bible standard december 1880

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EDITED BY THE SEORETARY.

cc The Wages of Sin is Death; but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Ohrist our Lord."

No. 3. vei, IV. PRICE ONE PENNY.DECEMBER, 1880.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Notes and News... 46

Responsibility of those who have obtained

Light from the Lord on Conditional Im-

morality and its kindred Truths 49

A Great Theological Fiction ... 50

Question and Answer ... 53

Correspondence ... 54

Church and Mission News 54

Business Notes 55

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS,·

ALL COMMUNICATIONShould be addressed to the Secretary, CYRUSE.

BROOKS,Cheltenham.THE ASSOCIATIONndertakes the publication of all classes of works

touching the Life and Advent.

IN SENDINGCOPY,write on one side only. Do not roll, but fold it. If

declined, send stamps for return. Communications for next issue cannot

be received later than the following dates :-Articles, 3rd inst.; News

12th; Advertisements 15th.

ADVERTISINGCHARGES-Four lines and under (30 words) Is. Each

additional line 3d. Displayed-Is. 6d. per inch, single column. Six

insertions charged as five.

RATESOF SUBSCRIPTION-One copy Is. 6d. per annum, post free. Jjwo

copies 2s. 6d. Four copies, upwards, post free at Is. per annu4per

copy.

CONDITIONAL IMMORTALIT

ASSOCIATION,

HOME, COLONIAL, AND FOREIGN.

CONSTITUTION.-1st. An Individual Union of Christian Believers,hold Immortality and Eternal Life to be received only through per

union with the Lord Jesus Christ. 2nd. A Collective Union of Chri

Churches and Missions, whose teaching is in harmony with the a

Such Believers, Churches, &c., retaining their (otherwise) distin

tenets and denominational customs and unions.

PURPOSE.-To bear witness to the neglected Bible Truths of The

and Advent, but especially of the former.

AGENCIES.-Publications, Lectures, Addresses, Bible-Readings,

ferences, and Colportage.

SUBSCRIPTlONs.-Life Members a single subscription of Five Po

Members an annual subscription of Five Shillings, and Associat

'I'wo Shillings and Sixpence.

MISCELLANEous.-Cards of Membership are furnished annually

receipt of Subscription. Two copies of the official organ, The

Standard, are posted monthly to each Member, and one copy to

Associate. The Annual Meeting is held in some convenient cent

which all Members (but not Associates) liave a vote. No proxie

allowed. The annual subscription is due twelvemonths from the

of the previous payment, of which notice will be given by sendin

Bible Standard of that month in colored wrapper, when it is hop

early remittance will be made to the Secretary. It is much to

sired that, wherever practicable, an occasional Donation shou

given in addition to the annual (orlife) subscription.

N.B.-All communications shonld be addressed to the Secretary,

will also supply orders for the Literature of the Association. In

ing through a local bookseller-which you are requested to do whe

convenient-kindly give only the name and address of the L

Book-AgBnt-F. Souihwell, 27, Ivy-lane, City. The Conference R

and Annual Statement, for 1880, will be snpplied free to all new

bers, also a list of publications.

CYRUS E. BROOKS, Secretary, 4, Oriel-place, Chelten



46 THE BIBLE STANDARD.

NOTES AND NEWS.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

" It appears not impossible that an identical fate awaits, and is about

to befall at the same time, the two great Mohammedan monarchies.

What is a Kurdish invasion of Persia, is Kurdish brigandage in Asiatic

Turkey. The condition of Western and Central Asia threatens to

become one of seething anarchy. Our correspondent, whose interesting

letters from Persia have thrown whatever light English readers possess

upon the condition of affairs in the angle of country formed by the con-

verging frontiers of Persia and Russian Turkestan, desci ibes in his

telegrams the preparations which the Government of St. Petersburg is

making for the subjugation of those Akhal Tekke Turcomans who are

as dangerous to the north-east of Persia as the Kurds are to the north-

west. There is every sign throughout this vast district, and even in the

remoter regions where the confines of Russia and China converge, of a

tumult and confusion which may involve such a revolution in Asia as

occurs only at intervals of centuries. The two great European nations

whose fortune has made them in some degree the umpires of this

conflict, and the instruments of something like progress, ore confrontedwith problems which it will be easier to settle in amity than in rancour

and suspicion."-Daily News, Oct. 27.

Surely such words from the merely secular press should stir up

students of the prophetic word to increased enquiry and quickened

hope. Only Christ, as the" stone cut out of the mouutain," can settle

this" Eastern Qnestion;" and the" signs of the times" speak of His

near co'ming.

LIGHT ACROSS THE WATERS.

"We like the place exceedingly. It is amongst the hills, breezy and

pleasant, and, what is better still, we have been favoured by settling

down in Church-fellowship where there are several like-minded with

ourselves. Our nearest neighbour ha, been a Rainbow reader for many

years. You can imagine our joy in recognising each other, far better

than I can tell you. This stranger is a brother beloved now, for many

in this neighbourhood have partially, and some fully, received the truth

of Immortality only in the Lord, through him."-lIIrs. A. Turner, South

Australia.

THE TRUTH IN NEW ZEALAND.

" I should 80 much like to have been with you during the last week,

at the Conference in Liverpool. How much I did think of you all! 1

hope the Conference was a grand success, and have no doubt but that

it was. I hope you will send me all particulars of what passed, and 0f

the reported progress of the' past year. If it should please our heavenly

Father to let me, I trust that I shall be able to attend some of your

future Conferences, I would come all the way from New Zealand for the

pri vilege of doing so.

"I was glad to see by the Bible Standard that Bro. Vasey had gone

to Liverpool, I think him a very worthy man, and also a very useful

one for the work. He is a good lecturer, and I think that he will be of

gre it service to the cause of truth. I expect (D.V.) to establish a

Branch Association in New Zealand, including Australia as well. The

harvest is truly great here. I do not know that I ever saw people more

anxious to hear than they are in Auckland. Our hall is crowded every

S mday night, and we are not able to find seat room for all who come.

I have taken tile Temperauce Hall for twelve months, for the Sunday

and one night per week. I commence a Theological Class on the

Thursday night of this week, and I expect, by God's grace and b

to see many come out boldly on the Lord's side. I have strong

tion from all quarters. Last week I was proposed as a member

Young Men's Christian Association, but, of course, the oppositio

so strong, that I was considered too dangerous a person to be ad

into that body of professed believers in Christ. I cannot get any

ministers to a public discussion. I have given them an oppor

but they will not appear. I always give liberty for questions,

course, I get many from all sorts of thinkers. I shall be comp

form a Church here, on account of some being thrust out fro

respective places of worship, on account of their change of views

people are asking for our literature, and I think we could dis

much of it if we had it. I hope that I shall have a parcel sen

soon as possible.

" I am glad to say that my health is much improved. The

seems to be doing me much good. I shall soon need some assi

for there are a great many places I want to open out in the imm

vicinity of Auckland, but, at present, I cannot attempt it, having

to leave in Auckland to look after the interest there. I pra

heavenly Father will raise up some men of power to proclai

glorious tidings of 'Eternal Life,' through our Lord Jesus

There seems to have been but very little effort put forth, by an

the colonies, to set before the people the 'Forgotten Truths.'

Cass, of Christchurch, has, I think, been enabled to gather

believers round him there. Mr. Waiters is taking a very active

our meeting, and I find him a great help and blessing to me.

George A. Brown, Auckland, New Zealand.

A WORD FROM CANADA.

" I have not had leisure to read the whole (Conference) Repo

have read Mr. Strang's Paper, which is excellent. I hope the br

connected with the Association are encouraged to go on with th

portant work. The more I see of the ignorance and stereotyped

ness and indifference of intelligent Christinus on the subjects adv

by the Association, the more I realize the obligations resting_believers, who know the truth, to make it known to others. Th

of Divine Truth, we have good reason for believing, is movin

religious world, notwithstanding all the indifference and oppo

which prevails, and Ly the blessing of God is sure ultimately to pr

James Less/ie, Esq., Canada.

AN ABSURD FARCE.

During the enforcement of the "MtIl'ch Dc'crees" of the

Government, against the Monastic Orders, the superior member

freely used their priestly power of excommunication, and have p

cut off from hope and heaven the chief officers of the police;

changed, however, are the times in which we dwell to those of a

ago! Then, kings shrank from the dreaded ban of the Church, a

priestly curse was all-powerful. Now, it excites either ridicule or

In instance thereof, we cite two cases occurring at Toulouse and

At the furmer, the Police Commissary-evidently a wag-good-humor

gave a stamped. receipt for the excommunication; at the latte

fuuctionary got angry, said he was insulted, and temporarily arres

excommunicator. In either case, the incident is suggestive, as s

how rapidly priestly claims are passing into their dotage. In

rejoice, yea, and we will rejoice, for we know no greater hindran

the spread of truth, no greater injury to religion, than the sac

claims, the priestly assumptions of so many religious teachers. A

such, Rome has ever been the chief sinner.



,

THE BIBLE STANDARD. 47

THOUGHTS FOR THINKERS.

I.-Is the soul a part of God or a part of man z

2.-If it is a part of God, can it sin?

a.-If it is a part of man, is it not mortal and subject to death?

4.-Is there any intimation in the Bible that God put (what is technically

called) an imm01·tal soul into the first man at his creation?

5.-As Adam was made of the dust, is it not said that this man of dust

became a liv'ing soul, and not an immortal. soul?

6.-If the soul is an immortal or spiritual thing, must it not die a

spiritual death, seeing that the Scriptures say, 'The soul that

sinneth it shall die" ?

7.-As nothing can die except what is mortal, if the soul dies a spiritual

death, must it not be spiritually mortal?

S.-If the soul is a spiritual thing and immortal, it must have a spiritual

immortality. How, then, can it die a spiritual death?

9.-If literal death destroys a literal thing, must not spiritual death

destroy a spiritual thing?

10.-How could David say, "God will redeem my soul from the power

of the grave," if the grave has no dominion over the soul?

n.-If men live in death, did not the serpent speak the truth?

(Gen. iii. 4.)

12.-If God spake the truth, does not that (which He calls the soul)

return to dllst?

13.-But if that (which man calls the soul) does not surely die, did not

the serpent speak the truth ?-From a Tract by J.C. Akester, Hull,

"ETERNAL TORTURE."

We have pleasure in recommending this stirring pamphlet by our

friend Mr. J. C. Akester, of Hull, and also its companion lecture, "Hns

man an immortal soul?" The two are moss excellent for purpose of

gift or loan, to stimulate enquiry. We shall be happy to supply them

as per notice in our advertising columns.

LIFE·LIGHT AT TORQUAY.

" In Torquay the Society known as the 'Conditional Immortality

Association' have started a rapidly-growing branch, which already

numbers many members. The broad principle on 'which the society

bases its teaching is that no one naturally inherits immortality, but that

life everlasting is a special gift bestowed by God only upon such as may

desire and seek it, the lives of the indifferent and unbelieving ter-

minating with their earthly career, in other words, the members of the

association translate literally the expression' death eternal' as opposed

to ' life eternal' in the Bible, and argue that the torments of hell are

irreconcilable with the character of God as otherwise set forth in the

Scriptures. Frequent meetings are held in connection with the associa-

tion in St. George's Hall, Torquay, and the Secretary of the association,

Mr. Cyrus E. Brooks, of Cheltenham (formerly a Wesleyan minister), is

at present preaching and working in the town, and gaining not a few

converts from nearly all persuasions. The members of this unorthodox

brotherhood are not, however, apparently treated with that brotherly

love on the part of certain ministers in Torquay which might have been

expected. However this may be, 1\1r.Brooks has just addressed a letter

to the Rev. H. G. Button, minister at the Ellacombe Tabernacle,

Torquay, in which he charges Mr. Button with imputing to the associa-

tion such teachings as that' man is an animal no better than a donkey

or a pig,' and that' there is no future for man.' Mr. Brooks also

challenges Mr. Button to public controversy in the Bath Saloon."-

Western Morning News, Oct. 25.

",Sir,-In 'Notes in,the West,' in your issue of October 25th, occurs a

notice of the Conditional Immortality Association in its work at Torquay.

Whilst complimenting your correspondent on the general correctness of

his information, kindly allow me to correct one error which is of import-

ance.

Our teaching is neatly summarised by him as, The broad principle

on which the society bases its teaching is that no one naturally inherits

immortality, but that life everlasting is a special gift bestowed by God

only upon such 'as may desire and seek it, the lives 01 the indifferent

and unbelieving terminating with their earthly career.' This latter

clause should read,-The lives of the indifferent and unbelieving ter-

minating at the judgment of the great day, our belief being that the

wicked are totally unconscious during death, but awake to life i .esur-

rection, through the merits of Christ's sacrifice; thus, ' As in Adam all

die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.' All who wake without an

interest in Christ will perish everlastingly-literally perish in the

Gehenna of the Judgment.

Allow me, as an old Plymothian, to thank you for your just and

courteous notice of our society, and to apologise for the lateness of my

reply, not having seen the notice until last evening.-Yours respectfully

Cyrus E. Brooks. 15, Belgrave-terrace, Torquay, October 27." [" We

cannot permit any controversy in our columns on this subject.-Ed.

W. M. News.]"

LOGICAL AT LEAST.

"During the late vacations one of our city pulpits was occupied by !I

student from the Presbyterian college, who took for his text Matt. xvi,

26, and in laying out his premises asserted that the soul of man was

immortal; then, in a flight of oratory, he said: 'Some will ask you to

believe in the doctrine of annihilation, but it is not true; the annihila-

tion of the human soul is AN IMPOSSIBILITY, for AS I HAVE TOLD YOU, it

is immortal;' this is almost equal to the learned principal himself, at

least it is a fair imitation. Perhaps the young man was not aware of

the fact that the text properly translated would read thus: 'For what

is a man profited if he should gain the whole world and forfeit his life,

or what will a man give in ransom for his life.' Dr. Adam Clarke takes

strong grounds against the common rendering."- Canadian Inuestiqator,

"THE GATES OF HELL."

In the Christian World report of the" Methodist Convention at City-

road Chapel," the Rev. A. McAulay is represented as saying-" To

achieve success continual prominence must he given to the saving and

solemn truths of the Gospel. • The four last things' must be preached

-death, judgment, hell, heaven. Every man must be told that it is

his privilege to know his sins forgiven. With the tenderest emotion,

yet with solemn conviclion, men must be taken to the very gates of hell,

and made to look into the invisible world." We have italicised the

words to which we wish to raise objection. The speaker, we presume,

was thinking of Matt. xvi. 1S,''' Upon this rock I will build My Church,

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." As a Biblical

student, Mr. Mcaulay must know that the Greek word here rendered

hell is I-Iades, and has no connection whatever with that" invisible

world" of which he was speaking. Our English Bible in text and

margin repeatedly gives "grave" as the interpretation of Hades. If,

therefore, as a preacher, he takes his hearers in spirit to the invisible

world of which Christ was speaking, they will behold nothing but the

common lot of all men-from which there is no escape-corruption,

darkness, the silence of death. Christ, however, teaches the blessed

truth of an open grave in resurrection, which is indeed the lesson He

would have us learn from His words. "The gates" simply refer to

power, dominion (see Gen. xxiv. 60). Thus, the dominion of death and

the grave shall not prevail against His Church, for" neither can they

die any more."-(L1£ke xx, 36.) Men must be hard pressed to sub-

stantiate their theories of a present hell, when they persistently refuse

to distinguish between the Scripture words Hades (grave) and Gehenna

(a place of fire), the former the common lot of all men, the latter the

future end of the wicked only, when severed from among the just.

Unhappily our English Bible does not distinguish sufficiently between




the two words (this is no excuse for teachers who can turn to their

Greek Testaments) which misleads those who have no works of refer-

ence. To such, however, we would recommend a careful study of the

context, which will often show the sense given to the word by the Spirit.

OUR CONFERENCE NUMBER.

We desire heartily to thank our kind friends for their generous

appreciation of the Conference Report, as it appeared in October BibleStandard, and especially to thank those who have so nobly helped iu

distributing the same. Even at the risk of seeming invidious, we can-

not avoid naming at least two, each taking 500 copies for personal

distribution,-our President, Henry J. Ward, Esq .. of Liverpool; and

James Lesslie, Esq., of Canada. We are glad to state that near 5,000

copies have been put into circulation at home, in India, and the British

Colonies. As the expense of setting type for so much matter was con-

siderable, we were anxious to secure as large a circulation as possible,

and therefore provided a good reserve. Somewhat over 1 ,000 copies are

still on hand, to circulate which we crave assistance. We will post

them to any addresses that may bo snp plied us, at the published price

of twopence per copy (except to foreign countries, for which we shall

require the difference in postage). All our readers have friends to whom

a copy would be nsefnl, ani! no cheaper or more valuable body of

evidence could be sent them upon these subjects. A list of addresses

with stamps in payment is all we need.

OFFER OF SERVICE. •We wonld direct the attention of London friends to the notice in our

advertising columns from Mr. H. H. Horsman, and trust he will find

many open pnlpits in which he may be able to bear acceptable witness

to precious truth. Mr. H. is a member of our Association, and an

acceptable speaker, one also who is well versed in the too commonly

;, neglected truths" of the Word of God.

IT MOVES.

We speak of lliethodisrn in relation to the truth of "Life only in

Christ." Not, however, Methodism denominationally, -that still, in

all its sections, sets its face as firmly against the truth as ever,-but

Methodism in its units, and especially in the units of that mighty arm,

its "lay ministry." We speak of our personal experience in the West,

dnring a somewhat extended tour. We were surprised and gratified to

find how general was the disbelief in the commonly accepted dogmas of

eternal suffering and natural immortality. No more striking instance

of this can be found than is supplied in another column (" Church and

Mission News.") If Methodist leaders will persist in abiding by "the

longest creed in Christendom," and in insisting upon the Gospel by

John Wesley, and in stifling all independent enquiry as to the true

teaching of the Holy Word, they will soon be in the position of men

who, having sown the wind, reap the whirlwind. In other words, their

next convulsion will be on doctrine, not discipline as heretofore.

A CORRECTION.

We regret that there should have been an inaccuracy in our report of

one of the Question Meetings of the Conference. It arose, however,

from our having to trust to our personal notes, not having arranged for

the Reporter's services at those two meetings. At page 2, line 31, the

Rev. H. Constable is represented as using the word" entity;" what he

really said was "identity." As we inserted his letter in our last

issue, we here insert an extract of a similar nature received from

l\1ajor van Someren :-" On page 2, second column of the Conference

Report, these words appear, 'Mr. R. Killip asked the grammatical

meaning of the original words, (' Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,')

whether they conveyed the idea of personality?' when I am reported as

saying 'that personality could not be found therein.' I cannot recall

my having made such a reply. I spoke on that occasion only

Maude, and asked him what the word for 'soul' was in Hebrew

text. He said it was 'nephesh.' I said no more till after ~lr.

had said that if we believed that the Lord lay dead in the gr

three days and three nights, then there was a separation of th

from the humanity, and that was a dangerous thing to teach. I

generally that the word spoke of the Lord as dead, as having

out His soul unto death,' but that He was raised again by the

power of God, and now • death hath no more dominion over Him

we were therefore and thus safe in Him. This very statement im

belief in the personality of the Christ. l\ly article, 'The de

conscious,' in November Rainbow, is contrary to the statement a

to me in the Conference Report."

CURRENT EVENTS.

The past month has been pregnant with disaster, by land and

home and abroad. In Buenos Ayres, an unprecedented snow-

with the loss of over a million horses, sheep, and cattle. In Ita

Denmark, violent storms, much property destroyed, In France

serious floods. Brazil, great inucdations, immense loss of crop

property. Britain, severe storms with enormous loss of prope

land and sea, and several lives. Sicily, great storm, 15 lives lodebris of the waters lying in heaps 40 feet high. Switzerland,

floods. Germany, serious floods and storms, both north and

United States, a lake storm in which 17 vessels were wrecked,

damaged, whilst 93 lives were lost. Cyprus, great storm. The L

a terrible storm, inflicting severe loss. In addition to the above,

have been some smart earthquake-shocks, happily without m

damage, in Burmab, Spain, Portugal, British Burmah, and Switze

Vesuvius is reported "very active," two streams of lava are f

from its cone. Our only consolation in such a gloomy record is "

up, for your redemption draweth nigh." As a proof of the un

severity of the season, we may mention that iu St. Petersburg o

26th, there were 30 degrees of frost, Fah.J

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE.

A suggestive item of news comes to us from Turkey, viz.," Palestine has been constituted a separate vilayet." This brings

step nearer, probably, to the return of its people, and its constitutio

a separate kingdom, under the protectorate of some other power.

scheme for running a railway to connect the populous towns of A

Horns, and Damascus with each other and the sea, is still waitin

the good pleasure of the Porte. If the concession be indeed obtaine

will prove a most powerful factor in developing the future of the

interesting land under the sun. The Roumanian Jews, it s

purpose returning, in considerable numbers, to the land of their fa

The German Jews are receiving considerable persecution. We lo

some early and important features of the Syrian part of the "Eas

Question."

•

IT is our folly to betray our duties by our wishes; if it were thus

thus with us, we could serve God readily and cheerfully. Thon fool,

is no condition but grace can improve it to some religious use, f

advantage of some duty or other; it is thy laziness, and the, blam

thine own neglect must not be charged upon Providence.-Manto1l.

THE VALUEOELITTLES.-A chain with all its links sound, except

is not to be trusted. A pest-house, with all its rooms disinfected, e

one, is not a safe place to stay in. A payment which lacks one dol

the amonnt owed, is not a payment in full, He who sinks within

inch of the rope which is thrown him, perishes as surely as though

were in mid-ocean.



THE BIBLE STANDARD.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE WHO HAVE OBTAINED

LIGHT FROM THE LORD ON CONDITIONAL

IMMORTALITY AND ITS KINDRED TRUTHS.

By THOMAS VASEY.

FELLOW believers in Christ, all "who have obtained like

precious faith with us," "suffer the word of exhortation,"

"not that we would have dominion over your faith, but behelpers together of your joy." Consider the exalted honour

and privilege the Lord has conferred upon us. He has made

us the custodians of truths delivered from long captivity,-

of recovered family treasure that is greatly ~eeded for the

impoverished household of faith,-we are stewards of these

precious things of God, the very knowledge of which has

perished from a large portion of the redeemed family; the

enemies of truth have prejudiced the saints [against these

precious doctrines of His Word, and our Father has given

us light for their benefit, and also for the world. Are we

prepared to accept and use this sacred trust ?-to honour our

gracious God by doing His will? I ask, do we realize the

solemnity of the privilege, and what it involves? Let us

not be turned aside by irrelevant questions, and spend our

force on side issues. We have avowed our firm belief that

eternal life is not the natural possession of mankind, but the

great gift of God in Christ, to those who believe in His

name,-that the doom of the finally impenitent is to perish

in the Second Death, not to be tormented through eternal

ages, as is popularly taught,-that such teaching has

wronged the glorious character of God, and made Him

appear all Almighty tyrant rather than the just, and gracious

-the merciful, and righteous Jehovah.

We have professed our belief in Jesus as the sole Giver of

eternal life, in virtue of His sacrificial death and resurrec-

tion, and shall we pander to those who would rob His cross,

and rifle His crown, of this precious gem, and tell us that

immortality belongs to creation, rather than redemption, to

the first Adam, rather than the second? Nay, we glory in

Him who is the Life, as well as the Truth and the Way.

We also further believe in our Lord's return, as God's

Anointed King, to set up His Kingdom on earth, to raise

and glorify His saints, to reign with Him in His Kingdom

for a thousand years in this very earth; that He will restore

lost and wandering Israel, fulfil to them the Father's ancient

promises, and bring back peace and blessing, to a groaning

creation, and a sin-cursed world.

Now, brethren, these are truths, eternal oerlties God Him-

self has given us to see, and believe; they are not to us mere

opinions or theories, but revealed promises that involve

the divine veracity and faithfulness. Have we, I ask,

grasped them as being put in trust of God with them, for

the glory of His name and the benefit of His ransomed

Church? Or dowe falter, and shrink back, afraid to commit

ourselves to the full avowal, because of consequences? L

us examine our standing. Are we sure of our ground? Da

we to be Daniels, having a true purpose, and daring to ma

it known? Do we speak with the accent of conviction,

those who know both who and what they have believed,-as

saints and confessors of Christ, who in His strength a

prepared to do and di e for His truth? Half-heartedness

worthless in these sifting, winnowing days of trial. God h

infinite resources at His command, numerous agents to

His will if we decline the post of honour and dang

assigned to us. The battle is not ours, but God's, and it

nothing to Him to save by many or by few; He has Gideo

and Daniels yet in store. But be not deceived, it is n

mere parade, no sham battle we are called upon to fig

The grand crisis of the ages is at hand. Christ will co

in with the Kingdom, whether men will believe it or n

The midnight cry will go forth, and the ready ones only w

enter with the Bridegroom. Fidelity to Christ, gratitude

God for light given, call us to witness for His glorious tru

Faith, then, is what He now demands,-the conviction.

things not seen. We profess to have this,-is it rea

Will it bear the strain, the demand made upon

Enduring as seeing Him who is yet invisible, can we d

to risk the loss of our orthodox position, the scoff of frien

the taunt of being fanatics, the grim charge of uncharitabl

ness to others, the cry of being disturbers of settled belie

Are we in the strength of this faith prepared to suffer lo

and endure persecution, for these precious truths of Chris

Or, to escape these things, shall we still hide in Christi

fellowships where these truths are not only denied,

ridiculed and denounced as rank heresies? Is it rig

to countenance with our presence, and support with

substance, what we know to be derogatory to the characof God, and contrary to the testimony of His Word?

we speak strongly? Integrity demands it. I say aga

have we the divine courage of our convictions, and the dari

to make them known by every Scriptural means, for the glo

of Christ, and the good of His Church? 0 companions

the faith and patience of Christ, there are yet crowns to

won, positions to be gained, in the coming Kingdom a

administration of our Royal Lord. "If we suffer with Hi

we shall also reign."

But, on the other hand, let us ponder those solemn wo

of His, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me, and of

words, of Him shall the Son of man be ashamed, whenshall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of

holy angels." (Luke ix. 26.) Let us seek direction

waiting upon the Lord; carry it out when given, whatev

it costs; God's truth must abide,-shall prevail; fear

fewness of numbers, (as Dr. Leask has well said,) "G

has ever worked with small minorities." Our cause is Go

and must prevail.




A GREAT THEOLOGICAL FICTION.

By J. ; r . Honns.

••Having a desire to depart, and to be with CHRIST; which

is far better."-Phil. i. 23.

IN what manner is this expression to be understood?

The usual meaning attached to it we assume to be, is that

at death the apostle expected to escape from the body in

which he dwelt, and in a moment be translated into the

presence of Christ.-That the body itself was no veryessen-tial part of his personality, whether dead or living. Indeed,

he would be far better without it, as remaining in it

necessitated absence from Christ, whilst deliverance was an

instantaneous flight to glory, and in conscious blessedness to

be "for ever with the Lord." That no sooner would the

body of humiliation be dropt, then he would be clothed upon

with the spiritual house which is from Heaven.

Such we believe to be the prevailing interpretation of the

Apostle's words. Our object is to enquire how far such a

theory agrees with the general teaching of Scripture.

Man, what is he? Is he a unit, or dual-one person or

two? Is he a compound being, consisting of body, soul,and spirit; or is he two or three persons now joined together,

but divisible into two or three distinct entities? That, as a

compound being, he is capable of dividing asunder, we can-

not dispute; inasmuch as we find it plainly written that

God's Word pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and

spirit. (I-Ieb. iv. 12.) Again, we are told that man is able to

destroy the body, but not the soul. (Matt. x. 28.) Which

of these is the true man? Is it the body, or is it the soul,

or both when separate and apart? Is man whilst living,

one person, intelligent and responsible, but in death two or

three, and each the responsible agent? The very question

is absurd; is it not?Again we ask, which is man? Is the disembodied soul or

spirit the true personality, the responsible being with whom

God will deal? The almost universal answer is, Yes. The

almost universal answer the Bible gives is, No. We say

almost, because there are one or two Scriptures that do not

so see m to speak. With these exceptions it may safely be

affirmed that throughout the Bible man is regarded and dealt

with simply and distinctly as a physical being such as we

know ourselves to be, "of the earth earthy; JJ in life

possessing spirit or soul, in death, man still, whose breath,

soul, or spirit is gone from him; and whilst this is the

condition, all responsibility ceases, and all ,thought, emo-tions, instincts, knowledge, &c., are suspended until the soul

or spirit reanimates the body and the man comes forth in

life again.

This will not be believed. Notwithstanding, we reaffirm

that this is the normal teaching of the Bible from G enesis to

the Revelations, whilst the exceptions are but few. And

strange to say, the prevailing and long established theory of

human nature is based upon the exceptions rather than

the rule.It will be allowed by most, that Moses and the Pro

taught nothing more concerning human nature than t

now affirm. Their whole system, or rather God's

cognizance only of the living, physical being. A

threatenings of punishment, and promises of reward, a

alone to the living material persons, and will it be be

never once to the spirit, or soul that dwelt therein.

"living soul JJ with Moses, David, Solomon, and E

that was either to live or die, was usually the ph

person, which according to the Scriptures was made

the "dust of the earth," inbreathed by God, and e

death was still a soul. The notion of an immortal con

and responsible entity dwelling in the body, was alto

foreign to them. They knew man as we know oursel

be, nor did they know of any other man dwelling withi

But, it will be said, granted it was so in the early h

of the race, but this time of ignorance is past, and

and immortality JJ are now" brought to light by the Go

True, life and immortality are brought to lightGospel. But by this are we to understand that Mose

the Prophets were altogether at fault, and taught the

that which we know to be utterly false? The light

sequently given, surely does not deny the veracity

"holy men of old." "If they hear not Moses

Prophets, &c." For Christ to contradict Moses, or fo

to do it, would be to impeach themselves. Moses,

and Paul stand or fall together. Our enquiry then m

-Does the teaching of Christ and the Apostles, conc

the nature of man and his future, ag ree with that of

and the Prophets? Of course it does; abundant ev

unquestionably proves this. But whilst affirming thior three Scriptures that seem to teach a psychology

different order demand our notice.

In Matt. x. 28, already quoted, Christ tells us we ne

fear them who are only able to kill the body and are no

to kill the soul: a proof, as many suppose, of the soul

itself a personal and immortal entity, and, in consciou

and capacity, perfectly independent of the body in w

dwells. Evidence of this is entirely wanting; all s

statement proves, is that the soul of man, whatever tha

be, is in the keeping of Him who gave it, and that H

can restore or destroy it. The popular belief respectin

soul as an immortal entity tenanting the prison hoclay, must be re-examined and brought to the test

Bible as a whole.

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, is cons

by most as affording indubitable evidence of the soul

being in itself the true man, and capable of an indepe

conscious existence in separation from the body.

Then the apparently absurd theory of man's nat



THE BIBLE STANDARD.

true, notwithstanding the Bible, as a whole, is diametrically

opposed to it. Nowhere does it teach that the spirit or soul

is to be punished or rewarded in separation from the body,

and that the one personality of the man becomes two in

death. Parables must be interpreted in accordance with

the plain teaching of the Scripture, and not the plain

Scripture be made to bend so as to harmonize with the

literal statements of the parables. The Pharisees to whom

our Lord was then speaking held such views amongst many

others, and these might have been used at the time by

Christ for the purpose of enforcing the lessons He was

teaching them. The" brethren" of the Rich Man might

listen in vain for any such faithful word of warning" by

Moses and the Prophets." They certainly did warn trans-

gressors of various plagues and spoiliation " till they should

be destroyed;" but never hinted 8.t such a thing as any soul

-torment in Hades or sheol after they should be destroyed as

people living in the world.

When people quote the well known words of our Lord

about gaining 'the whole world and losing their souls, they

forget too often the parallel verse when, instead of the word

soul, life is employed. In the original the word is the same.

No more can be made of the warning than the other familiar

one, " He that loveth his life shall lose it," shall die utterly

body and soul in Gehenna. Mark ix. 43, &c., says not a

word about soul punishment after bodily death, it is bodily

-punishment if it is anything-hands, eyes, feet, &c. Nor

does the solemn scene of the xxv of Matthew teach anything

else. Those driven away into the "everlasting fire," are

not separate souls as popularly understood, but living people

of the Nations. With heads full ofthe popular psychology,

people, when they read of future rewards or punishments,

jump at the conclusion that they must necessarily relate to

the soul in a separate :state of being, when, if they could

divest their minds of all such traditions, they would find the

words contained no such doctrine, but that all punishments

and rewards were given to people in their proper person-

alities, either in this life, or a resurrected one.

Proofs of this abound, and when considered, plainly shew

what man is, and how everything is made to depend upon-THE RESURRECTION.

First. Whai;. does Christ reveal respecting the Resurrec-

tion? John v. 29-" They that have done good unto the

resurrection of life." They, not the body merely as some-

thing the man has, but the responsible person. There is nothought here of the person being in heaven, and now to

come down and reinhabit the newly-formed body. In

chap. vi. 40, promise is given, as distinct as words could

make it, that believers will be raised up out of their graves.

Just as clearly did David declare it, "Thou wilt redeem

my soul from the power of the grave." Psalm xlix. 15,

and Daniel, " Many of them that sleep in the dust of the

earth," &c. Dan, xii. 2.

Where was Lazarus when Christ cried with a loud

bidding him to life again? Was he in heaven and the

only in the open tomb? Why did not Christ bid him

down and repossess his dead body? In several. instan

Christ seemed to imply that those believing in Him sh

" never die." That they should never die as unbelie

will is very true; but the original shows such express

should be as Rotherham makes them, not die for ever, th

(as elsewhere promised) they should be raised again

made immortal, equal to the angels, and "neither

they die any more." Then, and not before, do they rec

their reward. Such is the uniform teaching of Ch

Neither does the promise given to the dying thief overth

the view maintained. Is it possible to believe that

promised paradise was in the heart of the earth? Bec

it was there Christ went. Matt. xii. 40. Just take

liberty we have a perfect right to use, of altering the punc

tion of Christ's words, and the difficulty is overcome at

"Verily I say unto thee to-day, thou shalt be with M

Paradise;" or, perhaps better still, let it be read as g

by Rotherham, "Verily! to thee, I say, To-day, with

shalt thou be in the paradise." Thus we have an appropr

answer to the thief's request, that he might be rememb

when Christ came in His kingdom. Let the stop come

"To-day," and not mar the words by beginning with, to

Second. What did the apostle Paul declare concer

the resurrection? He certainly gave no uncertain s

upon the doctrine, It was indeed as he confessed, the

theme of his preaching. He went everywhere preac

"Jesus, and the resurrection." See specially, Acts xxii

xxiv. 15; xxvi, 8, &c. In his writings he was more exp

if possible than Christ Himself. In fact, eVe1'ything is s

upon it. With him it is God's grand method of sho

grace to fallen sons of Adam. " For as in Adam all

even so in Christ shall all be made alive." " What ad

tageth it me if the dead rise not?" 1 Cor. xv. How w

the apostle comfort the hearts of the bereaved and sor

ing; by speaking of the departed as being in Abraha

bosom, or in paradise? Not so. Read his words in 1

iv. With him, those sleeping in Jesus were in the du

death, and when Jesus comes, they are to be raised

quickened, made incorruptible, made in the image o

Heavenly. Until then, in common with a groaning

tion, "we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for

adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body." Peter

in his Epistles directs attention to the same hope, and

horts us to be " looking for, and hasting unto the comin

the day of God." "To hope to the end for the grace tha

to be brought unto you at the revelation. of Jesus Christ."

also 1. E1Jis John iii. "When He shall appear we shal

like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

The scene presented in the Apocalypse, of the souls u




the Altar, is relied on by many as proving the consciousness

and capabilities of souls in the separate state. Had the

same vision been found in any less mysterious book than

that of the Revelations, more difficulty would perhaps be

found in accommodating it to the general teaching of

Scripture. But, being found as it is in the midst of such a

variety of scenic and allegorical representations, which it is

utterly impossible to accept in any literal sense, it is doing

no violence to the view presented in regarding it as we dothe trees of the field and dead ones in their graves made

vocal by Prophets of old, (see for example Isaiah xiv.) or of

the personification of Death and Hell in the verse preceding

the scene in question. If one is literal, why not a literal

skeleton riding on a literal horse?

With such explicit and unmistakable Scriptures before us,

we are perfectly warranted in asserting that the Bible plainly

teaches man to be a living organism, also an intelligent and

moral agent, and as such, a responsible being. ,'le are also

perfectly safe in asserting, ~hat when he dies he returns to

the earth from whence he was taken, whilst the vital

principle that he possessed in life returns to God who gaveit, Also that he remains "in the dust of the earth" until

Jesus comes to restore him to life ;-that he does not live, nor

receioe either punishment 01' reuiard until the day of judgment!

With such undeniable facts as these before us, let us bring

forward the popular and generally received theory of dying

and going to heaven before the resurrection, and what is the

result? Why, if the Bible is true, such a view falls like

Dagon before the ark. If the received creed be the true one,

then the Bible is Dagon, and it is shattered to atoms without

hope of recovery. vVe are bound to make our choice; which

shall we stand by? On the one hand, we have a foundation

broad and firm as the Bible itself; on the other, two or threeexceptional Scriptures which, compared with the opposite

theory, are but as the point of the pyramid in relation

to its base.

But inasmuch as the topmost point of a pyramid is

essential to its perfection, we cannot afford to dispense with

it, therefore we must not pass by a single line of inspiration

as though it were out of joint.

Let us for a moment turn to these exceptional expressions

of the apostles, and see if we can find their true place in the

system of divine revelation.

It will be permitted us to take Rotherham's version of the

passages in preference to our common one, as being more

exact.

2 Cor. iv. 14. Here the apostle expresses the firm hope

that "He that raised the Lord Jesus, us also jointly with

Jesus will raise;" he doubtless refers to a bodily resurrec-

tion, apart from any other hope whatever. This is in strict

accordance with all previously preached or written.

In the 5th chapter, he thus writes,-" For we know that

if perchance our earthly house of the tent should be ta

down, a building of God we have, a house not hand ma

everlasting, in the heavens. For in this are we even sigh

strongly desiring with our habitation which is from hea

to clothe ourselves over: if indeed having also clothed

selves we shall not be found naked. For we who are in

tent are even sighing, being weighed down, on which acco

we are not wishing to unclothe ourselves, but to clothe

selves over, in order that the mortal may be swallowedby the life ..... Having good courage therefore at

times, and knowing that remaining at home in the body,

are away from home from the Lord .... we have g

courage nevertheless, and are well pleased ratherto go f

home out of the body and to come home unto the Lord."

This then we learn from these words. 1st. That

apostle earnestly desired a change of bodies, so that

mortal should be swallowed up of life. 2nd. He plai

declares his desire was not an intermediate state in sep

tion from the body, "on which account we are not u'ishin

unclothe ourselues,"

In immediate connection with such statements, to afit would be better to enter upon the disembodied st

would be a direct contradiction of his own words.

desire expressed was that the corruptible body in which

was then found, should be exchanged for that incorrupti

one which God had promised to give. "For this corrupti

must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on

mortality, .... then shall be brought to pass the say

that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor.

But the vital point in our enquiry is, when will this excha

be made? The answer is found in verses 51 and

"Behold I shew you a mystery, we shall not all sleep,

we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinklingan eye, at the last trump," &c. "For the Lord Himself s

descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of

Archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead

Christ shall rise first, .... SO shall we ever be with

Lord." This was no far off hope with the apostle, it was

event nigh at hand with him: so near that he could

" we shall not all sleep;" "a little while, and He that s

come, will come and will not tarry."

We turn for a moment to Paul's epistle to the Philippia

i. 21-23, " For to me, living is Christ, and dying g

But if living in flesh is Christ, this to me is a fruit of w

and what I shall choose I am not making known: but Ibeing constrained by the two, since I have the longing

the setting loose and being together with Christ, for

were far, far better, but the abiding still in the flesh is m

needful for your sake." (Rotherham's translation.)

In these words we certainly find an appearance

longing desire for the intermediate state. Can it. be

now, if never before, the apostle is found advancing a




theory of psychology, one that appears not only novel, butaltogether out of harmony with his and other's system oftruth? Is it to be Paul versus Paul, or Paul in antagonismto all others? Surely there must be some way of escapefrom such a fatality. There must be something radicallywrong in all that had been previously written on the subjectof man's nature, of death, and resurrection, if after all Paulmeant to say that people are alive when they are dead; and

in heaven when in the dust of the earth; with Christprevious to His coming to raise them up.If he cherished the hope that in any sense he should be

with Christ as soon as the body died, it must have been insome such sense as Stephen was when he committed hisspirit, or life-principle, into the hands of Jesus: or of ChristHimself, when He gave up the ghost. That is in spirit only;

but let it be remarked that notwithstanding the spirits werein heaven, the personalities were elsewhere. Devout mencarried Stephen to his burial, and Christ was for three daysand nights following, "in the heart of the earth."

In whatever sense dying was to be gain, or whatever ouridea may be of departing and being with Christ, we arebound to accept Paul's own explanation of his meaning,when he plainly states, that it would be no advantage what-

ever to him if there was to be no resurrection: and that when

caught up to meet the L01'd in the air, he would be with Him.Here we find Paul so entirely in the Lord's hands that itwas a matter of indifference to him whether he lived or died,but something else he truly and heartily did desire, that wasto be with Christ. This he knew would be when He, whowas his life, did appear, then, and not till then, would he" appear with Him in glory," and be made like Him. Seealso chap. iii. 10, 11. But these Scriptures in Philippians

should be read in their connection. No greater mischief isdone than when isolated passages are read and explainedapart from the context. What does the connection show inthe chapter before us? Why, this, that the letter waswritten when the apostle was in "bonds" for the Gospel'ssake. At the end of the Epistle we read he was at the timein Rome. We also find that this persecution had fallen outunto the furtherance of the Gospel, that through it Christ

was preached more boldly. This fact inspired the apostlewith unwonted joy, and in the midst of his troubles he couldforget himself in witnessing the success of the Gospel. Hecared nothing for himself so long as Christ could be mag-nified. Whether this was advanced by his own life ordeath, it was a small matter to him. If he continued toli ve or die Christ would be magnified, and so with theutmost assurance he could say, " for me to live is Christ,and to die is gain." In whole-hearted consecration to hisDivine Master he welllmew whether living or dying, Christioo ul d be the gain er, and it was that which gave him joy.

That death would be gain to him personally, is not onlyout of harmony with what he teaches elsewhere, but evenin this same letter he tells us that his brother Epaphroditushad been sick, nigh unto death, but God had merc!J on him.

In what way: by taking him to Himself in death? No.

hut by raisinq him lip again, and restoring him to the Church.This was mercy to Paul also and awakened rejoicing ofheart in him.

Death, with the Apostle, as well as with all others, wasDot a friend, but an enemy, an enemy ultimately to bedestroyed. It was death, that wrung tears from the eyes ofJesus at Bethany, with the sorrowing sisters, and thatprompted him to wrest the dead one from the grip of thefoe. It was the presence of death that made the godlyHezekiah weep sore, and God in answer to his prayergraciously added fifteen years to his life: and in his songof thanksgiving he could SfLY, "The grave cannot praise

Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee, they that go down intthe pit cannot hope for Thy truth; the living, the livinghe shall praise Thee as I do this day." Death has passeupon all men because of sin. Moses was punished withbecause of his sin. It was no gain to him, nor to any othewe ever read of. Never do we find in the Scriptures thlanguage prevailing amongst us, in reference to the enemof God and man.

How strangely is the normal teaching of the Scriptures othe subject in question ignored and denied. On the basis otwo or three exceptional texts taken from their connexionand a misunderstood parable, truth has been turned upsiddown, and man has been robbed of his very personality;whilst the life that man possesses has been transformed intohis identical self, and that self, in death, crowned in gloryor cursed in hell! By so doing, the resurrection is littlemore than a work of supererogation, if not as good as pasalready; and the grand and essential hope of the Gospel-the theme of Christ and the apostles, even the GloriousAppearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, whis coming to awaken His sleeping saints and to take all Hipeople to Himself, is but little thought of, if not entirelyabandoned.

These are grave charges to bring against prevailing

theology. Are these charges just? Can they be denied?How imperative that we should make sure we are no" teaching for doctrine, the traditions of men."

QUESTION AND ANSWER.

[This column is stntedly devoted to replies to such questions, objections, and suggeations as may be 01 general interest. We only undertake, however, to reply to succommunications as may commend themselves to our own judgment, simplacknowledging the receipt. of others, 'Ye are personally responaible for thanswers given.-EDITOR.]

Q.-" I cannot but think that did the Association confine itself to th

single subject that 'the wages of sin is death,' but 'the gift of God

eternal life' through Jesus Christ our Lord, it would be much, ver

much, more successful."

A.-We heartily agree with you as to the superior importance of th

simple Life 1'estimony,-still, if you but saw the evils arising from th

common teaching of an active, conscious intermediate state, as most

our members see it. you would not wonder that "out of the abundance

of the heart the mouth speaketh." To us the entire unconsdousness o

the dead seems the Scriptural and only efficacious weapon with which t

meet and destroy the deadly evils of Mariolatry, Purgatory, Spiritualism,

and Priestcraft, But for the traditional view of death, the fatal an

pernicious hold which is by these had upon the minds and consciences

of millions, would have been impossihle, Iu reference to the first, a

esteemed friend was once interrogated in public meeting, hy one wh

claimed the fullest pretensions of the disciples of the" Virgin Mary, th

Holy Mother of God t t : He replied, "My deal' brother, let the goo

woman alone; why, she is not even in heaven yet, but is sleeping in he

grave." An effectual way of disposing of the arrogant claims pu

forward on her behalf, and which, were she conscious of them, woul

fill her with horror and amaze.

Q.-" Many whom I know have renounced the dogma of eternal

torment, and with myself believe in a lost immortality, who turn with

aversion from the decided assertion that God created man a mortal

being, for how then could death be said to be ' the wages of sin? ' "

A.-Suffer us to meet your difficulty by suggesting a greater. If man

was immortal (incorruptible) in his original nature, how could he return

to the dust? " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,"-so ran

the sentence of the unerring Judge. In this there is no mention of som

surviving and separable entity, whilst the outer shell only perished. Th

personal pronoun covers the man and he returned to dust, the spirit o

lives only returning to God. We therefore suppose that Immortality

was not the possession of the probationer, but the promised ?'elVard o

successful probation.

Q.-" Is not the assertion that man is a soulless being, in contradiction

to such Scriptures as ' He is not the GOd of the dead, but of the Iiving




Of the appearance of Moses and Elijah at our Lord's transfiguration;

and the words of the angel to John, 'I am of thy brethren the

prophets? ' "

A .-Are you not in error in attributing to any of the writers of the

Bible Standard the belief that man is a "soulless being?" With your.

se~f,.we all believe that man consists of body (soma), soul (psyche), and

spirit (pneu.ma). But, teaching that this union is destroyed in death,

when the body returns to the dust, and the spirit to God who gave it.

As f?r the living soul, is it not something which we can only truly

predicate of the living man? An effect of the union of body and spirit,

(producing animal and mental life,) which temporarily ceases in the first

death, and wholly ceases in the second! Soul is a word of so rnanv

meanings, and shades thereof, in the sacred Scriptures, that it i~

extremely difficult to fix upon it its several meanings, and indeed im-

possible, except by a careful study of the context of the various passages.

But nowhere does it seem to us to be treated as a living entity in death.

At creation man was a soul, but not a living one. By the breath of the

spirit of lives he became a "living soul." Surely when that" breath of

lives" was again withdrawn, he relapsed once more into the condition

of a dead soul, which could return to dust? And all known future life

must, for him, be dependent on ,·esuITect'iol1.

As regards the Saviour's answer to His Jewish interrogators, touchinz

the resurrection of the dead, it must be distinctly remembered that H~

spal.,e to the" sect of the Sadducees," (see Matt. xxii. 23-34,) who

denied the "resurrection of the dead," His purpose being to convince

them thereof. Thus, from the fact that, though the patriarchs were

dead and buried, God calls Himself the" God of Abraham, and the God

of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," Christ deduces the grand truth that

these lived in the mind, purpose, and plans of God; thus, that there was

a resurrection of the dead, for "God is not the God of the dead, but of

the living." We fail to see how this answer could have so effectuallysilenced these clever sceptics, if it only went to prove that Abraham,

Isaac, and Jacob, were not dead, but alive; but, as they were known to

be dead, whilst regarded by God as alive, it conclusively proved their

return to life by resurrection from the dead.

In reference to Moses and Elijah, (lllatt. xvii. 1-9,) Christ distinctly

d~clared that. ~cene to be a vision. If real, however, it presents no

difficulty. Elijah had never seen death, therefore was alive in the flesh.

Mo~es ha.d not (probably) seen corruption, for the Lord had personally

buned hIS body, and jealously guarded it. Personally, we think it was

kept intact, that, reunited with the spirit, the living Moses might witness

with the living Elijah, at the court of the Anti-Christ of the last days

(see Re'~. xi.) If so.•what was declared by the Psalmist (Psalm xvi. 10)

concermng the SaVIOur" would also be true of Moses. Touching the

angel's language to John, (Rev. xxii. 9,) you have scarcely quoted it

correctly; it reads, "I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the

prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book." It seems

to us that simply [elloio-seroice and obedienee are implied here.

•

CORRE SPONDEN CE.

WORDS OF CHEER.

Sir,-You will be glad to heal', and so will your readers, that the

Conference Report has done not a little in these parts to stir up an

interest in the great truth of Immortality in Christ alone, I had the

privilege of giving away some copies. One man to whom I had given a copy

wrote for some himself and distributed them with the result that another

man, in his turn, asked for three more copies for distribution. Three

Christians have to my knowledge received this truth within the last three

months, two from the papers in the Conference Report, and I am told of

other cases. Many are considering the matter and searching the Word.

May they be led of God.-Yours truly,-G. J. v S.-Broadstairs, Nov. 8.

scmNCE AND THE BIBLE.

Sir,-It is a sad fact that some of our cleverest men are Atheists; but

this need not surprise us, for is it not true, that man in his too eager

pursuit after earthly lore, often loses sight of the heavenly treasure?

having no time for the study of Revelation and Prophecy. What a pity

when even Science itself helps to throw light on the Sacred Page.-Dr.

Lardner in his" Museum of Art and Science," informs us that the Sun is

not a self-luminating body; but it receives its light from the great photo-

sphere which surrounds it at a distance of some millions of miles. This

theory seems to be in perfect harmony with the 1st chapter of Genesis,

where we learn that Light and the Sun are distinct. The former having

been created first, Gen. 1. 3 to 16v.-R. P.

OUR CIRCULATION.

Dear Mr. Editor,-Your suggestions in the Bible Standard for Novem-

ber, about ordering copies of our paper through the local Booksellers and

Railway Bookstalls, and introducing same to our friends, and trying to

obtain them as subscribers to it, are both excellent; and as one who has

followed them for some time past with a fair amount of success, I can

guarantee that if they are generally acted upon, the circulation of the

Bible St(l,ndaTlI would soon be trebled, I would add, however, to your

suggestions, this: "That those of us who know of any brother who real

cannot afford to take the Bible Standal'd in, give such a copy monthly

upon the understanding that he will use his best efforts to obtain su

scribers for the paper. And now, Mr. Editor, alluw me to put the que

tion,- Is it just possible that in one point we are wasting our power?

refer to giving away Bible Standards at Lectures, &c. If at the sam

time the audience are told that a copy of the paper may be had at t

door as they leave, they were also told that subscriptions for the pap

would be taken from those who would like to take it in, I think t

probability is that we should secure many subscribers in that way. W

our friends act upon the hint ?-I am, yours faithfully, An Old Subscribe

Kent, Nov. 9.

•

CHURCH AND MISSION NEWS.

LIVERPOOL,

The Granville Hall, off Great George-street, has been taken for stat

Sunday Evening Services. It was opened on Oct. 17, by the Rev. 'I'ho

Vasey, with a serrrion on "Jesus and the Resurrection."

TORQUAY,

The work here has been a truly providential one. Some time ago

few copies of Hastings' "Pauline Theology" were received by post by

few Methodist lay-ministers. Some of the recipients were set thinkin

thereby, which thought led to their acceptance of The Life. Matte

were thus ripening, when Mr. E. H. 'I'aylor, a Wesleyan lay-minister

who had received the truth in Cheltenham, removed to 'I'eignmoutu

near Torqnay, and was thrown into familiar relations with those who

minds had been similarly enlightened. Mutual knowledge of the tru

and each other leading to mutual confidence, a Branch or Auxiliary

the Association was formed. At this time, the Treasurer of the latte

R. J. Hammond, Esq., of London, advertised in the Bible Standard h

wish to spend his summer holiday at some sea-side town where he cou

preach and lecture on the Life and Advent. The result was an earne

request from Torquay, to which a willing response was given. A month

earnest and energetic testimony followed, for which purpose St. George

Hall was engaged, the meetings being exceedingly well attended,

pecially the public discussions. This step, however, led to the prohibition

their ministry in then' respective churches, As they could not hide the

light under the" bushel" of conformity, or keep to themselves the go

things they had received, they decided to take the St. George's Hall, f

Sunday morning and afternoon services (it not being available at nigh

Matters stood thus when the Secretary of the Association paid a lon

promised visit, and, at their earnest request, agreed to spend a few wec

in helping the good cause.

It was felt that no other course was open than to form It Church, a

thus provide a religious home for those receiving the truth, Accordingl

the" Life and Advent Free Church" was formed by 22 believers from t

Wesleyan Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian, Bible Christian, Primitiv

Methodist, and Roman Catholic Churches, six of these being acceptab

and useful lay-ministers and office-bearers of their previous Churche

Owing to the inability of the Church to procure a suitable room

Sunday Evening Services (without whichTittle permanent evangelist

good can be effected), it was resolved to appoint Trustees and a Buildin

Committee, and "arise and build." These are in treaty for a suitab

site (central, and in a main thoroughfare), whilst a Ladies' Committ

has been formed to prepare for a Sale of Work, in aid of the Buildi

Fund. As soon, also, as funds permit, it is intended to engage a suitab

Evangelist, for labour in the district of South Devon, lying betwe

Exeter and Plymouth (52 miles), which offers a fertile field to an earne

worker. Our advertisement will be found in another column. Help-s-

money or goods-is earnestly desired. Mrs. H. Matthews, 15, Belgrav

terrace, will thankfully receive the latter. The Church has been form

upon a liberal basis, which will command the sympathy of all catholi

minded Christians. The local secretary, M1'. E. H. 'I'aylor, of 'I'eig

mouth, Devon, will gladly send a copy of the rules to any address

receipt of three halfpenny stamps. Meantime, the friends are not idbut are vigorously ploughing and seed-sowing in the adjacent township

of Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Paignton, and Dartmouth, where discip

are being won, and where it is hoped to form branches of the mothe

church at Torquay.

LINCOLN.

The Young Men's Christian Association of Mint-lane Baptist Cha

are arranging for !I. series of Lectures, to bring before the public

great truths of the Life, Advent, and Kingdom. A tea and pub

meeting were held on Wednesday, Oct. 27, to rejoice over the extincti

of the chapel debt, and to celebrate the first anniversary of the R

G. P. Mackay's pastorate. During the evening a very elegant time-pie

was presented to Mr. Wm. Bausor, deacon and church treasurer, in tok

of the high esteem in which he is held by members and friends.




BUSINESS NOTES. RAINBOW,(All communications to be addressed to the Secretary,

Cyrus E. Brooks, Cheltenham.)

SALE: -Six bound volumes, and five years' unbound numbers of the

ow, 1869 to 1879 inclusive. Offered for £2. Address G. E.

CATALOGUEof the Publications of the Association forwarded, gratis

post-free, to any country in the Postal Union.

SPECIMEN TRACT PARCELof all Tracts published by the Association,

ed, post-free, on receipt of two penny stamps; and of all TractsTract-Books, on receipt of six: penny stamps; to any country in

Postal Union.

O~l.\.TIONS,in aid of the work of the Association, lire earnestly and

fully solicited.

CALISING THE "BIBLE STANDARD."-Churches willing to take

dly) not less than 500 copies, can have their separate local mattered in the two short columns of the front page thereof. For terms

to the Secretary.

.:2? DUE SU BSC RIPTIONS.-Thos e Members, Ass ociates, and

scribers who 1'eceive the present number in a COLORED

lpper,wil l kindly regard it as an intimation that their Annual

criptions are now due; they will greatly oblige bf foruiardinq,arly as convenient, to the SECRETARY.

MOUNTSRECEIVED from August 12th to November 13th, 1880:-

criptions : Mrs. B., £1 Ls.; Mr. & Mrs. C. A, £1; A. A. W., 3s. 6d.;3s. Od.; Miss P., 2s. 6d; A. M. K., 3s. 6d.; A. J. C. B., 3s. 6d.;

., 3s. od.; J. G., 3s. 6d.; Miss M., 5s.; J. W. D., 10s.; J. M., 3s. (id.;., 4s. 7d.; W. R G., £2 2s.; Miss M., £1 l s.: D. T., 3s. 6d.; G. N.,; R G., 3s. 6d.; Mrs. R, £11s.; H. A., 108.; Miss S., 5s.; R IL, 58.;

, 5s.; Mr. & Mrs. G. W., 10s.; Mrs. L., 10s.; A. W., 2s. 6d.; W. W.,Mr. & Mrs. C. H., 5s.; M. W., 5s.; Miss W., 5s.; Mrs. A. W. M., 5s.;N., 5s.; G. E. 0., 5s.; J. W., 5s.; W. L., 5s.; O. B., 2". Gd.; G. J.

, 5s.; J. S, 5s.; T. A., 5s.; Miss E. S., 5s.; A. B. M., 5s.; C. J. B.,

J. D., 5s.; S. N., 5s.; W. J. J., 5s.; R W. B., 58.; L. B., 5s., E. A.,W. R, 5s.; T. D. S., 5s.; G. H., 5s.; G. S., 5s.; Mrs. A. T., 5s.;

5s.; J. C., 5.; T. C., 2s. 6d.; W. J. W., 2s. e a . , W. D. R, 5s.;S.G., 2s. 6d.; Mrs. E. M. H., 2s. 6d.; L. B. (Life Member), £5.

onations: C. A., £1; Miss L., £1; Mrs. E. M. H., 5s.; J. L., £5;., 2s. 6d.; J. W., 5s; W. R G., £5 5s.; C., 28.; W. J., 10s.; H. G.,

Mrs. IL, 4s.; Mrs. H., 10s. 6d.; A Friend, 5s.; Miss C., 5s.; J. W. L.,An Enquirer, 4s.; Mrs. B., £1; G. W., lOs.; J. M., 2s. 6d.; W. J. J.,

E. A., £5; J. J. H., 10s.; A Poor Reader, 2s.; Mrs. A. T., 14s.;., £1 Is.; J. L., 10~.; H. J. W., £1 3s.

llections: Maberley Congregational Church, £11 2s. 6d.; Skip tonion, £1; Glasgow Meeting, 12s.; Bradford Meeting, £1.

TOTAL-£57 7s. Id.

BLE STANDARD, VOL. Ill, now ready, neatly bound inh, Is. 6d. Post-free from the Secretary for eighteen penny stamps.

ONLY IN CHRIs'r

THE FULL REPORT OF THE RECENT

VERPOOL CONFERENOE,ow ready. 04 Columns, price Twopence. Order through any

Bookseller or Newsagent.

LO~DON AGENT:

SOUTHWELL, 19, Paternoster Row, and

27, Ivy Lane, E.C.

Post-free for Three Penny Stamps, from

Y R USE. B R 0 0 K S, Cheltenham.

whom it can be obtained, for gratuitous distribution, at 2s.

dozen, post-free, either in one parcel, or posted to several addresses.

THEA Sixpenny Monthly Magazine, devoted to the Exposition of RevealedTruth. Edited by Rev. W. LE ASK, D.D.

Published by E. STOCK, 62, Paternoster How, London, E.C.All believers in THE LHE and ADVENT should subscribe thereto.

Post-free, to any country in the Postal Union, for Six Shillings perannum, from CYRUS E. BROOKS, Cheltenham.

BIBLE STANDARD CARRIAGE.Donations will be gladly received by the SECRE'l'ARY,for the purpose

of providing qualified agents with small Hand-carriages, for the streetsale of our Association Literature. The first to be supplied to a.

London Colporteur-Evangelist, who is willing to devote his whole timeto this work, his only salary being the profits on sales, with a com-mission added.

LIFE AND APVENT TRACTS.GOSPEL LEAFLETS, at 9d. per 100.

LIFE TRACTS, at Is. and Is. Gd. per 100.

" RAINBOW" TRACTS, 16 to 30 pages, Is. per doz.

The above, single or assorted, post-free from

CYRUS E. BROOKS, Cheltenham,at published price. A reduction on quantities.

For p articulars see Catalogue, gratis and post-free.

"HAS MA N AN IMMORTAL SOUL?"AND

"ETERN AL TORTURE,"Two LECTURES by J. C. AKESTER. Twopence each.

The Two, post-free, for four penny stamps, from

CYRUS E. BROOKS, Cheltenham.

ADDRESSES on "The Coming of the Lord, and

the Gift of Eternal Life."HERBERT H. HORSMAN will be pleased to give his services

anywhere in or near London, for the dissemination of these

glorious truths, Address-IO, LORRIMORE.ROAD, S.E.

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

WE, the Lay Preachers of the DEVON AUXILIARY of the Conditional

Immortality Association, having been prohibited from preaching in our

vari~us Churches, because we no longer hold the Unscriptural Doctrines

of the Natural Immortality of the Soul, and the HORRIBLEDOGMAof the

Eternal Torment of the Lost, and believing it to be our duty to expose

these dreadful errors that are so DISHONOURINGTO GOD,so painful and

perplexing to the minds of thoughtful Christians, and also a stumbling,

block in the way of a multitude of intelligent persons receiving

Christianity, as well as the cause of endless superstition; and also

believing it our solemn duty, as well as our happy privilege, to preach

the GLORIOUSDOCTRINE OF LIFE OllLY IN CHRIST, with many other

important Bible truths that have long been obscured and corrupted by

heathen superstitions, and claiming our Christian Liberty, we have

(D. V.) determined, for this purpose, to hold REGULAR SUNDAYSERVICES

in St. George's Hall, Union-street, Torquay, and occasional Services in

the adjacent towns of South Devon.

For this purpose we shall do our utmost, personally, but as the expense

is at present beyond our means to meet, we respectfully solicit DOllATION8

(however small) from the friends of the Truth in other places, hoping'

ourselves, to ill like manner assist them in the future.

Treasurer-v-Mr. H. LEOl'ARD, St. Mary Church, Torquay.

"I shall be happy to personally receiue donation~ on behalf of the

above."-CYRUS E. BROOKS, Association Secreiomj,



56 TH E BIBLE STANDARD.

THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT.By B. WILSON,of New York. Containing the Original

Greek Text of the New Testament, (according to the Recension of

Dr. J. J. Griesbach,) with an interlineary Word-for- Word English

Translation and a New Emphatic Version, based on the renderings

of eminent critics, and on the various readings of the Vatican

Manuscript. Published at Four Dollars. Sent Post-free for 16s.

A most valuable work.

BY H. CONSTABLE, M.A.,(Late Prebendary of Cork, Ireland).

DURATION AND NATURE OF FUTURE PUNISH·MENT. 5th Edition, 340 pp., Price 3s. 6d.

HADES: or, The Intermediate State of Man. Orowu8vo. Price 3s. 6d.

RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS-Price Sd.

BY MILES GRANT.NATURE OF MAN: Is he Mortal or Immortal? Notes

and Queries. Thoughts on the Soul, &c. Price Is.

SPIRITUALISM UNVEILED, and shown to be the Workof Demons : Second Edition. Price 6d.

SPIRIT IN M~N: What is it? Price 4d.

THE SOUL: a Bible View of its Meaning. Price 4d.RICH MANAND LAZARUS; THIEF ON THE CROSS;

with other interesting matter. Price 3d.

THE

BY J.DOCTRINE

H. WHITMORE.OF IMMORTALITY-Price 3s. 6d.

BY GEORGE A. BROWN.FORGOTTEN THEMES: or, Facts for Faith. Price Is.

BY W. A. HOBBS..THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. Price 3d.

FUTURE PUNISHMENT. By same Author. Price Ls .,

Is. 6d., 2s.

BY GENERAL H. GOODWYN.

ANTITYPICAL PARALLELS; or, the Kingdom of Israeland Heaven. Royal 8vo, price 8s., with Notes, Illustrations, and

specially-prepared Maps of the original occupation of the Land of

Canaan and the Millennial Kingdom.

THE LAST ADAM. Crown 8vo., 250 pages, price 2s.

TRUTH AND TRADITION: SecondEdition enlarged.ls.6d.

THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR. Price Is.

THE "GERSHOM" TRACTS. Packets of 3, Threepence.

THE WHOLE ARMOUR 0Ji' GOD. Price Is. ed,

THE COMFORTER IS COME. Price Is. 6d.

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION, with DiagramPrice 6s.

.THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS. Price s a ,

THE HIGH PRIESTHOOD OF THE SON OF GOD.Price 4d.

HOLOKLERIA; 01', an Enquiry into the Nature of Man-Body, Soul, and Spirit. Price Bd.

SALVATION PREFIGURED IN THE BAPTISM OFTHE SON OF GOD. Price 2d.

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. Price e a .

LIFE AND ADVENT HYMNA COLLECTION OF

55 ORIGINAL HYMNS, by

Dr. W. LEASK, G. P. MACKAY, R. PHILLIPS,

CYRUS E. BROOKS, and others.

ONE PENNY.

PUBLISHEDBYTHE

CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY ASSOCIATIONLONDON:

F. SOUTH WELL, 19, Paternoster Row, E.C.

Direct from CYRUS E. BROOKS, Cheltenham, at 8~d. per doz

Carriaqe unpaid, Single copy, poet-free, lid.

A NEW HYMN BOOK,Containing some of the choicest known hymns, with a few original

added; compiled for the use of Believers in Life in Christ only, and

coming Kiogdom of God, &c.

Post-free for 2'4 Stamps, from R. PHILLIPS, 16, Albe

Villas, Cotham, Bristol.

"THE MESSENGER."A Twopenny Monthly Magazine, advocating the Coming Kingdom

God, the Return of the Lord Jesus, and the Hope of Eternal Li

2/6 per Annum, post-free, from CYRUS E.,BROOKS, Cheltenham

CHAPEL PLANS.One who wishes to be of service to those holding the precious trut

"Life only in Christ," will gladly give his services in preparing P

and Specifications. together with quantities, to Churches wishin

"arise and build," but who object to costly and elaborate structu

Only a nominal charge will be made, to cover ACTUALXPENSIlincu

Address -H. M., care of the Secretary:

WANTED .

TO MERCHANTS.-A Member of the Association,

thorough business habits, desires an Engagement asfidential Clerk, Cashier, 01' Manager. Fifteen Years'perience as Bookkeeper, Correspondent, Cashier, &c. GTestimonials and References.-Address, H. S., care ofEditor.

MINT-LANE BAPTIST CHURCH, LINCOL

The Young Men's Christian Association of the above, have pleasu

announcing the following series of

Public Meetings for the Winter Session, 1880-81.

Nov. 24.-LECTURE by the Rev, G. P. MACKAY. Subject:Tour in Scotland by Lantern Light."

Dec. 14.-LECTURE by the Rev. THOMASVASEY,of Birken

Subject: "Is Immortality the Natural Birthright of Humanity? o

all men of necessitv live for ever?"

Jan. 26.-LECTURE by the Rev. H. B. MURRAY,of Chelten

Subject: "The Coming King."March 9.-PUBLIC MEETING in connection with the S

Session of the "Executive Committee" of the "Conditionalmortalitv Association."

March 30,--LEC'£URE by Mr. CYRUS E. BROOKS, Editor o

Bible Standard. Subject:" Shams-Religious and Otherwise."

SECRETARy-T. J. WITHERS, St. Swithin's-square, Lincoln.

Printed by CHARLES AKRILL. Silver Street. Lincoln: and publ

monthly by "THE CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY

SOCIATION." London Agent: F. SOUTHWELL,

Paternoster Row, and 27, Ivy Lane, City.

bible standard december 1880

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