History of the Second Advent message and mission, doctrine and people / by Isaac C. Wellcome.

  • Wellcome, I. C. (Isaac Cummings), 1818-1895
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: History of the Second Advent message and mission, doctrine and people / by Isaac C. Wellcome. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    742/774 page 694
    Hero we liave one of the most explicit phrases for “ immortal ex- istence,” used to define ‘ life ’ [eternal life], and applied to one who asked it of God. x\ojain we read ; “ Ilis seed shall endure forever.” (Ps. 89: oG.) “ With long life will I satisfy him.” (Ps 91 : 16.) It may he said that these passages refer to Christ, and that they cannot, therefore, be used as evidence to show the meaning of the word “ life ” when applied to the future condition of righteous men. This antici- pated objection, however, would not prove that these passages are impertinent to the question discussed; for Jesus said to his disciples, “ Because I live, ye shall live also.” (John 14: 19.) And the author of the epistle to the Hebrews says : “ Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by l)im, seeing that he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (ch. 7: 25.) And again Jesus says, “I give unto my sheep eternal life., and they shall never perish.” (John 10 : 28.) Will the reader be so kind as to carefully notice the absolute couclusiveness of the above passages? The eternal life promised to the faithful follower of Christ is ‘length of DAYS FOREVER AND EVER.’ How brightly tlic truth shines when contrasted with error! Notice the significant contrasts in the following passages: “ The thief cometh not, but for to steal and to kill and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundant- ly.” (John 10: 10.) “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting lifeJ^ (John 3: 10.) In these passages, if a metaphorical meaning be placed upon the word ‘life,’then the contrasted terms ‘ destroy’ and ‘perish’must also be metaphorically explained. But where, it may be asked, is the similitude or resemblance between destruction and a life of end- less misery? Life may include happiness; but destruction cannot include the idea of endless misery. If on the other hand we examine the literal meaning of the words ‘destroy’ and ‘perish’ we shall find that they are directly opposed to the idea of the continuance in being of the object to which they are applied. (The only exceptions to this rule are found in “theolog- ical definitions.”) To destroy means to demolish; to ruin; to bring to naught; to annihilate; to kill; to extirpate; to put an end to. Perish (literally to depart wholly) ; to die; to lose life in any man-
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