The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-05

mans Immortality. oh, when the resur-
rccted body OF our dear Lord burst
the bars OF death and triumphed over
the grave IL was the day-hreak 10 the
lbenlgh;ed souls of men-th glorious
emancipation from the body OF all deaths
1t was liberty made triumphant Nver eter-
nal bondage. 1t was mankinl's peace
and JOY and gladness resulting from the
wonderful manifestation OF combined
love, wisdom. and power perfected
through suffering.
But the resurrection was also a glorious
revelation OF everything II consummated.
IL revealed mans immortality. ] do not
afiirm that In some way and manner this
had not been revealed before this event:
but this was the grand and tangible
outward evidence of Immortality. God
revealed Himself before He was "nani-
tested in the flesh" but such manifesto
ton was the acme OF revelation, sublime
~ tangible. And so His resurrection was
= tangible demonstration Of the deathless-
ness OF personal conscious identity. His
disciples did not grasp the doctrine of the
resurrection until the risen Lord appeared
unto them and demonstrated the fact
that lie was indeed their beloved Master
who had had beer slain, when even
Doubling Thomas FRUSTRATED himself at
His feet with tho ejaculation Of faith.
My Lord and my God"' There was new.
err any more doubt; there was no difficulty
experienced in firmly grasping the truth
that He who had been crucifeG and had
triumphed over death. and now ascendcd
into glory. had indeed gone TO prepare
place" for His children in the beautifuI
ana indestrucfible home OF many man.
sions. that where lie is they may be
also"
The resurrection reveals the immor-
tally OF man. not only In the endless
personal consciousness of self-identity.
but also esinced the fact or preserved
corpOreai Identity. This is most pre-
cious and comforting thought. IL Is Ia
spirIng TO know that what VIC cali death
is powerless to Kill the soul: that d;ssOlu-
ton simply Olsen cages the spirit from
the flesh. We know II this earthly
house of our tabt rnacle were dissolved,
we have - buibiing OF God a house
not made with hands, eternal IN the
heavens" But M Is transcencentaIly
glorious 10 realize the revealed ract that
the resurrection OF the body means that
the slorifi-d body Will preserve form and
feature, OF In some marked and pleasing
manner reflect the image of our earthly
tabernacle. Tor this insures--recognltIon
Thus, when we lay our friends ana loved
ones away beneath the clods or the
valley, we are coniforted with the blessed
hope that or they have "dicd In the
iord'J we shall see them again-recos-
nize them again-ccrverse VITA them
again. and clasp them in our arms as OF
yOre. Ages before Chr;sts resurrection
q saint OF God wiCh The eye OF faith
looked down the vista OF time 10 the
great event of which we now speak and
declared his confidence OF seeing in the
flesh" the Great 1 Am. even after the
speakers body had returned 10 the dust
whence IL came. In this day or glorious
gospel light. and the peculiar dispense
ton OF the Holy Chest, VINO ennghtens
the minds hearts, and colsciences or
men. the world has grdsped the grand
fact, and is shouting loud hosannahs.
Medical scerice teaches US That every
atom of the human body is changed in
every seven years. We accept the state
ment as a fact Now. the man Of three
score and ten has been entirely changed
I'm his physical being just ten times, and
yet he can remember distinctly events OF
his early youth. Not & particle OF brain
or nerve tissue remains OF the days mat
he now wildly recalls. He is the same
man: his identity has been preserved. And
thus though every particle OF the human
body returns TO dust, from the planting
will come forth a "glortned body, Tor
He 'giveth to each a body as II pleaseth
Him" and ii it pleases the great and
good God, IL will surely please us.
THE DOCTRINE.
The general resurrection OF Gods re-
deemed ones is the giorincatlon or their
ransomed spirits. They Will come 1ortn
10 nut on Immortality in the garb OF
their clorioiss spiritual body" INTO the
fitness of which corporeai1ty they nave
grown while dwelling In alteration OF the
Perfect one in the Unseen HOLY ana III
which state and place their indestrucuble
identity has feen preserved. Ihat they
have been happy l DOUBT not Tor mo-
ment. but / believe the maj ana coih-
plete removal of all limitations VIII occur
at the last day of time, when u"atn shah
be swallowed up III Victory. ii 'hi'
,,,eXv no true. il is mms terial 10 weary
onr minds with considerations OF the ques-
tionr of the ~inteTmediate state ana
the prac;icabilfty of a resurrection vi
Inc body. if the soul exists separate ana
apart from II. .,,o,, ,,on
,rbe doctrine of the resurrection, theh'
,s tho keystone in the grand Chrlstiah
arch now spanning earth ana shy II
is the central fact III thdI
ligious system that loiinS ~.
Isis of an good governments, that
upholds society ana causes ,e''S
Thousands of holy spires to point heaven
ward to-day. set in the solace oil ne, lo'
oli,oir,ta Christ ia.nity. and life would Ill
Al IA. "a barren peak between two un-
fathOmable eternities. .
Tho doctrine of Ihc resurrection. ne
tooth of time has not devoured H. 'he
finger of scorn has not daunted ~ the
nan Of opposition las not impedcd H.
the waves of malignity have not over
,.hat,,ed il and the nres OF persecution
b,,,c NOT consumed it. The beautliul
L,nuer of the cross floats oyer sea diu
land. II inyades with its CAD iidings OF
ncace and 10Y the palat.ai mansion ana
The peasants hut: II floats III ''Fiil"'-
tion's citadcls and on hoatherdoin ShoieS
from Gieenlands Icy pcak. to Africa
marched sandS-and JnHaN ana yet on
',",rd VIII be its grandly triumphant
'',a,.h ,ntu old Time shall round up at
,ho nortals Of Eternity. and as If In an
s,ver 10 Pilates questions What =
,r,,thsr theYc shall rcsOund through the
celestial courtg OF the blood-poueht nome
he ringing chorus. Unto Kim who has
loved MS and given Himself Tor us Dc
honor and power and glory ana doniih-
ion forever and ever.
/, only remains 10 be added mat therc
VIII be a resurrection unto me anu
resurrection unto damnatioh' oii tue
sto,os of Time there are erected many
beautiful sign posts-rcad: Let the wick
Cd forsakc his way and the unrighteous
man his thoughts and let him return I'M
IN the Lord and fle will have mercy on
him and 10 our God. tor lie VIII abuh-
dainty PARDON" Il am the way th'
ruth and the life" Him that come'h
10 me | will i'm nowise cast out, BE
ucve on the Lord Jesus Christ. ana thon
shalt be saved" "He that believeth VI
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