El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-04-07

TExT-sChrist Jesus hath brought
immortality to IIEht through the
gospel ST. Paul.
~ ELIEF in Immortality did not orig
mate with Christianity. In its
- primitive form it is prehistoric.
The most cautious and competent
scholars assert that belief in some
kind OF existence after death Is 4
Catholic belief OF humanity. Professor
Max Muller states that even the lowest
savages now living have words for
body and soul "A belief in the per-
sistence Of life after death and an OBJ
servation OF religious practices founded
upon that belief may be- discovered IN
every part Of the world, In every age,
and among men representing every de-
gree and variety OF culture" IN the
higher races Of civilization this doc
trine can also be traced back as far
as the earliest records. II was held
in Egypt 1000 B. c.
Gospel Did Not Create the idea.
Neither Christ therefore nor his apOs-
ties originated the belief in future life.
The text IS an accurate statement Of
ChriStianity'S contribution TO that idea
Christ Jesus has brought Immortality
TO light through the gospel He has
Illuminated the idea Of Immortality. He
has led humanity out Of the dim tWi-
light OF speculation into the nOontide
splendor OF revealed truth. What is the
contribution OF the gospel to the de-
velopment of this age-long and uni
versal idea2 In what way did Christ
Jesus illumine the doctrine OF eternal
Conjecture Translated Into Gertrude.
The highest achievement Of ancient
speculation on Immortality was reached
IN the reasonings OF the Greek mind.
~
friends Socrates the great sage, dis
cussed the question with his disciples.
The teacher was undecided whether
death was an endless sleep OF =
journey TO another world. His argu-
ments do not convince. HIS disciples
express their doubts and Simmias says
he cannot but feel uncertain when he
thinks OF the magnitude OF the sub
Ject and the litleness OF man. The
conclusion OF the discussion expressed
by the sage was: either learn how the
case stands or discover for yourself
or II these are impossible take the
best and least refuted of human opin-
lone and using this as = raft, sail
through life. not without some risk
unless some one could more securely
and less periously sail upon a stronger
vessel OF some Divine word"
All, there is the root of the matter,
the heart Of the question, that stronger
vessel OF some Divine word. We have
II in the sayings OF Jesus. He gives
Us not the frail raft OF a probable opin-
Ion, but the strong ship OF 3 Divine
word II II were not so I would have
told you He taught the doctrine with
authority. He translated the sur
misses OF ethnic thought and Hebrew
faith into an indubitable certainty.
Listening TO Him our doubts are dis
solved. We know that We have A
building from God 4 house not made
with hands eternal IN the heavens, be-
cause Jesus has spoken
job, the DoubfeT.
Even Saint JOB in a Temporary
eclipse OF faith doubted. His question
was, II a man die shall he live again
His answer was, there is hone OF q
tree IL II be cut down that Il will
Sprout agan . but man dfeth and IS
laid low yea man giveth up the ghost
and where he is2 Az tbs waters fail
from the sea so man lieth down ana
riseth not: till the heavens be no more
they shall not awake nor be aroused
out o ftheir sleep"