single specimen. Its red color was among the circumstances which gave it its reputation, for at this time the five colors of Babylonian astrology had been accepted as indications of good and evil fortune. The plant of immortal life is spoken of in ancient Chinese literature at least a century before the mineral cinnabar. OLD TESTAMENT SUGGESTIONS OF IMMORTALITY. Perhaps no doctrine of the Bible is as fully and clearly set forth in the Old Testament as in the New. The earlier books of the Bible are the "whole Bible in germ." Their teachings are largely in the way of preparatory suggestions and hints, leaving the full truth to be expanded in New Testament unfoldings. There is a law of development in Bible doctrines. "First the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear." It is so with the doctrine of immortality. This doctrine is taught in the Old Testament, but more clearly unfolded in the later books. The idea of death as set forth in the Old Testament is no more or less than the separation of the spirit from the body. In death, God gathers unto himself man's spirit. (Job xxxiv, 14.) When the dead child came to life in Elijah's time, it was because "the soul of the child came into him again." (1 Kings xvii, 21.) When the earthly life is cut off, "we fly away." (Psa. xc, 10.) When Abraham died, it is said that "he gave up the ghost and was gathered unto his people." (Gen. xxv, 8.) His body was not buried within hundreds of miles of his people, but the living Abraham was united to his people. When the tidings came to Jacob that Joseph had been devoured by wild beasts he exclaimed, "I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning." (Gen. xxxvii, 35.) He did not mean that he would be buried in the same grave with Joseph, for he believed that "an evil beast had devoured him." (Verse 33.) And when the aged patriarch did die, "he yielded up the ghost and was gathered unto his people." All this is related of his death though his body was not buried for two months afterward. When the Psalmist wrote Psa. xvi, 9-11, he spake of the resurrection of Christ. (Acts ii, 31.) "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thine presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Evidently the Psalmist here taught not only the resurrection of Christ, but the doctrine of a future life. Again, when Asaph said to God, "Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory" (Psa. lxxiii, 24), did he not teach a future life also? Job in his affliction and prospect of death said: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." (Job xix, 25-27.) Job here shows that he believed in a life to come. Again we now know, since Jesus has explained the passage to us, that when God said to Moses at the burning bush, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," he meant that Abraham and Isaac and Jacob were alive. Surely this is a clear proclamation of a life to come. Once more: "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death." How so, unless he meant to teach the fact of reward and retribution in a future world? (Prov. xiv, 32.) These passages set forth the belief of the saints of old that their souls would survive the grave. THE IMMORTALITY WHICH CHRIST REVEALS. Christ "hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light." This passage can not mean that there were no intimations of this truth before, for we have already given the expres sions of barbarians and heathens, saints and sinners, as to their hope. of endless being. It means simply that Christ removed all doubt and ambiguity on the subject. He unfolded the grand truths of the resurrection and future life of the body, and of future rewards and punishments. He made definite and clear what before was dim and dark, barely guessed at and longed for. He spake with authority. He did not argue, but made simple assertions that none could gainsay. The meaning of his statements is apparent to every one. The comfort of his promises is available to all. Hear him: "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." "Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am ye may be also." "Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given. me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Thy brother shall rise again." "It is at the silent portals of the tomb," says Chauteaubriand, "hovering upon the borders of the celestial world, that Christianity displays its sublimity." "He that liveth and believeth in me shall never die." "No break in life to the soul that hath this faith in Christ; no cessation in existence; no long, dreary sleep; life flows on in one continuous current into the great ocean of eternity." "When the brow of beauty paleth, When the heart's warm throbbing faileth, When love's subtle powers of charming, Who will solve affection's sigh- When the lips, with sweet caressing, When the light of smiles is faded, Questions still hope's eager cry— When the day of life declineth, Who the glorious truth receiveth, Jesus speaks the sweet reply 'Crowned with life they never die."" (Kate Sumner Burr.) And this thought is sufficient. It satisfies us, cheers us, comforts us. "Wail on, sad Winter wind, sobbing over all the sorrows of earth. Thy melancholy storms are evanescent; above them we hear the music of Christ's voice speaking sweetest, sublimest assurance of deathless life. We listen, even now, to the song of the redeemed. The winds that sweep through the lonely boughs of earth can not silence the harps of heaven." CONTINUOUS EXISTENCE. Rev. James H. White has grouped those Bible passages which inIdicate the soul's continuous existence. Continuous existence is ascribed to the human soul by various methods, mostly by words and phrases descriptive of its conditions and belongings: "1st. It has an existence that is independent of the body, and therefore continuous beyond the death of the body. Man can kill the body, but can not kill the soul. (Matt. x, 28.) The soul lives when the body is dead. (Matt. xxii, 32.) The soul is capable of suffering when the body is dead and buried. (Luke xvi, 23.) The body dead, and the soul in paradise. and his soul is received into heaven. be absent from the body, and present with the Lord. Such a state is better than the present. (Phil. i, 23.) (Luke xxiii, 43.) (Acts vii, 59.) Stephen dies, The soul may (2 Cor. v, 8.) "2d. Its existence is continuous, because it may suffer eternal or always continuing punishment. (See Matt. xviii, 8, and xxv, 41.) 'These shall go away into everlasting punishment;' literally, always enduring punishment. (Matt. xxv, 46.) The Revised New Testament in this verse gives us eternal punishment' and 'eternal life.' (See, also, Mark iii, 29; 2 Thes. i, 9; Jude 13; and Rev. xiv, 11.) "3d. Its existence is continuous, because it may enjoy an always enduring life. The passages are numerous wherein eternal and everlasting are connected with the future life and joy of the saints. I need give but a few: Matt. xxv, 46; John vi, 27; Gal. vi, 8; Titus iii, 7; Heb. ix, 15; and 2 Pet. i, 11. These are enough. God would not have us ignorant 'concerning them which are asleep,' and to this end he has given us the sure testimony of his Word. "Death is a mighty conqueror, and has prostrated millions in the dust. But there is in humanity that which survives its stroke, that remains unscathed by its touch, and bids defiance to its power. The souls of his saints leave the fallen body to be present with the Lord,' 'to be with Christ, which is far better.' INCORRUPTIBLE EXISTENCE. Mr. White also notes the passages which teach the incorruptible existence of the soul: "Its original representative is 'aphtharsia,' signifying incorruptibility, incorruptness, and, by implication, immortality in a less restricted sense. The word occurs eight times in the New Testament, and is correctly rendered 'incorruption' in the following passages: 1 Cor. xv, 42, 50, 53, 54. In two places its English representative is 'immortality' (Rom. ii, 7; 2 Tim. i, 10), and twice it is rendered 'sincerity' (Eph. vi, 24; Titus ii, 7). In the Revised New Testament it is uniformly rendered 'incorruption.' "A kindred word, 'aphthartos,' is used seven times, and is renincorruptible' in 1 Cor. ix, 25, immortal' in 1 Tim. i, 17; and dered uncorruptible' in Rom. i, 23; and xv, 52; also in 1 Pet. i, 4, 23; 'not corruptible' in 1 Pet. iii, 4. The Revised New Testament gives the uniform rendering 'incorruptible.' "Incorruptible existence is ascribed to God in Rom. i, 23, and 1 Tim. i, 17; to the resurrection body, 1 Cor. xv, 54; and to man after the resurrection in 1 Cor. xv, 52. Both undying and incorruptible existence will be given to humanity when this dying shall put on the undying: 'When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.' (1 Cor. xv, 54.) And in view of this glorious consummation we may well exclaim with the apostle: 'But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" THE MURMUR OF THE SOUL. "A solemn murmur of the soul Tells of a world to be, As travelers hear the billows roll Tells that this anxious, yearning soul, Beyond the grave's dark, silent goal Tells that as after Winter's storms, So life anew shall clothe the forms Tells of a dread, impending hour, When at the call of sovereign power Tells of a purer, better sphere, A vernal, tranquil shore, Where those who love and worship here O solemn murmur of the soul! O solemn world to be! To live while endless ages roll, |