Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1909-08-12
SEPARATE EXISTENCE
OF THE SOUL
Editor News:

1t seems impossible that anyone en-
dowed with the consciousness and SEN
sibilities common to our race and cap
able of observing the developments of
life incident to our history in this
world and departure out of 1t, should
live long without asking the question;
IF man die shall he live againf"
But while everyone finds something
within himself prompting him to ask
this question no one not aided by rev.
elation has been able to answer it sat
isfactorily to himself. The Bible alone
has drawn aside the veil which separ-
ates time from eternity, 80 as to reveal
to us the fact and the character of the
existence of the soul, when dislodged
from the earthly tabernacle.
But even the Bible does not disclose
the mode and surroundings of the life
beyond in such way as to meet all
the requirements of curiosity. 1t does
not tell us about the nature of the sep
arate life, the locality of the abode of
the soul, and the pursuits and activi
ties which pertain to it in the invisi
BILE world. Many questions arise touch
ing these things which no man can
answer even with the helps of revela-
tiOn at hand. The design Of revela-
tion is not to crafty curiosity, but to
command our faith. In harmony this
design "life and immortality are
brought to light. The momentous
fact of life eternal is set before us
with impressiveness of language and
imagery so as to cut off excuses if we
live in doubt. The Scriptural idea of
the souls continued existence, and the
illusions, direct and indirect, to this
period which we denominate the inter
mediate state, are plain enough, when
rightly considered, to assure us that
death does not consign us to uncon-
seriousness.
1t is proper here to glance at some
passages which relate to the continued
existence of the soul, and which can
not be otherwise construed without
great violence "And fear not them
which kill the body but are not able to
kill the soul; but rather fear him
which is able to destroy both soul and
body in hell y A parallel passage,
''Be not afraid of them that kill the
body, and after that have no more
that they can do. But will forewarn
you whom ye shall fear. Fear him
which after he hath killed hath power
to cast into hell. " The single point
here to be noted is that the soul is not
killed when the body is killed. This
fact lies upon the surface of the pass
ages, and will not be affected by the
most critical prying into the profound.
est depths of their meaning. Men may
kill the body but they cannot kill the
soul. This strikes away the 'NC
Hellite'' conceptions of the soul as de-
pendent on the bodily organism and
clearly marks its survival of the shock
that prostrates the body to the dust.
If these passages mean anything, they
mean that the soul is not dependent or
the body for its existence; that it il
not identical with the body; that it il
not part of the body; that it does
not die with the body, and therefore i!
not of the nature of the body. Wha
ever it is, whatsoever its attributes
its capabilities, its conditions of being
or its ultimate destiny, the dissolution
of the body which liberates it from it,
earthly connections, leaves its vitality
untouched and its intrinsic energies
unimpaired. With its bodily connec
tion severed it enters new soul life
new state where it finds new associa
tions all adjusted to the development
of its spiritual life, and looking to tn
final waiting it in the manifestation
of the sons of God
The criticisms of soul-sleepers ant
dessuctionists are not forgotten, bu
we fail to find any force in them.
There are many facts mentioned il
the Scriptures, which are rich in sug
gestiveness at least on this subject
The TRANSPORTATION Of Christ revealed
the presence of Moses, who had beel
dead many hundred years. There i
no intimation that he appeared in
glorifed body. or that he had yet ex
perienced the resurrection of the dead
nor dare we imagine that the seen
was merely pheno.ninal, deceiving tn
disciples'by an optical illusion, i
which phsntoms played the part Q
historical personsges. The testimon
is too plain. Moses and Elias appear
ed talking with Jesus, and they talk
ed about the decease of Jesus at JeI
usalem.
To the Sadducees who denied tn
separate existence of the soul, as the
did the existence of angels, Christ ono
said concerning Abraham, Isaac an
Jacob, ''they live, although they ha
been so long dead These old patri
archs were alive, while their bodie
Numbered in the grave. Their soul
did not die with their bodies.
AS to the parable of the rich ma
and Lazarus, if ii be a parable. it reI
resents Lazarus as living with Abra
ham. after he bad died in poverty q