The Destiny of the Soul | Page 4

and dissensions of sentiment and thought, they may recover, in its all embracing unity, that garment of truth which God made originally "seamless as the firmament," now for so long a time torn in shreds by hating schismatics. Oh, when shall we learn that a loving pity, a filial faith, a patient modesty, best become us and fit our state? The pedantic sciolist, prating of his clear explanations of the mysteries of life, is as far from feeling the truth of the case as an ape, seated on the starry summit of the dome of night, chattering with glee over the awful prospect of infinitude. What ordinary tongue shall dare to vociferate egotistic dogmatisms where an inspired apostle whispers, with reverential reserve, "We see through a glass darkly"? There are three things, said an old monkish chronicler, which often make me sad. First, that I know I must die; second, that I know not when; third, that I am ignorant where I shall then be.
"Est primum durum quod scio me moriturum: Secundum, timeo quia hoc nescio quando: Hine tertium, flebo quod nescio ubi manebo."
Man is the lonely and sublime Columbus of the creation, who, wandering on this cloudy strand of time, sees drifted waifs and strange portents borne far from an unknown somewhere, causing him to believe in another world. Comes not death as a means to bear him thither? Accordingly as hope rests in heaven, fear shudders at hell, or doubt faces the dark transition, the future life is a sweet reliance, a terrible certainty, or a pathetic perhaps. But living in the present in the humble and loving discharge of its duties, our souls harmonized with its conditions though aspiring beyond them, why should we ever despair or be troubled overmuch? Have we not eternity in our thought, infinitude in our view, and God for our guide?
CONTENTS
Part First.
HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL INTRODUCTORY VIEWS.
CHAPTER I.
THEORIES OF THE SOUL'S ORIGIN
CHAPTER II.
HISTORY OF DEATH
CHAPTER III.
GROUNDS OF THE BELIEF IN A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER IV.
THEORIES OF THE SOUL'S DESTINATION
Part Second.
ETHNIC THOUGHTS CONCERNING A FUTURE LIFE.
CHAPTER I.
BARBARIAN NOTIONS OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER II.
DRUIDIC DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER III.
SCANDINAVIAN DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER IV.
ETRUSCAN DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER V.
EGYPTIAN DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER VI.
BRAMANIC AND BUDDHIST DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER VII.
PERSIAN DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER VIII.
HEBREW DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER IX.
RABBINICAL DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER X.
GREEK AND DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER XI.
MOHAMMEDAN DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER XII.
EXPLANATORY SURVEY OF THE FIELD AND ITS MYTHS
Part Third.
NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS CONCERNING A FUTURE LIFE.
CHAPTER I.
PETER'S DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER II.
DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE IN THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
CHAPTER III.
DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE IN THE APOCALYPSE
CHAPTER IV.
PAUL'S DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER V.
JOHN'S DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER VI.
CHRIST'S TEACHINGS CONCERNING THE FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER VII.
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
CHAPTER VIII.
ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF DEATH AND LIFE
Part Fourth.
CHRISTIAN THOUGHTS CONCERNING A FUTURE LIFE.
CHAPTER I.
PATRISTIC DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER II.
MEDIAVAL DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER III.
MODERN DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
Part Fifth.
HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL DISSERTATIONS CONCERNING A FUTURE LIFE.
CHAPTER I.
DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE IN THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES
CHAPTER II.
METEMPSYCHOIS; OR, TRANSMIGRATION OF SOULS
CHAPTER III.
RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH
CHAPTER IV.
DOCTRINE OF FUTURE PUNISHMENT; OR, CRITICAL HISTORY OF THE IDEA OF A HELL
CHAPTER V.
THE FIVE THEORETIC MODES OF SALVATION
CHAPTER VI.
RECOGNITION OF FRIENDS IN A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER VII.
LOCAL FATE OF MAN IN THE ASTRONOMIC UNIVERSE
CHAPTER VIII.
CRITICAL HISTORY OF DISBELIEF IN A FUTURE LIFE
CHAPTER IX.
MORALITY OF THE DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE
Part Sixth.
SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER I.
THE END OF THE WORLD
CHAPTER II.
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
CHAPTER III.
THE MYTHOLOGICAL HELL AND THE TRUE ONE; OR, THE LAW OF PERDITION
CHAPTER IV.
THE GATES OF HEAVEN; OR, THE LAW OF SALVATION IN ALL WORLDS
CHAPTER V.
RESUME OF THE SUBJECT: HOW THE QUESTION OF IMMORTALITY NOW STANDS
CHAPTER VI.
THE TRANSIENT AND THE PERMANENT IN THE DESTINY OF THE SOUL
PART FIRST.
HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL INTRODUCTORY VIEWS.
CHAPTER I.
THEORIES OF THE SOUL'S ORIGIN.
PAUSING, in a thoughtful hour, on that mount of observation whence the whole prospect of life is visible, what a solemn vision greets us! We see the vast procession of existence flitting across the landscape, from the shrouded ocean of birth, over the illuminated continent of experience, to the shrouded ocean of death. Who can linger there and listen, unmoved, to the sublime lament of things that die? Although the great exhibition below endures, yet it is made up of changes, and the spectators shift as often. Each rank of the host, as it advances from the mists of its commencing career, wears a smile caught from the morning light of hope, but, as it draws near to the fatal bourne, takes on a mournful cast from the shadows of the unknown realm. The places we occupy were not vacant before we came, and will not be deserted when we go, but are forever filling and