The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-11
Belioio1>s.
HOW THE DEAD ARE RAISED.
BY REV. J. s. PALMER,
(Mansfield, Pa

Elbow the dead are raised up and with
what body do they Gomez" L. Cor. XIV.
35 SO.
He is speaking of the naturally dead,
and of the body. This fact should not
be forgotten. He is not treating of the
mind but of the body, and desires to
know how all who die natural death
are raised from this state of death, and
what is the body they will have in the
resurrection This is very important
inquiry and one in which we all feel a
deep interest. He not only asks the
question but proceeds to answer it.
His illustration of the resurrection is
very forcible one and is taken from
nature. He says what every agricul-
turist yearly experiences the
seeds which are sowed are not quicken
ed except they die that they will not
terminate and become living plants
unless they disorganize and mingle
their elements with the soil in which
the seeds are planted or sowed. The
bare grain has the embryo of the plants
which grow from the seeds put into
the ground, which must die when the
embryo plants develop life which feeds
the growing plants. This process of
life and death is in the wise care Of the
Father, whit Paul uses as truthful
illustration Of the resurrection of the
dead. He says, we SOW mot that body
that shall be, but bare grain.
But God gives it body as it has
pleased him, and to every seed his own
body" This is proof of the body we
shall have in the resurrection. AS the
plant which comes from the seed is not
the seed itself, so our resurrected body
will not be this mortal body, but body
that will come from this mortal body,
as the plant comes from the seed. This
mortal body at death will mingle with
the earth, as the seed does from which
the plant is born and grows. The plant
which comes from the seed is new
body, or plant, which is to signalize
and represent our body in the resurrec-
ton. This is demonstrated by the
argument of the apostle, 1. Cor. XIV, AZ
As. He says, $50 also is the resurrec-
ton of the dead. 1t is sown in corrup-
tion, it is raised in interruption. 1t
is sown in dishonor, it is raised in
glory. 1t is sown in weakness, it is
raised in power. 1t is sown a natural
body, it is raised spiritual body"
This language refers to present time,
and to the naturally dead, plainly indi-
eating how they are raised, and with
what body they are raised. 1t describes
the condition of the body when dead,
which exactly corresponds with the
seed put into the ground, both of
which are ready to disorganize and
mingle with their native dust.
Paul says, using his language as ap-
plicable to us, we are "sown in corrup-
tion." This is true Of all our mortal
bodies. He then adds, we are raised
in interruption, Tin glory, Tin
power" and "a spiritual body" which
is in "the image Of the heavenly"
This is proof that corruption does not
''inherit interruption, and that we are
not raised or constituted in our resur-
rection state from this mortal body
that this mortal body is not raised any
more than the dead seed is raised with
the living plant. If corruption inherit
ed interruption, we might conclude that
this earthly body would be raised; but
we are positively assured that corrup-
ton does not inherit interruption.
Our resurrected body is spiritual, in
power and glory, as the apostle affirms.
Our resurrection to incorruptibility
does not change our capacity of mind,
or add to our culture. The infant is
raised an infant, and so of every other
grade of mind. The capacity we have
at death will be the one we shall have
when we are raised a spiritual, incor-
ruptible body. This will not change
the great variety Of intellects the Father
has made, but will constitute the re-
cipients for an endless life of immortal
glory. The minds of all will assert the
con troll, as they will be in spiritual
bodies, redeemed from all corruption,
and carnal inclinations. However
small or uncultivated the mind, the in
clination will be to improve. This is
the nature of the mind when not
perverted by the lusts of the flesh; and
when these are removed by the disso-
luton of this mortal body, and the
mind is clothed with its spiritual, in
corruptible body, then is the resurrect-
ed spirit in most hopeful condition,
and prepared for an endless progress in
knowledge and glory. We shall then
know what heaven is, and what is
meant by it, as truths adapted to our
necessities will ever be sought and
fully appreciated, which will give us
feelings of joy. Mind and conscience
will naturally assert this full sway in
the spiritual life.
Our home in Immortality will be
delightful school for all the subjects of
the resurrection, which every one in
his, or her, order Of time will expert