Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-05-22
Flesh and Blood and Spirit.


1t is sown natural body, it is raised spir-
itual body.-I. Cor, XIV, "A.
1t seems profitable to say one more
word on the subject of the resurrection
of the body.
We are entirely free to hold any opin-
ion we choose, since the matter has not
been definitely settled by authority.
All that can be required of US is that
we shall keep within the limits of rea-
sonable speculation, and base our argu-
ments on such scientific knowledge as
will assist us to reach a conclusion.
1t is safe to say, therefore, at the very
tart that no one can possibly wish to
re occupy the body from which he
makes his exit at death. We have so
large conception of Gods power and
wisdom that it appears to be an insult
to both to declare that He has nothing
better in store for US than these poor
tenements of flesh, of which the Psalm
sist says that ''they die and return to
their DUST
If it be true that "eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, nor the heart OF man
conceived the things which God hath
prepared for those who love Him,
surely the cottage of the flesh, thatch-
| ed with fresh straw and glorified with
new beams and ceilings. will hardly be
| fitting residence for the recipient OF
such unspeakable glories. There Is a
kind of incongruity between these ma
terial bodies and what we hope to be
and to do in heaven that we shrink
from with inexpressible disappoint-
ment: but. on the other hand, when we
hear it said that flesh and blood will
| not enter the kingdom we feel sense
| of relief and gratitude as when peal
of bells rings out longed-for victory.
So repugnant to most OF us is the
thought of physical resurrection that
we cannot accept it unless an explicit
statement to that effect can be found
which has the gravity of revelation. If
there were no Bible we should certain
w repudiate such an assertion as libel
| on the power of the Creator. No man
could fashion arguments strong enough
TO persuade us of it's truth. We should
| boldly declare that it was both an I'M
| reasonable and an unworthy dogma
dogma not BETTING the dignity or
destiny of the soul, and not in accord
with the boundless resources OF Deity.
The Church may command us to ac
cept it, but the Church is not final
authority. We follow no one blindly,
but put everything to the test OF our
personal Judgment. 1t is folly to nod as
sent to doctrine which does not COM
mend itself by its own merits, and the
pulpit must give us liberty to dissent
from it's statements when we are not
convinced by its arguments.
Then, again, such resurrection, be-
sides being repugnant, is fraught with
difficulties which render it improbable
to the very verge of impossibility. We
use the word impossibility with min
gled reverence and courage, for if any
one asserts that the Almighty will pur-
sue certain course and we know that
that course involves an absurdity we
we are disloyal to Him if we do not de-
clare that He cannot pursue that
course. For ourselves, we do not hest
tate to declare that it is impossible for
God to do anything that involves an
absurdity, and we do it with boundless
humility, reverence and firmness.
Let us take, for example, poor worn
out body that has been cremated. The
fire has done its work thoroughly. The
original particles have lost their rela
ton to each other. The handful of
ashes which result is no longer the
house of soul. Certain elements OF
which the body was composed are alb
sorbed by the air and in time become
a component part of other human be-
ings and of the plants of the field. The
more solid atoms are scattered by the
winds, borne hither and thither, enter
various forms of life, are held in the
treasury of nature to be used for new
purposes. The spirit has no longer any
need of them; it has done with them.
That body as body has been literally
annihilated
Suppose that by some stupendous
miracle these chemical elements could
be collected and these atoms gathered
and reconstructed, would it be the body
of your friends youth. or of his middle
life, or of his old age-which Surely
it would not be the body which he left
because it was no longer habitable 1t
might be a new body resembling his,
but it is inconceivable that it should
be absolutely identical with the one
which was laid on the altar of flame.
If, then, we are to have practically
new bodies. are the Almighty's re-
sources so slender that He must needs
reconstruct the new out of the old :?
The absurdity is complete, and we must
look for some other solution of the prob
lem.
1t is easily found. The farewell to
the flesh at death is happily farewell
forever The laws of the universe de-
clare it to be so. Neither flesh nor time
has anything to do with eternity. We
have our residence for a better one
the hut for the palace. When death
knocks at the door it is because our
bodies have accomplished their mission
and will thereafter be used for other
ends
Your physical theory is not tenable.
1t is intolerable and illogical. 1t de-
moralizes our high idea of God, and
forces US to accept the incredible. God
has given us the ability to reason, and
we have no right to attribute to Him
an act which is in itself unreasonable.
But to be clothed upon with spirit
ual body is a different matter. We
may not understand what that body is
to be, but we have no difficulty iR be
lieving it possible. Our reason may be
transcribed, but it is not contradicted.
1t is all a mystery, but one in which
we rejoice The soul will have a habi-
tation, though not of flesh, and it will
be quite worthy of our occupancy.
What it will consist of no man can tell,
but that it will be new expression of
infinite love and wisdom no one can
doubt.-NeaU York Herald.
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