TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL. An Essay FROM THE SECOND EDITION OF ETERNAL PURPOSE, A STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE OF IMMORTALITY. BY WILLIAM R. HART. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. NOTE. This Essay is included in the Second Edition of "Eternal Purpose," and is here printed separately for the use of those who have the First Edition of that book. As it is printed from plates, the paging follows that of “ Eternal Purpose," and the two books may be bound together. TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL. An Essay FROM THE SECOND EDITION OF ETERNAL PURPOSE, A STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE OF IMMORTALITY. BY WILLIAM R. HART. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. LONDON: 16 SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND. . LIFE: TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL. IN a recent article under the heading of "Readjustments in Theology," the Rev. Daniel Curry, D.D., one of the most prominent theologians of the Methodist denomination, says, "The whole field of eschatology, including the future life, the resurrection, the millennium, and the judgment to come, is badly out of order as to the conceptions of orthodox theologians, and in great need of thorough re-examination and adjustment." The admission is very significant. The department of eschatology includes all that relates to the future and to the eternal fate of man. It sums up the results of all that is taught in other departments of Systematic Theology. It is a sad commentary upon the stability of this edifice, that its dome, at so early a period in its history, should require rebuilding; and it suggests grave doubts as to the walls, nay, even the foundations themselves. The question at issue is deeper and broader than that of the reconstruction of any one article of theology, however important. Dr. Curry, a little farther on in his article, says, "The doctrine of the immortality of the soul would seem to be primary and essential in any religious belief; and yet this is called in question, not only by unlearned literalists, but also by distinguished Christian scholars, to whose positions the advocates of the traditional conceptions of the future life are not well prepared to oppose satisfactory objections." "Unlearned literalists," in Luther's day, were those who believed that when the Word of God declared that "the just shall live by faith," it meant just what it said; and that the words were meant for the ignorant, not less than for the learned, to rest upon for eternal safety. Thousands of poor peasants went to torture and to death for this belief. To this was opposed the learning of the schools and the authority of the Church. The question is the same to-day,whether the plainest and most explicit statements in relation to essential and principal truths are to be received by the common people in their plainly obvious meaning, or whether the Church (including the whole body of Protestant theologians) is to be allowed to impose on such declarations a meaning the exact opposite of that which they apparently bear. The |