A REPLY TO MR E. WHITE.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 289, 17 May 1898, Page 3

A REPLY TO MR E. WHITE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I have been waiting some time for an abler pen than mine to answer Mr White's questions on the immortality of the soul, which appeared in your issue of April 26th. The subject is of so much importance, as it outweighs by far all our interests in this life. With this immortality, we siuk and die like the beasts that perish. To question this part of our being is to cut at the root of all sections of Christianity and its attempts to destroy all hope and trust in a future state. Take away this and Christianity at once falls to the ground. Take away this hope and we may ask ourselves ic life worth livinc But Christians are not left in the dark on this great question. The Almighty has lighted up a light and this light is attracting all nations. There are more believers in a future state and immortality at the present time than has been witnessed at any other period in the world's history ; but while it is acknowledged that Christianity is spreading at the same time there is a number, and always has been, those who discredit eveiything which they cannot comprehend, and particularly in a religious point of view. The discoveries that have been made in astronomy this last 100 years, they acknowledge ; but they cannot see the hand that bears this system up or the power that keeps them in motion ; but why should it be thought a thing impossible for the dead to rise again. Is the Almighty's power limited to this world only—the same power that brought us here is sufficient to carry us through to all eternity. As there is no limit to creation, it follows there can be no limit put to this power that is carrying us along every hour of our existence. Or can there be any limit to the preservation of the human race. It is manifest in this life, why should any doubt arise as regards another. The discoveries that have been made in geology prove that different kinds of animals existed, and at the present time have become completely extinct, but not so with man, he still survives. These discoveries that I have just mentioned we should have remained in ignorance of, and doubt and distrust would have covered them, but that would not in the least have affected their existence. There are things hard to be understood, difficult of comprehension, and they will remain so, so long as we remain in our present position as mortal beings. But our dulnees should not be the cause of our stumbling ; because we do not discern, that does not alter a fact or make truth less certain. Again-' a 3 regards change, and renewing the earth and vegetation with which it is covered, is continually changing ; the coal that is procured from under the earth's surface is supposed to be deposits of vegetation ages gone by, and one writer says the very rocks change in time. Then we have the insect tribe, some of which change so rapidly, others again emerge from one state into quite another form, so much so it has affected their tastes and habits, in fact transformed, and with all this change in nature and which is such a wide field and out of the power of any human being to describe, seeing that bis power of observation is so limited and contracted. We have the change in seasons, spring time, cummer and winter, in regular succession continually going on renewing unto life all the vegetable kingdom. New life springs up, from which apparently woe dead and dormant. All this life we are »itnesses of and of which there is no doubt, and besides all these things by which we are surrounded mankind changes from infaucy to youth and manhood, until we come to the silver and grey period of old age. In addition to this we have the Old and New Testament, which is a history of the human race from the time that man first trod this earth's surlace, aud it throsvs such a light on man's destiny that no man need walk in darkness on this great matter. The latter book, or New Testament, deals particularly with the advent or Christ's coming, His death aud resurrection. We have the testamony of the four inspired writers, who all bore out this statement of the immortality of the soul and lived and died in full assurance of a final resurrection. And lastly the book of Revelations, after describing events which should come to pass to the inhabitants of this world, finishes with this sentence, " I saw a number which no man could number." This was after the changing scene in this life had been passed, and known as the dark passage of death. And it can be proved as regards substance and matter, there is nothing lost, the world remains the same to-day as at the beginning or thousands of years gone by. The only difference that can be observed is in this change, which this earth keeps continually undergoing ; seeing all these things is man who forms the chief link in creation to be cast aside ; that appears to be an impossibility, and against all the Creator's arrangements ; in the order of things with which we are surrounded, annihilation is outside all the Creator's doings. Therefore, we conclude man has an immortal being, destined to live through an eternity.—l am, etc., John Gibson, Te Awamutu.