New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-06
THE IMMORTALITY OF MAN.

Georgs Il. Thdyer at Al SosS UadrtaH Church
The Rev. George A. Thayer of the South
Unitarian Church preached yesterday morning
in Dr. Bellows's pulpit at All Souls Church His text
was Corinthians, XIV, 40: aud as We have borne
the image Of the earthly shall also bear the image of
the heavenly" Among other things he said:
The arguments Of Paul in behalf of the doctrines OF
mans immortality, whenever he cares TO argue the mat
ter are such would be most convincing to the
modern Judgment. The doctrine seemed 60 him too
nearly a selevident truth to require much logical
demonstration md he commonly content to show with
vigorous how hopeless and debased the average
life would be If all its blessings and all its possibilities
were incosed between the boundaries of the cradle and
the grave. Doubtless, TO the honest soul of the
Apostle, duty would have seemed no less imperative,
and career OF and seshness no less despica6e
though this earth were the sole Stage or me display OF
moment OF impulse, putting hlmsell upon never Wlth
the lower thought OF those OF his sKepcal eotempord
res. whom simple righteousness presented no attrac
tons unless 1t promised an inviting reward ne could say
with Impotence and almost win passion Let US eat
and drluk for tomorrow die" Such an exclamation
cannot meet highest commentator, Tor
1t is no business OF ours to affirm that God must
Give rs Immortality else IL is OF no Use 10
De virtuous. IL well to be good aud true. whatever
NAV be store for but 1t is not unnatural for one in
whom the faith In eternal Of progress was
unwaycring to be the support OF the most tryng tor
and the ENCOURAGEMENT OF tue highest e1eeGhces
to feel that common men with such faith would be
likely 10 DE content with the ways OF annual pleasure
aud With low ideas Of duty IL Is not Paus argument
Is IN the New Testament potent argument In the form
words. Jesus himself scarcely ever Taught II, ana
never IN any way whose force would be appreciated to-
day. He granted truth held by the best
souls OF his times, and 10 which his own spirit pore IN
doubling witness aud when would mud basis Tor The
belief that there Is divine spirit In man when survives
all bodily disease aud even the destruction Oh te men
tai universe II u not in proof text that we are 70 seek IL,
but the hives OF the masters III the th OF Jesus and
Paul more convincing than verballogic that fath which
made them cling 10 the Father In pain aId lgnOmlny, 10
loyal to eternal right though all the Kingdoms OF the
world tempted them to stoop to something lower
and 10 discover In the human soul, how
ever debased and sOiled and dm," divine
and imperisLa5le quality which made ~ above
all things else the partner Of Gods and power. We
,mg ht dispute the authorities of a text, we cannot
refute the authorities OF ife and there the ar.u
ment that both Jesus and Paul have presented TO
Lives both endured amid hatred, rcbus ignominy auI
torture, yet firm IN fidelity God,
both Drumming with love for men, ana both nobler aud
more wonderful the eve of death than in all the
years beside II TO prove that the real life In them
was but posing its wings for another and GLORIOUS
flight.
IL is noteworthy fact that not only In Christianity.
but among ali profound faiths OF in all ages tho
logic that proves tho Immortality VI the soul Often aD