scriptures do not bear them out in the belief that the wicked must exist in torment through ages without end,) that the good of all ages have believed it. We have found no such sentiment taught by David, Job, Daniel, or any Scripture writer. If we come to the testimony of those who have been the servants of God in the past, as well as the present dispensation, we shall find many of them holding sentiments similar to those advanced in the preceding pages of this work. We will give a few extracts in proof of what we have just stated. The doctrine of the IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL, it seems did not exist, even among the heathen in the vicinity of the promised land until they received it from Babylon. "Pythagoras lived in Egypt, from thence he went to Babylon. Jamblicus tells us his stay there was 12 years. The most important doctrine which he brought home from thence, was, that of THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL."—Prideaux's Connections, Vol. 1, Page 205.

DR. CAMPBELL says: "Before the Captivity, and the Macedonian and Roman conquests, the Jews observed the most profound silence upon the state of the dead, as to their happiness or misery. They spoke of it simply as a state of silence, darkness, and inactivity. But after the Hebrews mingled with the Greeks and Romans they insensibly slided into their use of terms, and adopted some of their ideas on such subjects as those on which their oracles were silent." Here is testimony concerning the past dispensation.

We find our Saviour at the commencement of the gospel age, saying to his disciples, [Matt. xvi, 6, 7, 12,] "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." Says Josephus, "The Pharisees believe that souls have immortal vigor in them, and that under the earth there will be rewards and punishments." The Sadducees denied the resurrection: and the Pharisees, though they believed that, held an error in supposing that men were rewarded at death. Christ testified to them, "Ye make the word of God of none effect by your traditions." He taught, "Thou shalt be recompensed AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST."

Says JUSTIN MARTYR, who was born A. D., 49, and was martyred, A. D. 163. "Should you happen upon some who are called christians indeed, but even dare to assail the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with blasphemy, and say there is no resurrection of the dead, but INSTANTLY WHEN THEY DIE, ARE RECEIVED UP INTO HEAVEN: DO NOT COUNT THESE AMONG CHRISTIANS"—Brooks on Prophecy, p. 52.

TYNDAL says, while disputing with Papists, "If the soul be in heaven, tell me why they be not in as good case as the angels be? And then what cause of the resurrection?"

Among the early reformers the sentiment we advocate was held quite extensively.

DUKE GEORGE, in writing to DUKE JOHN, Oct. 15th, 1521, says:—"Some deny the immortality of the soul. All this comes of Luther's teaching."

The following is from Audin's life of Luther;—"These were new lights, who came to announce, that they had discovered an IRRESISTIBLE argument against the Mass, Purgatory, and prayers to the saints. This was simply to DENY THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. They left Wittenburg and went to Geneva, where we find them in 1561, sustaining a crowded school, and imprinting THESE, THAT ALL WHICH HAD BEEN SAID ABOUT THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL WAS INVENTED BY ANTICHRIST FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THE POPE'S POT BOIL."

MARTIN LUTHER, in the earlier part of his life, in his "Defence—Proposition 27th," published 1520, says:—"I permit the Pope to make articles of faith for himself and his faithful, such as that he is Emperor of the world, King of heaven, and God upon earth—that the soul is immortal, with all those monstrous opinions to be found in the Roman dunghill of decretals."

ARCHDEACON BLACKBURN said,—"The more any man is convinced of the immortality of the soul, from the principles of Aristotle or Des Cartes, the less will he concern himself about the gospel account of futurity."

"TIMOTHY DWIGHT, D. D., LL. D., late resident of Yale College," in his Sermons, Vol. 1, p. 163, says: "Among Christians I know of but one [S. DREW] who has regarded the immortality of the soul as susceptible of demonstration. Whatever has been created, can certainly be annihilated by the power which created, it. The continuance of the soul must, therefore, depend absolutely on the will of God. But that will can never be known by creatures, unless he is pleased to disclose it. Without Revelation, therefore, the immortality of the soul must be entirely uncertain."

And, as we have already quoted, BISHOP TILLOTSON, in his Sermons, printed in 1774, Vol. 2, admits that "The immortality of the soul is rather supposed, or taken for granted, than expressly revealed in the Bible."

BISHOP NEWTON, in his works, London edition, 1787, in dissertation 60, says:—"Nothing can be more contrary to his nature and attributes, than for a God all-wise, all-powerful, all-good, all-perfect, to bestow existence on any beings whose destiny he foresees, and foreknows, must terminate in wretchedness and misery, without recovery or remedy, without respite or end. God is love, and he would rather not have given life, than render that life a torment and curse to all eternity. Imagine numberless creatures, produced out of nothing, delivered over to torment of endless ages, without the least hope or possibility of relaxation or redemption. Imagine it you may, but you can never seriously believe it, nor reconcile it to God and goodness. God could never make any creatures whose end he foreknew, would be misery everlasting."