The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-31

| fee, obligatory upon himself and upon his
disciples; "He that loveth his life loseth it;
and he that hateth his life in this world shall
keep it unto life eternal" Some obscurity
results from the translation of two words by
one-lfe. In the first two instances the
word is psuche. Its primary meaning is "the
animal life." 1t is sometimes rendered
''soul," perhaps in some cases covering what
we mean by that word. In the Revised Yer
sion ''soul" is Pile ed in the margin as a sug-
gestive rendering of this passage. 1t also
means, at times, the senses, desires, affec-
tons, passions the lower nature distin-
guished from the higher rational nature.
Here it seems to be a symbol of ones self.
The third "life" is SO rendered from Zoe, COW
ering not mere existence, but blissful exist
ence. Read therefore: "He that loveth him
self shall lose himself; and he that doth not
love himself in this world shall keep himself
unto life eternal"
In what life eternal consists is manifest from
John xviii 3: "This is life eternal, that they
should know Thee the only true God, and
him whom Thou didst send, euen JESUS
CHRIST" 1t is the viyacity, and gladness,
and bliss of the soul, resulting from divine
faith and knowledge; the happiness of heav-
en- enjoyable on earth. The Saviour declares
that self-sacrifice, not self-indulgence, is the
source of perfect happiness; and as he was
about to illustrate that principle, he called
upon his disciples to initiate him: "If any
man serve me let him follow (imitate) me;
and where 1 am there shall also my servant
be-" This blessing, that of fellowship with
JESUS. he explains: ''If any man serve me
him will my Father honor He will share in
the heavenly peace which reigns in the heart
of JESUS, and in his enjoyment of the honor
of divine sonship."
(22, 2S) There is much debate respecting
the punctuation of verse 81. Some would
make the expression 'Father, save me-
question rather than a prayer, thus: "What
shall l say? Father, save me from this
hour?" Shall 1 say this? Nay: "For this
cause came l unto this hour We do not
see in the common punctuation the difficulty
which troubles some. Is it not in perfect
harmony with the prayer in the Garden?
Gather, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me: nevertheless, not as l will, but as
Thou wilt" The common reading is rea
sonable: Now is my soul Now am I troubled;
and what shall say? Father, save me from
this hour [of suffering]! But for this cause
came 1 unto this hour" This is the thought
which Gained his soul, and brought resigna-
ton. In this spirit continues he" Father,
glorify thy name [thyselflw
(28-30) A Voice from Heaven came, vari-
ously interpreted, as are all heavenly voices,
according to spiritual perceptions. To some
it was but as thunder; to others it was the
speech of an angel; to JESUS it was the Voice
of COP: 81 have both gloriied it and will
glorify it again" His own glory had been
manifest in JESUS and was again to be man
ifested. The Voice was the reinsurance of
the Divine help through which JESUS would
be enabled to perfect his work; and thus it
was it came not for his sake, but for that of
mankind