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Signs of the Times, Vol. 2, No. 1.

Is Man Immortal?

Signs of the Times

Oct 28, 1875

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1875

Is Man Immortal?

By A. A. Phelps

A careful, prayerful, and scriptural investigation of the subject, has compelled us to renounce the popular theory—which we once believed and preached—of man's inherent immortality. We will give a few reasons for rejecting this doctrine:
1. It has an unfavorable origin. Satan—the great Falsifier—first announced it in the garden of Eden. God had assured man that disobedience would certainly eventuate in death. The Serpent flatly contradicted this by saying, “Ye shall not surely die.” If God told the truth, Satan told a lie; for the two statements are antagonisms. For ages after this first satanic victory, the doctrine of man's immortality slumbered in silence. At length it was imbibed by certain heathen philosophers, who coupled with it the pre-existence of souls, and the transmigration of souls. The Egyptians, according to Herodotus, first advocated the immortality of the soul. It became, at length, quite common among heathen nations. The Jewish people, during their seventy years' captivity in Babylon, became somewhat corrupted by this and other heathen dogmas. Some of the heathen, who were converted to Christianity, retained their old belief in man's essential immortality. Thus the leaven continued to work, until the church of Christ, degenerating into the Romish church of the dark ages, became thoroughly saturated with a sentiment which mystifies the Bible and dishonors Jesus.
2. It is inconsistent with the Bible account of man's creation. “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Not a single word—not the faintest intimation about an invisible, intangible, imponderable, immaterial, indivisible, indestructible, immortal, conscious entity, called “the soul,” without length, breadth, or thickness, and capable of living forever independent of the body.
3. It clashes with the scriptural record of man's fall. The penalty for transgression was first announced in these words: “In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Hebrew: “Dying, thou shalt die.” Arabic: “Thou shalt deserve to die.” Targum of Jonathan: “Thou shalt be subject to death.” Greek of Symmachus and also the Syriac: “Thou shalt be mortal”—that is, liable to die. Did Adam understand the penalty to include eternal misery? And yet, if there was any possibility of such a doom, was not every attribute of God pledged to make it known? What was the fact? God drove fallen man from the garden, and guarded the “tree of life” with cherubim and a flaming sword, “lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” The hand of love pushed him away, and thus cut off all possibility of his becoming immortal in misery. Adam lived 930 years in toil and sorrow, and died.
4. The penalty of sin, to be executed upon every impenitent sinner, forbids the supposition of his immortality. Every child of Adam has a distinct probation, and is accountable to God for his probationary career. The Adamic death comes to all as a common calamity; but the “second death” will be visited upon man for his personal sins. Whoever accepts Christ, escapes the distinctive penalty; but whoever rejects him, must bare his own bosom to the stroke which fell upon the innocent Jesus. That penalty stroke will involve “indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish,” terminating in utter destruction. About two hundred passages teach that sinners will be ultimately exterminated—“burnt up root and branch.” This could not be, if they were inherently immortal.
5. The Bible doctrine of death disproves the theory of natural immortality. According to the Scriptures, life and death are the exact opposites. If life means continued conscious existence, death means the cessation of it. “The living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything.” Death is called a land of “darkness” and “forgetfulness,” where there is “no remembrance” and even the “thoughts perish.” It is such a state of blank unconsciousness that there is “no work nor device” performed, and “no knowledge nor wisdom” possessed, by its quiet sleepers. Without a resurrection, even they that are “fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” See Job 14 : 7-21; Ps. 115 : 17; 146 : 4; Eccl. 3 : 19; 20 : 9; 4-10; 1 Cor. 15 : 12-22; Rev. 20 : 13. With this Bible statement of unconsciousness in death, philosophy and fact perfectly agree. Surgery and Scripture unite in proving that the brain is just as really the organ of thought as the eye is the organ of vision. Hence, when the brain loses its vitality the tide of conscious life ceases to flow.
6. Immortality is nowhere in the Scriptures ascribed to man. In our common version the term “immortal” occurs only once, and is there ascribed to God. 1 Tim. 1 : 17. The term “immortality” occurs five times, but is not once applied to man in his present condition. See Rom. 2 : 7; 1 Tim. 6 : 16; 1 Tim. 1 : 10; 1 Cor. 15 : 53, 54. We learn here that “God only hath immortality,” and hence no other being ever received it as a natural birthright. But “as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” Being thus constituted the “Resurrection and the Life,” Jesus Christ has “brought immortality to light,” by showing how and when it can be obtained. We are to “seek” for this priceless boon. If we secure a right to it by a vital connection with Christ, we shall “put on immortality” in the resurrection morning. We are mortal now, as all human experience testifies. Whether we shall ever be anything more, depends upon our compliance with gospel conditions.
7. The doctrine of inherent immortality supersedes the necessity of a resurrection. The Bible attaches great importance to the resurrection of the dead, for upon this alone it predicates a future life. Current theology largely ignores this glorious doctrine of inspiration. If the “real man” is more fully alive after death than before, there is no need of a resurrection. If the body is only a clog to the spirit, why have any more to do with this cumbrous clay, when once the prison doors are open and the fetters fairly broken? Many see the point and are giving up all faith in any resurrection except what takes place at death, when “the spirit assumes a spirit body” and soars away to the spirit land!
8. It reduces the scenes of the Judgment day to a solemn farce. Why send men to a heaven of happiness or a hell of misery at death, and then rally them from their respective abodes, and judge them, thousands of years afterwards? Is not this like trying a man after he is hung? Does the Bible sanction any such procedure? Never! Jesus declares that rewards and punishments are meted out when he comes to judge the world. “Then shall he reward every man according to his works.” The wicked are “reserved until the day of Judgment, to be punished.” If the destinies of men can be adjusted at death, there is no need of a solemn Judgment day, such as the word of God so fully reveals. No part of retribution takes place before the great day of destiny, when Jesus ascends his majestic throne!
9. It is subversive of the doctrine of Christ's personal coming. If the Scriptures teach anything plainly and positively, they teach that Jesus Christ is coming literally and personally the second time, to raise the dead, judge the world, destroy the wicked, crown the saints, purify the earth, and establish an everlasting kingdom. And yet the doctrine of immortalism renders the second advent of Christ entirely unnecessary. If men are rewarded and punished at death, there is no need of Christ's coming as Judge. If the saints are to live forever in Heaven, there is no necessity for Christ to fit up a “new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.” The reason why there is no more stress laid on the personal coming of Christ, is the fact that popular theology is constructed on such a basis, that the second appearing of the Son of God can be entirely dispensed with. Is it not time to pause and see whether Theology and Scripture have not parted company?
10. It is the fruitful source of error. The doctrine of inherent immortality is the foundation of the worst religious developments that have ever cursed the world. Swedenborgianism, Shakerism, Spiritualism, Mohammedanism, Mormonism, Purgatory, and Mariolatry, are based upon this doctrine as a fundamental plank in their platform. This statement will hardly be questioned by those who have taken any pains to investigate the matter. Spiritualism lays great stress on inherent immortality. In this growing system we see the ripened fruits of the very seed which current theology has scattered with so liberal a hand; and we shall see more of it, as time rolls on. Eternal Torment is another result of the doctrine; for if man is immortal, the sinner must be eternally miserable, unless the doctrine of universal salvation is true. The latter is often a rebound from the former. If the doctrine in question is false, then all these systems are proved to be without foundation.
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” All who accept Jesus as their Life-giver will live forever in Paradise restored. All who reject him will be accounted as useless rubbish, fit only to be “burned up” and cleared out of the way. Thus God's universe will one day be divested of every unholy element, and purity, harmony, and love will be the grand consummation! May we be among those who shall swell the everlasting song of victory through the blood of the Lamb!—A. A. PHELPS, A. M., in Bible Banner.

Title of “Reverend.”

By John H. Waggoner

This has been a subject of much query and some controversy; some affirming it to be unlawful, and some, allowable, to confer it upon men. A few facts in regard to its scripture use, and the history of its application to the clergy, may be of interest to all.
The word from which it is derived is found, in various forms, more than three hundred times in the Old Testament. The verbal root signifies, to fear, to be afraid; and hence to fear, to reverence, to honor. In the form used in Ps. 111 : 9, it is found forty-three times, translated mostly terrible, fearful, and dreadful. In almost all instances it is applied directly to God or to his works : never to man or to his works.
Mr. (Rev.) Brooke Lambert, Tamworth, Eng., has furnished some information to the London Times concerning the parish records. This fixes the commencement of its use as a title in that part of England, and, probably, it will settle to a great extent the date of the custom throughout the country; as reliable evidence of the unwillingness of the church to give the title two hundred years ago it is very interesting:—
“The registers of the parish of Tamworth contain some interesting particulars as to local usage. The registers date back from the reign of Philip and Mary, 1556. The first title given in them to a clergyman is the old title ‘Sir,’ with which Shakespeare has made us familiar. In May, 1567, we have an entry, ‘Sir Peter Stringar, curate.’ The clergyman who succeeded him is called ‘Sir Richard Walker,’ but there are other contemporaneous entries, such as ‘sacerdes,’ ‘clericus,’ ‘preacher,’ and ‘verbi minister.’ These latter seemed to have obtained till, in King James’ reign, we have the prefix ‘master,’ which, as we know, was applied to the great divine, Master Hooker, and this practice seems by our registers to have been continued through the commonwealth, though ‘Minister of the Gospel’ is sometimes added.
“We have, however, in 1657, the first use of the word ‘reverend’ evidently in this case as a special mark of respect, not as a formal title. On ‘11 June, 1657, was buried our Reverend Pastor, Master Thomas Blake, Minister of Tamworth.” In 1693 we have a clergyman, by name Samuel Collins. I have noticed with curiosity an erasure before his name in each of the casualties, baptism, or funeral, recorded in our register.
“In 1701, I was lucky enough to find an erased entry, and it appears that the obnoxious word was the title ‘Revd.’ (so written) prefixed to his Mr.; however, he seems not to have been able to hold this title. One of his children, baptized in 1706, is baptized as the child of plain Samuel Collins, minister; and when he died, in 1706, he was buried without the title ‘reverend’—as Mr. (i. e., Master) Samuel Collins, minister of Tamworth. Henceforward, the same address is used till November, 1727, when we have the baptism of Annie, daughter of ‘ye Reverend Robert Wilson, minister of Tamworth,’ and after that date the prefix ‘reverend’ never seems to have been omitted.”
J. H. WAGGONER.

Rejoicing.

REJOICING in hope of the glory to come, When Christ the Life-giver appears; We'll smile at the sorrows and burdens of life, And banish our doubts and our fears.
For the promise is sure to all who endure To the end of life's labor and care; That they shall be saved in the day of reward, And the life of the blessed shall share.
This hope is our anchor, and to it we'll cling, Though tempest and storm rage around; Our bark through the billows in safety 'twill bring, Till we shall with victory be crowned.
We rejoice that we to our Father may go, And ask for such things as we need; Assured that each blessing he'll freely bestow, Each feeble petition will heed.
We'll rejoice for the Comforter promised and sent, The water of life freely given, The words of rich grace recorded and sealed, And the bread which cometh from Heaven.
We rejoice and are glad that a way has been made For sinners to come unto God; That Jesus has died, and the law satisfied, By shedding his own precious blood.
We rejoice that he rose and ascended on high, To make intercession for men; That soon he is coming in glory and power, And on the new earth he shall reign.
And what though our names be as evil cast out, For the love that we bear to our Lord; We'll rejoice and be glad, for the promise is ours, And blessed shall be our reward.
Yes, glory to God, we'll rejoice evermore, And earnestly strive to prepare For the rest that remains for the people of God, That its blissful repose we may share.

The Bible as a Revelation from Heaven

WE accept the Bible as a revelation from Heaven. What God has revealed in that book, let no man call a mystery, or a secret of the Almighty.

Essentials of Faith and Practice

The Bible dwells upon essentials. When the Lord in his word gave his people a rule of faith and practice, he carefully left the non-essentials all out.

No Time for Swearing.

“Catch me using a profane word in the presence of ladies,” said a talkative stripling, with a shade of down on his upper lip. “There is a time for all things.”
No, sir, there isn’t a time for all things. No law, human or divine, ever set apart a time for swearing. A profane expression is a sin and an abomination, utter it when and where you will. As for ladies, yes, I’ll grant you it is well to be and act our best in their presence. We cannot be too true, too pure, too honorable, if we want to stand upright before a good woman or good girl. I know of one other before whom we ought to be just as particular, if not more so. When He is not around, my boys, you can safely do as you please. But when you are in His presence—have a care! Don’t offend the deepest love, the whitest purity, the grandest honor, of all.—Hearth and Home.

Closing Message of the Gospel

By Roswell F. Cottrell

Closing Message of the Gospel.—No. 5.

If it is barely possible that the last warning of the gospel is now, by God's appointment and providence, being proclaimed to mankind, it is a matter of thrilling interest, demanding the most serious investigation. But it is much more than possible or even probable. To the intelligent believer in God's word and providence, who has thoroughly investigated the subject, it is most certain. There is no reasonable doubt of it. Let us briefly refer to some of the evidences.
1. The four great kingdoms, prophesied of in Dan. 2, 7, have arisen in the given order of sequence, and all is fulfilled concerning them except the last act—the dashing of the nations in pieces and the establishing of the promised everlasting kingdom of God, under the whole heavens.
2. The papacy has appeared as foretold in Dan. 7, and Rev. 13: 1–10, has spoken his words of blasphemy against God, has worn out the saints of the Most High, has thought to change the times and laws of God, has continued his full period of time—time, times and a half, forty-two months, or twelve hundred and sixty year-days—his dominion has been taken away, his power is consumed, and nothing remains for him but his destruction by the brightness of Christ's second and glorious coming, and the establishment of his everlasting and world-wide dominion. See Dan. 7: 25–27; 2 Thess. 2: 8.
3. The signs in the heavens, the darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars foretold by the Lord Jesus Christ, have all appeared; and he has assured us that when these should be seen his coming is even at the doors.
4. The great prophetic period of 2300 days, which was to reach to the commencement of the cleansing of the sanctuary—the closing work of Jesus as High Priest—has expired without a doubt; none that I am aware of attempt to dispute it; and as a consequence his priestly office is about to end, and his reign as the ruler of the everlasting kingdom is about to begin.
5. At the point where the 2300 days evidently ended, namely, in 1844, the message of the angel with the everlasting gospel was sounded through the earth: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” Rev. 14: 6, 7.
6. In that year was heard the second announcement of the predicted series: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.”
7. Since the ending of the prophetic days, and consequently while our great High Priest is ministering in the most holy place of the sanctuary, before the ark of God's testimony, containing the ten commandments of the moral law (See Ex. 25: 16; 31: 18; Deut. 4: 13; Rev. 11: 19), to make the atonement for all his people, blotting out their transgressions of those commandments, the third and last message is sounding through the world, vindicating the perpetuity and unchangeableness of these commandments, which the blasphemer of God and the persecutor of his saints has thought himself able to change; and warning all to array themselves with those of whom it is said, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” and not follow that rival power that has given to the world a revised edition of the law of God.
8. And while God is preparing a people for translation, by bringing them into unity upon his commandments and the faith of Christ and his second coming, Satan is propagating his last form of infidelity, Spiritualism, by which he would deceive, if possible, the very elect, by the means of those seducing spirits which are described as the “spirits of devils working miracles,” whose final work will be to gather the angry nations to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. Matt. 24: 24; 2 Thess. 2: 9–11; Rev. 16: 14.
Thus step by step have the promises of God, as given in prophecy, been fulfilled, from the days of the kingdom of Babylon to the present time. Not one of these promises has failed. Is it reasonable to conclude, from these promises, that the final promises shall fail? The earlier predictions of this chain of prophecy, with their fulfillment in the given order, were intended to inspire faith in the latter; and especially in the last testing message of the gospel, which, with the close of probation, shall close the struggle between truth and error, between faith and infidelity. And now that the closing message is being proclaimed, and the contest between the gray traditions of the man of sin and the word of the living God is growing warmer and warmer, what kind of faith is that which disbelieves or ignores it? Is it not infidelity to reject so plain and obvious a fulfillment of the promise of God? What means the growing agitation on the question of God's law and Sabbath, which so clearly and unmistakably point to an irrepressible conflict before us? Why are the religious journals of almost all denominations drawn out to take sides in this controversy? A few years ago you would hardly learn from these papers that the Sunday-Sabbath had any rival, or that any had convictions of conscience that they ought to keep the day that God blessed and sanctified instead. Why this great change at a time when the public mind is crowded with so many other interests and speculations? Why is it, my Seventh-day Baptist brethren, that the way is opening for the spread of Sabbath truth as it has not been during the past two hundred years of your history in the United States? The answer to these questions is simply this: The time has come for the last message of the gospel to be preached, by which the people are to be prepared for the last test of probation. The agitation will go on. God's law will be fully vindicated in the eyes of all the true-hearted. And not only this, but the word of prophecy will be shown to be a sure word; and unbelief in it will prove to be infidelity.
For about a quarter of a century this message has been gradually rising. Its early predictions, founded upon the prophecies of the Bible, respecting our own government—the part it shall act in the closing scenes of probation—have become so nearly matters of fact as to be convincing to the candid observer of the signs of the times. The “religious amendment” of our national Constitution, for which we have been looking for more than twenty years, in order to the enforcement of the worship and mark of the beast, is now imminent. See Rev. 13: 11–18. While the message, “If any man worship the beast and his image,” &c., is sounding, a rapidly growing “national association” is at work to fulfill the prophecy by enforcing Sunday-keeping by constitutional law. The result will be what the prophecy plainly teaches.
Now is the time to choose on which side we will be found, when the trial of faith shall come. The test must surely come. It cannot be avoided; for the word of God cannot be broken. Momentous time! Who will make the right choice? Now is the time.
R. F. COTTRELL.

The Glorious Bible.

UNDER the caption, The Bible Defended, the Bible Banner gives the following collection of testimony from eminent men concerning the inspiration and invaluable worth of the Sacred Scriptures:—
I have examined all, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life would allow me; and the result is, that the Bible is the best book in the world.—Hon. John Adams, second President of the United States.
The first and almost the only book deserving universal attention is the Bible. For pathos of narrative; for the selection of incidents that go directly to the heart; for the picturesque of character and manner; for copiousness, grandeur, and sublimity of imagery; for unanswerable cogency and closeness of reasoning; and for irresistible force of persuasion, no book in the world deserves to be so unceasingly studied and so profoundly meditated upon, as the Bible.—Hon. John Quincy Adams.
Though I have been very laborious in my literary inquiries, and have possessed myself of a great number of valuable books and manuscripts upon all ancient subjects yet I can rest the happiness of my soul on none of them except the Holy Scriptures.—John Sheldon, the Oriental scholar.
Read the Bible, read the Bible! Let no religious book take its place. Through all my perplexities and distresses, I seldom read any other book, and I as rarely felt the want of any other. It has been my hourly study.—Wm. Wilberforce.
The Scriptures are wonderful with respect to the matter which they contain, the manner in which they are written, and the effects which they produce. They contain the sublimest truths, many of which are veiled under external ceremonies and figurative descriptions. When they are properly opened and enforced, they terrify and humble, they convert and transform, they console and strengthen.—Bishop Horne.
The pure and noble, the graceful and dignified simplicity of language is nowhere in such perfection as in the Scriptures and in Homer. The whole book of Job, with regard to simplicity of thought and morality, exceeds, beyond all comparison, the most noble parts of Homer.—Alexander Pope, the poet.
The most learned, acute and diligent student, cannot, in the longest life, obtain a knowledge of this one volume. The more deeply he works the mine the richer and more abundant he finds the ore. New light continually beams from this source of heavenly knowledge to direct the conduct, and illustrate the works of God and the ways of men.—Sir Walter Scott.
I have regularly and attentively read the Holy Scriptures, and am of the opinion that this volume, independently of its divine origin, contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, more pure morality, more important history, and finer strains both of poetry and eloquence, than could be collected from all other books.—Sir Wm. Jones the linguist.
The most wonderful volume in existence is, beyond a doubt, the Bible. It is wonderful for its daring chronology, its positive history, its prophetic declarations. It is wonderful on account of its sublime philosophy, its exquisite poetry, its magnificent figures, its overwhelming language of description.—Prof. O. M. Mitchell, the astronomer.
Let others dread and shun the Scriptures for their darkness: I shall wish I may deserve to be reckoned among those who admire and dwell upon them for their clearness. There are no songs comparable to the songs of Zion, no orations equal to those of prophets, and no politics like those which the Scriptures teach.—John Milton, poet and statesman.
That the Holy Scriptures are one of the greatest blessings which God bestows upon the sons of men, is generally acknowledged by all who know anything of the value and worth of them.—John Locke, the philosopher.
I have read it (the Bible) through many times. I now make a practice of going through it once a year. It is the book of all others for lawyers as well as divines; and I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought and rules for conduct.—Daniel Webster.
I have always said, and always will say, that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume, will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands.—Thomas Jefferson.
I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatever.—Sir Isaac Newton.
I have been blamed by men of science, for quoting the Bible in confirmation of the doctrines of physical geography. The Bible, they say, was not written for scientific purposes, and is, therefore, of no authority. I beg pardon. The Bible is authority for everything it touches. What would you think of the historian who should refuse to consult the historical records of the Bible because the Bible was not written for the purpose of history? The Bible is true, and science is true; and when your man of science, with vain and hasty conceit, announces the discovery of a disagreement between them, rely upon it, the fault is not with the witness or his records, but with the “worm” who essays to interpret evidence which he does not understand.—M. F. Maury, LL. D.
The relation of geology, as well as astronomy, to the Bible, when both are well understood, is that of perfect harmony. The word and the works of God cannot be in conflict; and the more they are studied the more perfect will their harmony appear.—Prof. Benj. Silliman, LL. D.
This antiquated volume is still the “Book of books”—the oracle of oracles—the beacon of beacons—the poor man's treasury—the child's companion—the sick man's health—the dying man's life; shallows for the infant to walk in—depths for giant intellects to explore and adore! Philosophy, if she would own it, is indebted here for the noblest of her maxims; poetry, for the loftiest of her themes. Painting has gathered here her noblest inspirations. Music has ransacked these golden stores for the grandest of her strains.—J. A. Macduff, D. D.
Hold up the great truth that the Bible is the book to educate the age. Why not have it the chief thing in the family, in the school, in the academy, in the university? I can please and instruct a child from the Bible. I can teach logic, ethics, rhetoric, and salvation from the Bible.—J. W. Alexander, D. D.
The Bible is older than any sect in the world. The Bible is the only Catholicity—the only form in which religion can be taught without a sectarian religious bias; and that is a great and mighty reason why it should be taught, or enter in some way as an acknowledged divine element into our public school system.—George B. Cheever, D. D.
Let this precious volume have its proper influence on the hearts of men, and our liberties are safe, our country blessed, and the world happy. There is not a tie that unites us to our families, not a virtue that endears us to our country, nor a hope that thrills our bosoms in the prospect of future happiness, that has not its foundation in this Bible. It is the charter of charters, the palladium of liberty, the standard of righteousness.—Hon. Joseph C. Hornblower, late Chief Justice of New Jersey.

Selfishness.

By Ellen G. White

THE sin which is indulged to the greatest extent, which separates us from God and produces so many spiritual disorders, and which is contagious, is selfishness. There can be no returning to God except by self-denial. Of ourselves we can do nothing. Through God strengthening us, we can live to do good to others, and in this way shun the evil of selfishness. We need not go to foreign lands to manifest our desire to devote all to God in a useful, unselfish life. We should do this in the home circle, in the church, among those with whom we associate, and also those with whom we do business. Right in the common walks of life is where self is to be denied, and kept in subordination. Paul could say, “I die daily.” It is the daily dying to self in the little transactions of life that makes us overcomers. We should forget self, in the desire to do good to others.
Many, instead of faithfully performing their duty, seek rather their own pleasure, from selfish motives. There is a decided lack of love for others. God positively enjoins upon all his followers a duty to bless others with their influence and means, and to seek that wisdom of him which will enable them to do all in their power to elevate the thoughts and affections of those who come within their influence. In doing for them, a sweet satisfaction will be experienced, an inward peace, which will be a sufficient reward.
In a faithful discharge of life's manifold duties, actuated by high and noble motives to do others good, there is true happiness. This will bring more than an earthly reward; for every faithful, unselfish performance of duty is noticed by the angels, and shines in the life record. In Heaven none will think of self, nor seek their own pleasure; but all, from pure, genuine love, will seek the happiness of the heavenly beings around them. If we wish to enjoy heavenly society in the earth made new, we must be governed by heavenly principles here. Every act of our lives affects others for good or evil. Our influence is tending upward or downward. Our influence is felt, acted upon, and reproduced by others to a greater or less degree. If we aid others by our example in the development of good principles, we give them power from our own acts to do good. In their turn they exert the same beneficial influence upon others, and thus hundreds and thousands are affected by our unconscious influence. If we by acts strengthen or force into activity the evil powers possessed by those around us, we share their sin, and will have to render an account for the good we might have done them and did not do, because we made not God our strength, our guide, and counselor. MRS. E. G. WHITE.

Who Hath Believed Our Report?

THIS was the question of the prophet, as he saw the disposition of the people to reject the counsel of God. When they who were bidden to the supper began to make excuse, each offered a reason which was satisfactory to his own mind,—but not to the mind of the king. No excuse is admissible when God calls. When Jesus and his disciples taught, although they preached just what the Scriptures foretold, their word was rejected because the people thought they had enough truth. So it was in the days of Luther; so in the days of Wesley. He who teaches in harmony with the popular feeling cannot be a reformer. A true reformer must, in the very nature of things, take an unpopular position.
Friend, do not neglect or refuse a matter because it is unpopular; because the proud and the worldly treat it with scorn. It may be the message of God to you. “For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” Cor. 1:26.

Thoughtfulness for Others

THOUGHTFULNESS for others, generosity, modesty, and self-respect are the qualities which make a real gentleman or lady, as distinguished from the veneered article which commonly goes by that name.—Prof. Huxley.

Forty Questions on Immortality.

1. Who is immortal? Ans. “The King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God.” 1 Tim. 1:17.
2. Are all men possessed of immortality? Ans. “The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality.” 1 Tim. 6:15, 16.
3. Are not all men created immortal? Ans. “God only hath immortality.” 1 Tim. 6:16.
4. Is there any way by which men may obtain immortality? Ans. “To us are given exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Pet. 1:4.
5. Is this immortality revealed by Plato, or by Socrates, or by familiar rapping spirits, or in nature? or is it through Jesus Christ and his gospel? Ans. “By the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Tim. 1:10.
6. Who has power to bestow immortality upon man? Ans. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.
7. Will God give this gift to all persons whatever their works may be? Ans. “I will render to every man according to his deeds.” Rom. 2:6.
8. What will be the portion of those who are contentious and obey not the truth? Ans. “Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil.” Rom. 2:8, 9.
9. To whom will God impart immortality? Ans. “To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality.” Rom. 2:7.
10. What shall be their reward? Ans. “Eternal life.” Rom. 2:7.
11. Upon what conditions may we obtain this blessing? Ans. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Tim. 6:12.
12. When do men obtain immortality? Is it at death, or at the resurrection? Ans. “The dead shall be raised incorruptible.” 1 Cor. 15:52.
13. How shall those who are not dead become incorruptible? Ans. “We shall be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:52.
14. When will this change take place? Ans. “At the last trump.” 1 Cor. 15:52.
15. How suddenly will the change occur? Ans. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” 1 Cor. 15:52.
16. Will this change be a change of the internal, or the external and physical, or corruptible, man? Ans. “This corruptible must put on incorruption.” 1 Cor. 15:53.
17. What, then, becomes immortal? Ans. “This mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Cor. 15:53.
18. What scripture will be fulfilled when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality? Ans. “Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor. 15:54; Isa. 25:8.
19. Who will be raised from the dead? Ans. “All that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” John 5:28, 29.
20. Will the unburied dead arise? Ans. “The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell [the grave] delivered up the dead which were in them.” Rev. 20:13.
21. Will different classes of characters arise in the resurrection? Ans. “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:15.
22. For what purpose will the good be raised? Ans. “They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life.” John 5:29.
23. To what will others be raised? Ans. “They that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:29.
24. Will a man's destiny at last be in accordance with his previous life? Ans. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7.
25. What will be the portion of the ungodly? Ans. “He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Gal. 6:8.
26. What will be the reward of the saints? Ans. “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Gal. 6:8.
27. Where now is the Christian's life? Ans. “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” Col. 3:3.
28. How, then, should we live? Ans. “Let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9.
29. What will be the fate of those who sow to the flesh? Ans. They “shall utterly perish in their own corruption.” 2 Pet. 2:12.
30. Is it possible for a man to be utterly destroyed? Ans. “Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt. 10:28.
31. What is the wages of sin? Ans. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23.
32. Is this death merely a bodily death? Ans. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. 18:20.
33. If the wicked turn away from his wickedness and do right, what then? Ans. “He shall save his soul alive.”
34. “When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquities, and dieth in them,” what shall be his fate? Ans. “For his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.” Eze. 18:26.
35. As he first dies in his iniquity, and then dies for his iniquity, what must this last death be called? Ans. “The second death.” Rev. 21:8.
36. What is the result attained by the man who converteth a sinner from the error of his ways? Ans. “He shall save a soul from death.” James 5:20.
37. What has God placed before us to excite us to action? Ans. “I call Heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing.” Deut. 30:19.
38. How does God manifest his love to men? Ans. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
39. What is our Saviour's complaint concerning mankind? Ans. “And ye will not come to me that ye might have life.” John 5:40.
40. What is the command of God to all? Ans. “Cast away from you all your transgressions; . . . for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; therefore turn yourselves and live ye.” Eze. 18:31, 32.
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