The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-08-12
The Nature Of Man.
Is He Mortal or Immortal ?

Is He Mortal or Immortal?
The subject of mans nature is one
of great Importance, and the congre-
cation at the tent listened to it with
deep interest.
The speaker began by quoting the
inquiry of the Psalmist, "What is
man, that thou art mindful of him?"
This is proper inquiry for man.
kind to make. Are We mortal, or
deathless? Have we a principle
which live forever, independent of
character or the direct act of God?
AS with ether subjects, We will let
the Bible answer. in modern the
ology we hear much OF the immortal
soul of man, the never.dying spirit,
and the endless existence in the tu.
ture; but these expressions are not
scriptural. How many times do you
suppose the word "immortal' occurs
in the Biblep Once only, and then
it is applied to God. 1 Tim. ill.
The original word from which it is
rendered, occurs six times, and in
every instance applies to mans fu.
ture condition beyond the grave.
The word immortality" occurs but
five times, and IS never applied to
man naturally.
But some say that Immortality is
self.evident. Let us see. Immortal
ity is an attribute of God. The
scriptures say, "Who only hath i'm
mortality" He is the great source
Of immortality, and has doubtless
given it TO Christ and the angels; but
we find no record of his having given
it to man, but learn that it Is held
out as something to be sought by
him.
In Gen. i.27 we learn that man
is created in Gods image. From
this it is argued that man is immor-
tai. God is omniscient; but it does
not follow that man is. simply be-
cause he is made in Gods image.
In Gen. 2-vii we read that God
formed man out of dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nos
trils the breath of life, and he be.
came a living soul. Here it is claim
ed by some the immortal soul had its
origin. but the record gives no hint
of this. When first created man
was lifeless the mechanism was all
complete. but without motion. When
the vital principle, the breath of
life, was impaired, man was living
before, he was dead. This life prin.
ciple is shown in verses 10, 20, to be.
long to everything that moves, "that
has life," Heb. soul (margin). This
term Is applied to both man and
beast in the scriptures, and if IL
proves that man has an immortal
soul, it proves the same for the brute
creation also.
The words "soul' and spirit
sometimes refer to the affections
aim or object of life. vitality, ANNA
zion, ETC., haying very vide range
of meaning. These two words occur
In the bible seventeen hundred time!
and never in single instance art
they called immortal or deathless.
Eccl. xii-7 is quoted to prove TIT
separation of soul and body. Blu
does it? The spirit goes to God wht
gave it. Was it living entity whe,
God gave it? If so, the pre-existenc
of souls must be true. Why don't W
femember what occurred before til
soul came into the body.
Matt. x-2S. Fear not them whicl
kill the body, but are not able t
kill the soul,'' etc. 4hen, says one
We can kill the body bnt cannot xii
the soul, that lives on forever. Blu
does it? Is not this text proof o
the final extinction Of life in thos
who do not fear him who is able t
do it2
J Several other scriptures were nc
tioed, which We have not space t
examine. We therefore, End tina
the bible does not teach na.... @ y" IN
morality, but that it is subject o
promise, something to be sought TO
and to be obtained by patient contir
pence in yell dong. What objet
can be more worthy of supreme e
fort? May God help us to secure /