TIIE I ssue d month l y by "Th e Bi ble Standard Publication Society," Lincoln. EDI TED BY Ge o . A. BROWN, Past o r o f Mint Lane Baptist Church, L i ncoln. THE BI B L E S T . D IDARDs d evot e d t o th e ex po s iti o n of B i bl ica l Truth , e spec i a l ly th e do c trin e o f Con d i tion a l Immo r talit y , th e lit e ral R e s urr ec ti o n of the D e ad , th e Fina l D es trncti o n o f th e Wi c ked , th e ~ i g n s of the i m e s, th e Seco n d C o min g of C hri s t , a nd Hi s Pe r so n a l R e i g n on ear th . N o . 10. Pr i ce Id. " Th e Wage s o f Sin is D eat h ; b ut t h e g i ft o f Go e l i s E te rnal Lif e th r ough J es u s C h rist ou r L ord ." JU L Y, 1 87 8 . O U R OPPONENTS . MR . J . PLU M TR EE , of thi s city, h as ju s t pu b li s h e d a p a mphl e t of 42 pa g es , en t itled, "Mod e rn Thou g ht Examined u pon Thr e e I mpor t ant Q ue sti on s, vi z : Is th e So u l Immort a l ? Is a St a te of H a ppin es s o r Mi se ry e nt e red upon imm e di ate l y a f te r D ea th ? Ar e R e wa rd s an d Puni s hm e nt s Ev e rl as tin g? " We r eg r e t th a t M r . Plum tr ee s h o uld h ave und erta k e n t o criticise wha t he ca ll s er r or, wit h out firs t havi n g b e co m e conv e rsant w i th the po s it i o n whic h h e seem s t o think h as b e en e x p l oded by his m as t e rly ar g um e nts (?) We think, how e ver, th a t e ha s no t t ou ch e d th e qu es ti o n, for h e fir s t as s um e s hi s po s tu l ate a nd th e n re as on s f r om it. W e w i s h t ha our opponents wou l d take th e t roub l e to underst a nd our po s ition, b e fore they either sp e ak or writ e aga in s t us, it wou l d then, at a l l event s , sav e t h e m a g r ea t d e al o f e r r or, and us a nnoyanc e . L o g ic a l ar g um e nt s , brou gh t to b e a r upon our t ru e position, wo ul d have som e w e i g ht wi t h u s , but, a s it is, me n b l under away and knock down wha t they t hemselves se t up, and then th e y l e a ve the fi e ld , f ee l ing th a t th e y hav e g iven u s our d ea t h blow, wh e r e a s t h - y h ave onl y made th e m se l ves a n d th e ir th eo ry mor e r i di c ul ou s th a n b e f o r e . Mr . Plum t r e e write s as if we admitt e d tha t , m a n was a t win b ein g , tha t he posses s ed a s p iri t ua l b ein g i n s ide th e phy s ical , a nd th a t a t d e ath w e b e l i e v e d th a t bo t h died and w en t i nt o t he gr a v e . W e b el i eve no s u c h t hin g , but, on th e co n trar y, we acc e pt th e rec o rd g iv e n by M os es , th a t" G od forme d man out o f th e d u s t o f t h e g roun d . " Th e re c a n be no m i stak e in thi s l a ngu a ge. Whatever the m a n i s, he was f o rm e d ou t of the du s t of the g round, wi t h a l l hi s function s p e r fe c t; he wa s m an b ef o r e " G o d b reat h e d in to hi s n os tril s th br ea th o f lif e , " but l ife l ess ; th e act o f br ea thin g th e breat h of l ife, or S pirit of life , on t h e p a rt o f God, i nto man 's nostr il s, caused him to l ive, or to beco me a living c r e ature or soul. Mark w e l l th e g ramm at i c a l se n se of this p ass ag e: that which God formed out of the du s t b e c ame th e " livin g so ul ," a n d n ot what He breathed i n to h i m. T h e r e a s o n ing o f Mr . Pl u m tr e e a n d his sc ho o l o f th e o- ' l og i ca l t ho u g ht, m a k es it tha t G od fir s t f o rm ed a hou s e out of t he du s t, af te r whic h G od br ea th e d into thi s hou s e an i mm o r ta l s ou l , which is the r ea l m a n, who takes his d epa r t ur e a t de ath t o s om e s p irit world, "b ey ond th e bounds o f ti m e an d s p ace. " N ow, w e ch a ll e n ge th e s o - ca l l e d orth o d ox wo r ld to prove t his . I t is true tha t Mr . Plumtr ee sa ys of th e s ou l, th a t it i s "Tha t spiritu a l , immateri a l, thinkin g , vit a l, r e spon s ible , acc o un t ab l e , ac tiv e prin cip l e or s ub s i s t e nc e in m a n which p e r ce i ves , r e m e m ber s , r e a so n s , i m a g in e s , com a res , l iv es , hop es, f e ar s , d es ir es , r es olv es , jud ges , ad o res , a n d w hi ch , fr o m its capabi li ti es of th o ught, volition, and con s cious p e r s ona lit y, is brou g ht into som e re se mbl a nc e to its Divine Cr e a tor, a n d i s , th e refor e , . immort a l . " He th e n quote s A. B rn es , w ho says , " Th e wo rd s oul, wi th u s , m ea n s the think i ng, th e i m morta l p a rt of m a n, a n d i s a ppli e d to it, wh e ther e x i s ti n g i n conn ec tion with th e body, or wh e ther s ep a r a te from it . " We s houl d at on ce b e c o nvin ce d , if Moses , or C h r i s t, or P a ul, had s a i c 1 a l l thi s of th e ass um ed im morta l s o u l, but as it i s, it is M r. P l umtr e e wh o say s it, and w ea r e n o t pr e p a red ju s t yet , to a ccep t the statement of a m a n who profes ses to gath e r hi s i n form a tion from th e Bib l e, wh i ch s a ys n o thing at a ll o f t h e k ind. W he n w e turn t o th e Boo k , w e fin c 1t hat th e H e b r ew wo rd " n ep h e sh " of the 0l c 1T es t a m en t , from whi c h o ur E n g li s h wo r d so ul i s tran s l a te d , o c cur s a bout 700 tim es , and is ren d e r ed s o u l 4 71 tim es; li fe a nd li v in g ab out 15 0 t im es ; a nd th e s ame wor d i s . al s o r e n d e r ed a m a n , a p e r s on, se lf, th e y, m e, h i m , a n y ne, b r e ath, h ear t, m i n d, ap p e tit e , th e bod y (de ad o ra l i ve ), lu s t, crea tu re , an d eve n a b e as t; for i t i s 2 8 tim es a pp l i e d to b eas t s an c 1 to e v e r y cr ee ping thing. T he Gre e k w ord "p s u c h e e " of th e New T e s ta m e nt cor- r es p on c 1 e n c 1 s wi t h "n e ph e s h " o f t h e 0l c 1. It oc curs 105 bim es, an c 1 i s r e ndered soul 59 t i m e s, a nd lif e 40 times.
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TESTA~1EN:r SCRIPTURES, NAMED "A REVELATION," WAS FOR
THE SERVA~TS OF JESUS ALONE.-
"A Revelation," not "The Revelation" of Jesus Christ.
To show to His servants coming things. The people of the
world are not the servants of the Lord Jesus, the Christ.
Too true it is, that this revelation has been abused in its
use; but its use, for His servants, still remains. From His
walk, amidst the seven churches of Asia to the rest in the
New Jerusalem, He remains the same. His servants hear,
see, and understand the message conveyed to them, and
walk in its light; to none else is it ofuse.
Having pointed out these four distinct lines, let us now
take the term, the body, and see how it is defined by
lexicographers, [or, as isJ;commonly said, explained in the
Dictionary.
V .
THE BODY REPRESENTS ONE, OR MORE THAN ONE.
In Ogilvie's Dictionary, Body is said to be the trunk of an
animal; the frame or material substance of an animal; the
main stem of a tree; matter; any portion of matter; a
person; main part; collective man; main army; corpora-
tion; the trunk; a system; strength; substance; reality;
any solid figure.
In Booth's Analytical Dictionary, it is observed that
"body" was used instead of "person;" many examples to
be found in Shakespeare', and in the Scottish dialect.
In Parkhurst's Greek Dictionary, Soma is defined to be:
I.~An animal body. H.-Somata: Bodies of men taken inwar and reduced to slavery. !II.-Soma denotes the Church.
I.-In respect of Christ.-Eph. i. 23., iv. 10. Col. i. 18.,
ii. 19. 2.-In respect of bolievers.-Rom. xii. 5. 1 COT.
xii. 12-13. Compare Eph. ii. 14-16. Iv.-An organ-
ized body, as of vegetable.-1 COT. xv. 37. v.-A body, a
material substance.c=I Cm'. xv. 41). VI.-A body, substance
or reality, as opposed to shadows or types.-Col. ii. 17.
Somatikos : bodily; i.e., in the body of Christ as opposed
to the Jewish temple or tabernacle; truly and really in
opposition to types and figures, not only ej)'ectually, as God
dwells in good men, but substantially or personally, by the
strictest union, as the soul dwells in the body, so that "Godand man is one Christ."-Col. ii. 9. " = . ' : ' ii. 21., xiv. 9-11.The term "the body" then, is not always applied t~ one
person, or thing alone. It not only may be, but is, applied
to a number of persons. What is true of a number of
persons forming a body, is true of anyone of the persons
helping to form a body. The many represents the one, as
the one also represents the many.
The word "body," it will be seen, always refers to some-
thing which is 'substantial, real, able to be known by the
senses. It does not apply to shadows or imaginary things.
One body m1.y vary from another as to power, kin
composition, but all have for their basis that whic
substance.
V I .
IN "THE GOSPELS," "THE BODY OF JESUS" IS MENTIO
THE BODY OF CHRIST NOT ONCE.
It is always applied to the person of Jesus, or to
which constituted His personality, namely, the v
substance which formed His person.-Matt. xxvii. 58
Compare Mark xv. 43-45, and Luke xxiii, 55., xxiv. 3
Also John xix. 31, 38, 40., xx. 12.
The statement of Matt. is,_" [Of Joseph] He wen
Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then P
commanded the body to be delivered, And when Jo
had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen c
and laid it in his own new tomb."
After reading this in connection with the other pass
given above, we find that in the accounts of the resurrec
it is Jesus who is identical with His body, The angel
Luke xxiv. 6.-"He is not here, but is risen." Mary sa
the supposed gardener, John xx. 13.-" They have t
away my Lord."
V I I .
OTHER USES IN "THE GOSPELS" OF THE TEIlM "BO
ARE VARIOUS, BUT THE TERM IS USED WHEN SPEAKIN
REAL THINGS.
It is "thy whole body," see Matt. v. 29., vi. 22
Luke xi. 34-36.
"The body," see Matt. vi. 22, Luke xi. 34, .JIatt. v
Luke xii. 20, Matt. x. 28, Ltdce xiv. 12.
"Your body."-Matt. vi. 25. Luke xii. 22.
"My body."-Matt. xxvi. 12. Mark xiv. 8.
" Soul and body."-Matt. x. 28.
"Her body."-llJar1c v. 29.
"Many bodies of the saints which slept fil'ose."-Ma
xxvii. 52.
"Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagle
gathered together."-Lu7ce xvii, 57. This passage
. prophetic one. The real thing, the body, is used as ty
of some real thing or government, hereafter to exist.
Other repre sentative uses are to be found in the ex
sion: Matt. xxvi. 26. Marle xiv. 22. Luke xxii. 19 -" Teat: this is My body." If the body of Jesus was real,
that which was to be imparted in the breaking of the b
must be real also. The bread was real,-its breaking,
-it represented a real object, the body of Jesus w
GODgives to everyone a measure of ability and opportunity,
and there are times in human history when th:ese opportuni-
ties are great. Moses had a great opportunity, when the
leadership of Israel was offered to him; had he persisted in
declining and objecting, how different his life would have
been. The young man who came to Christ had an oppor-tunity, when he was bidden to sell all he had and follow the
Master; but he went away sorrowful, and he dropt out of
sight like a stone in mid-ocean, and is heard of no more.
What might he not have been, or done, had he embraced the
opportunity. What an opportunily was placed before the
Jewish nation, when the kingdom of God came nigh to them,
and Christ their King appeared.
But they knew not the time of their visitation; they
rejected their grandest opportunity; they dispised their
Messiah and desired a robber and a murderer in His stead.
There are people to-day before whom glorious opportunities
are set. God has granted to them a knowledge of great andimportant truths, and if they will but prove faithful to their
trust they may become a power in the world for good.
Often, instead of fulfilling their high and holy mission, they are
seduced from the path of duty, and turn aside to strive about
words to no profit, seeking to build themselves up in world-
liness and pride; following demagogues as leaders, who
misguide them to their ruin; and at last, instead of standing
forth as the exponents of grand and eternal truth, they sink
down into the narrow ruts of sectarianism, and seem to hear
the voices of other once strong and courageous as they have
been, saying: "Art thou also become weak as we ? Art
thou become like unto us ? "Let those to whom God has given grand opportunities,
and to whom He has committed important trusts strive that
to the utmost extent of their ability and their opportunity
they prove themselves faithful to their Maker. Let no con-
siderations of ambition, g~in, or worldly policy, cause them
to swerve from their steadfast devotion to God. Let them,
as they have received mercy, be faithful to the grace that is
given, and as they prize the joys and glories of immortality,
let them labour that in peace, without spot and blameless in
the day of His appearing.-H. L. Hastings.r- _
THE INFIDEL AND THE' MISSIONARY.
IT was on the steamer from New York to Amboy, in the
crowded cabin. The infidel was dressed like a New
England minister. His appearance and conversation would
give the impression, to those at a distance, that he was
doing a good work, and speaking good things to his fellow-
passengers. The Missionary saw those labours, and
reproached himself that he had not so much zeal. The
infidel spoke to companies of about a dozen at once, passing
around the cabin.
But when he drew near enough to the missionary t
heard by him, behold, he was speaking against Christian
as if it restrained men from some useful and proper in
gences. Men wanted larger liberties and fewer rules
living. The Bible stood in the way of man's greater en
ments and higher development. The infidel looked
approval towards the missionary. He shook his headdissent.
At once the infidel marched up to him, and the cr
closed around to witness the polemic war. There had b
no spice of adverse criticism so far. Now there was to
duel.
The infided opened his battery at once in the questio
"Do you call David a man after God's own heart? W
he not an adulterer? Did he not connive at the slaying
Uriah? "
The missionary calmly answered: "David was a g
man, yet he fell into sin, and wrote a very penitent c
fession of his sin. Have you, my friend, ever been moto write a confession of YOUT sin? "
Confessing he had not, but trying to parry the blow
again demanded: "But do you mean to justify Dav
cruelty in putting enemies under saws and harrows ,;,? "
The missionary answered: "David was a king, a warr
and a conqueror. As such, he punished rebels
criminals. But when his personal enemies were in af
tion, David put on sackcloth, and fasted, and prayed
them. Have yot~, my friend, ever done so towards J
foes? "
He owned he never had.
Then the missionary, summing up, had but to say: "Thuyou see, David was actuated by a spirit you have never f
He repented bitterly, and wrote a confession for all men
read. While, for reasons of state or war, he punish
enemies, yet when his private foes were in affiiction, he
on mourning for them, and fasted, and prayed. Da
then had a spirit to which you are a stranger. He
feelings into which you have never risen; he had a life
have not experienced. Before you say more agai
David, you had better pray for that spirit that enabled h
to be so penitent, so sympathizing, so forgiving."
The. infidel dropped his head in shame. He was not s
talking to another group on that steamboat. Repentin
sorrowing David was not the man for him. So this Goli
fell by the smooth stone from the brook of Living Truth.
,;,Putting men" undal' saws" and" harrows" is prope
rendered by critics, putting them among them, or to the-that is reducing captives to bondage, as was the customthose times, and requiring them to work with satl"S, harro
axes, and in brick-kilne. Drs. Adam Clarke, Banjam
Boothroyd, John Gill and others endors~ this .translation1 Sam, xii. 21, and existing manuscripts give the sa