contains what seems to be required. I have gathered from all within my search what would subserve my purpose, and have employed it as best I could. During the period of my ministry, I have been questioned more in relation to the Resurrection of the dead, than any other subject within the whole range of theology; and nothing has been more difficult to answer, than some of the questions which have been put to me. At first I was greatly perplexed and embarrassed. I sought assistance from others, and received but little. But, believing that there was truth in the Bible, on the subject, I went to work in good earnest to find it, and in due time I obtained that which was satisfactory to my own mind. I presented it to others and it satisfied them. And as the church and society with which I am now connected, were somewhat disturbed by conflicting sentiments on the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the dead, when I commenced my labors with them, I collected a variety of materials, with the determination to digest and arrange them, and at some future day, publish them in the form of a book. But the cares and duties of a clergyman, settled over a society scattered over considerable territory, and other labors which may not now be mentioned, have prevented the accomplishment of the work according to the first design. I have not been able to digest and dispose of all the materials collected as I could wish; but as there is really a great demand for a work on the Resurrection of the dead, and as my views seem to meet the wants of those who have examined them, I have concluded to publish them without farther delay. I have selected from the Universalist Quarterly, and from Professor Bush's work on the Resurrection, the matter which composes chapters III., V. and VI. of this book. The articles in the Quarterly, from which this matter was taken, were originally written by Dr. Ballou and Rev. R. O. Williams. The truths of these articles are worthy of a wider circulation than they could possibly have as first published, and I know not as they could be better presented were they clothed in different language. In the following pages, the different theories of the Resurrection of the dead, which have been broached, are carefully considered; the passages of Scripture, which have been usually adduced as proof of a bodily and simultaneous resurrection, are examined and explained; and I have aimed to render every sentence perspicuous and level to the understanding of the attentive reader. I have not attempted to make any rhetorical displays; and, as far as possible, have avoided referring to the Greek language, and using foreign terms and phrases. I am fully confident that the leading sentiments advanced in this work are true; yet, doubtless, there are many errors in style and arrangement. But if it shall be instrumental in dispelling darkness, even from a few minds, and in giving them clear views of the Future Life, I shall feel that some good has been done, and be satisfied. 1* CONTENTS. Our feelings in relation to it — Death the king of terrors The pain of dying not the reason why it is thus called - The thought of annihilation terrible —A strong love of life makes men strive to banish the thoughts of death from their minds — Very difficult to impress them with its reality - Love of life a proof of immortality-But what saith the Bible - To that the appeal must be made - The language of dying believers To learn all the sentiments of the Bible not a light task. p. 13 The souls of men are emanations from God - They enter human bodies pure, and are never contaminated by sin - The body is the source of iniquity — When the body dies, the spirit returns to God and is absorbed in Him - If this theory be true, then is annihilation true also-Sin has no existence in fact - Christ no Saviour - Death all the Saviour men need - The Bible does not teach that the spirit of man is an emanation from God It was created as were the heavens and the earth — Neither does the Bible teach that it will be finally submerged in FLESH, BLOOD, &c., AS THE CAUSE Of sin. "Flesh and blood" sometimes denote men living in this world They are often used metaphorically and denote sinful affections - Their meaning frequently misunderstood — They occupy a large place in the writings of St. Paul - His mode of expressing his views of them probably grew out of some phi- losophical formula- He does not mean that sin is confined to the body alone -- He regards the spirit of man as the seat of sin also The representations of phrenological writers - The body or the flesh not necessarily sinful — It would have no con- nection with sin, did not the mind yield to its impulses and sug- gestions Every species of sin not necessarily connected with The tendency of many minds towards materialism - The theory of materialists unphilosophical - Consciousness pre- cludes the necessity of argument We are conscious that what we call the self or me, is no part of our material organization - The fact that the mind seems to grow and decline with the body does not prove the materiality of the former - The differ- The body constantly undergoing change- A man at seventy |