Nevada County picayune., 1890-02-26

am the living bread which came down from Heaven; if any man eat of this bread he shail live forever.-l John VI 6l.
 The question is often asked. are all men immortal-will all men live forever? Whatever may be the opinions of men, or the speculatlons of philosophers on this subject, the only sure plan by which to settle this question is by the testimony of the word of God The verdict of ma jority, or the drift of popular opin- ion, furnishes no safe guide in mat ters of such grave import. That the doctrine of the natural immortality of all men is highly esteemed among nearly all classes, and commands the suffrages of the greater portion of the enlightened part of the world, we are perfectly free to admit, but strange to say it has no counten- ance from the inspired oracles, or from human reason, when thought fully considered Our Savior him. self says, the things held in high es- teem among men are an abomination in the sight of God.
 The doctrine in question virtually nullifes the Gospel by claiming as the inalenable birthright of all men that unspeakable gift winch the Cos pei alone was designed to bestow, viz, eternal life to all true believers. Besides, it is absurd and irrational when viewed from the standpoint of human reason. That God should immortalize or eternalize sin and sui fering and death is contrary to all just and rational conceptions of the wisdom and goodness of the Supreme Being. Reason and revelation both teach us that nothing is immortal in the moral universe but virtue and goodness and happiness. The Son shall reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet, and the last enemy that shall be destroyed Is death. Even the wisdom of men consists largely in removing or de- stroying everything but the beautiful, the true and the good.
 The pride and vanity of man are strongly enlisted in support of natu- ral immortality. The doctrine fos- l ters and flatters all those lofty mo- tions of men as to their high charac- ter and destiny which are common ly entertained by the large majority of the race, and is in direct opposi- ton to that humility and lowliness of mind which is one of the chief orna- ments of the Christian religion.
 Having cleared away some of the rubbish we now propose to show what is the true doctrine of the Bible on this important subject. To the law and the testimony-if they speak not according to this word, it is be- cause there is no light in them. We affirm, then. that the true doctrine of immortality is, that it is gift be- slowed on all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that 1t is withheld from all who reject him. The proof of this position lies in the Scriptures, and from their decision there can be no appeal.
 All, therefore, who recognize the divine authority and inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, will be willing to submit to their authoritative teach ings on this vital question in theol- ogy. There are so many passages in proof, so direct and explicit, too, that we hardly know where to begin, or what particular passage to select. The Apostle John, the beloved disci- ple, is fuller and more direct on this line than any other of the sacred writers. and ample testimony can be obtained from his writings alone to demonstrate the proposition. We quote first from the Gospel by John: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoeyer bclieveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life For God SO loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoso- ever believeth in him should not per ish but have everlasting life. v .Verilv, verify. l say unto you, he that heareth my words and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come unto con- demnation, but is passed from death unto life" This is the will of him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life"
 Many other proof texts equally as strong may he cited from John s Gospel, but we forbear, and now call attention to few from the same au- thors epistles: He that believeth not God hath made him a liar, be- cause he beleveth not the record God gave of his Son, and this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son He that hath the Son hath the life. and he that hath not the Son hath not the life" In these verses it will be noted that the Apostle brings a fearful charge against those who deny the truth of the record, that God has given to Christians