The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-01
Is A LIFE AFTER DEATH

~ S(sylOOI
Lesson for December 6 i'm Christ
I KlSen From The Dead."-Nark
1918; Matt. 2S:11-15.
(WILLIAM I. ELLIS.D
Iooay newspaper contains a spe-
clal mention of those who have
solved the problem of immortality;
and of those who are deeply. imme-
diately and supremacy concerned in
1T. They will be found in the death
notice column, and the first group
are those who have died, and the
second group are the families and
near friends Of the dead.
NO question Is more ancient, more
portant than this one IF a man die,
shall he live AGAIN." To some de-
gree it is certain at some time or
other to engage the thought Of every
mature mind. With the daily dis
patches from abroad fairly reeking
with news of bloody deaths by the
myriad, the problem is n that
thrusts itself inexorably into the
consideration of even the frivolous
minded and the needless.
Every poet, every philosopher, has
specialized upon the theme. The
human mind has always experienced
'intimations Of Immortality" The
conviction that this supreme flower
and fruit Of the universe, the human
soul, was not born to fall n perish
utterly, and that this earthly life is,
by many signs, only the preparation
for some higher form of existence,
lies deep down in the thinking of
every normal person. Addison put
the thought into a few lines:
cit must be so-Plato, thou reasonest
Well!
ELSE whence this pleasing hope, this
fond desire,
This longing after immortality?
Or whence this secret dread and in
ward horror
OF falling into naught? Why
shrinks the soul
Back on herself, and startles at
destruction
IT'S the divinity that stirs within US;
IT'S Heaven itself that points out
an hereafter,
And intimates eternity OF man.
Eternity: thou pleasing, dreadfu
thought"
How Creed Affects Conduct.
There is Surer ground for a con-
viction of immortality than any ]
have yet cited; and we shall CONSIDER
it a few paragraphs later. First
though, we need to remind ourselves
of some practical consequences OF
our belief upon this subject.
If man dies as the dog dies, then
the STGaISSl Ol oil
inhibitions are removed from the
realm Of morals. 1t is because mar
is TO live forever that he should live
like an immortal here and nov. once
grant that this life is all n tner
we must admit the wisdom OF the IN.
junction, EAT, drink ana pc merry
for tomorrow we die :.
The chrism of earth's friendships i
the hope of the resurrection, Wnlcl
sacredly anoints them for two worlds
All our highest conceptions OF love
are bound up with the expectation o.
a life beyond the grave. rootio,
teaching is the Christians hope O
Christly character and OF autha,
glory. eff We then be risen togetneI
with Christ, seek those things Wn1c1
are above" Now is Christ rlsel
from the dead. and become .ne u 81
Christ hath not been raised, then l
our preaching vain; your Ialtn aho'
ia vain, IF we have only nope,
in Christ in his life, we are OF al
men most miserable
light From n Book.
Every day, in every sec,at n aho1,
religion. Men cannot be restralne'
from speculating about this suprena
theme. No aspect of these olNua
sions strikes an observer DIS ntta,
significant than the fact NAT 81 a,,
men debate as IL there weie :
thoritv above their own reason !
which appeal might be made; a uar
talk as though historical facts wer
to be decided by "horse sense an az
as if one mans opinion were as ~ 49,
as another. In other words: hmo ~
leave the Bible entirely OUT o. -:
discussion, and airily put 1ortn .ha
own Immature opinions as II the
were the last word on the sub1ee
Every reader of these lines has PROF
ably heard controversies OIL ~
resurrection, without a single appes
to the Bible as historical eNloehoe.
That makes only one of two course
nossihle Either the Bible must {
discarded utterly, or else it must .
accepted as the only scientinc az ~
valid evidence available up 70 u