The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-14
Editor of The yirginian:

Sir.-Wiil you allow me to make
a few comments on the article which
appeared under the above heading,
in a recent number OF your paper. be-
ing e%xtrcast from the Easter SER
mon preached by the fev. Alexander
r. Browser; his tex being these
words: IF the dead rise not. then
is not Christ risen.'
! VIII quote him: There is posi-
lively ruCnir.a to show tina hy the
resurrection the apostle thought that
Jesus had come back from the spirit
iiaI world TO reirhahit his cast-off
body of flesh and blood"
Let us examine the record. and we
fnd enough 10 show that they be-
lieved it was thessame identical, tang.-
i.lc body. that WAS nailed to the cross,
was pierced by the spear. inc was laid
in Joseph's tomb. that was resurreet-
cd. and walked. and talked. ana even
ate with him.
Luke tells us that when the women
came with ,hcir spices which they rad
prepared and found the stone rolled
away that they entered in, aud
found not the body of Jesus AMI that
Two men With shining garments tod
them: "Iie IS not here. ne is rise.1.''
When they went and told the apos-
ties. their words seemed II them
s.s idle tales and they believed them
rct."
So II seems the story of the ras4r-
rection OF our Lord fs as nm idle tale
today to many who profess to believe
on him. and who claim TO be preach
ing hts gospel.
That 1t MAS not n spirit apparition
when Christ met with them, he him
self took pains to make them clear
ly understand, for "As they spake
Jesus. himself. stood in the midst of
them. and said unto them: Peace be
with you" But they were terrified
and affrightsd, and supposed that they
had seer a spirit" But Jesus cor
rected that mistake with these words:
why are ye troubled Behold my
self: handle me and see; for a spirit
hath not flesh and bone as you see
me have" Not flesh and blood. stiil
the same identical body II flesh and
bone. changed 1t Is true. to a spirit
ual body. and because we cannnt un-
derstand the mystery OF this change.
shall we refuse to believe the Saviour's
own words? For nothing could be
clearer than his statement that no Was
not Il mere spirit. but that he was the
identical man. Christ Jesus. who had
been slain, but now lived again.
To teach hat II was only a spirit
ual appearance and not the real body
OF Christ that the disciples saw. is
to deny in toto the text used: IF the
dead rise not. hen is not Christ
risen." for 1t was the body. not the
spirit that died; and ii was the dead
that rose. elise our faith .is VAIN
Paul tells us, "and we are found false
witnesses of God. because we have
testified of God that He raised up
Christ. whom He raised not up. IL so
he thai the dead rise not. Their liz
Christ not risen. and II Christ be not
raised (the Christ that died) your
faith is vain. We are yet in your sins
Cor; II to II.
So we find the Apostle Paul. who
was inspired by the Holy Ghost. and
the Rev. Alexander T. Bowser do not
agree. Which VIII you believer
Matthew tells us that the dis
ciples held Jesus by the feet, ard wor-
shipped him. Matt. 2S: 9. Is there
nothing in tina to show that they be-
lieved it was he same body?
And Luke also tells us OF his show
ing. himself 10 Thomas, and saying;
Reach hither they finger. and Behold
my hands; and reach hither they hand
and thrust 1t into my side; and be
not ~faithless. but believing
Now If this was not Christ's identi-
cal body that was slain and was
buried. Their Christ was a deceiver.
for he made his disciples believe 1t
YVES the anne body. and as Paul says,
they were all false witnesses against
God" In hat case whom could we
trust? On faith would be vain in
deed. and we would indeed be yet
IN our sins"
Luke further informs us that after
thus showing himself to his disciples,
they gave, him a piece OF broiled
fish and a ~honeycomb. and he o 0 1t
and did eat before them"
Christ. himself. said OF his body.
Destroy this temple. and in three
days ] will raise 1t up. The Jews
thought he spake OF the temple build
ing. but he spake OF the temple
OF his body" John 2: 10. II.
Now it was the body that died. that
was raised up. Surely tn esprit did
die and tfg.the. body 4hhass,. dina
was not raised. then is Christ not
risen"
I quote again: 1.-The more I think
about the story OF Lazarus the less
am I inclined to believe that the truth
underlying it Is that his body was
brought to life again. after disintegra-
ton had set n"
That lie. to speak in plain English.
Mr.. Bowser. the more o read this
story of the raising OF Larazus. the
less you are inclined to believe 1t.
This also appears as an idle tale.
Bnt. Mr. .Bowser has an explana-
ton. 1t is that Christ by his teach
ings was able to make the continual
existence OF Lazarus so real to those
h~earthroken sisters. that they actual
Nv saw their lost brother. IN the HIGHER
life and were satisfied" 'aTheir spirit
ual ayes were 80 opened as they lis
tened to Jesus. that they perceived
tho world OF spirits lying all about
them. ard Lazarus was there - real
to the vision Of a soul a. he had ever
been-to-thetr- outward sight.