26 



REV. A. R. WHATELY^ D.D., ON IMMORTALITY. 



possessed only by those who enjoy this " communion," or is it 

 the property of every son of Adam 1 



The next paragraph (p. 20) would seem to limit the Immortality 

 under discussion to those in conscious "relation to God," and to 

 " membership of the redeemed society," but I hesitate to think that 

 Dr. Whately intended this, for, if so, he would scarcely have chosen 

 for his title the word " Immortality " with all its infinity of 

 application, but rather such a title as "The Immortality of the 

 Christian Believer." 



After a few words from Colonel Van Someren, who emphasized 

 the importance of Christ alone being regarded as the Source of 

 Immortality to those who trust in Him— 



The Kev. H. J. R. Marston said : The Paper has proved that 

 there is a natural capacity of deathlessness in man ; and that proof 

 has been strictly of a philosophical nature ; and a demonstration 

 resulting from the facts of human consciousness. It has not been 

 a Scriptural proof ; the Lecturer has kept to his proper ground, 

 merely assuming the fundamental postulates of Biblical Eeligion 

 without establishing them. Any objection to that mode of proof 

 is merely prejudice ; and an offence against the majesty of Truth 

 which has its rights as such. 



The alleged argument of Dr. Whately's critics, drawn from the 

 supposed meaning of the Bible, are worthless because those who 

 allege them do not understand the Greek Testament ; in the Greek 

 Testament the word Immortality occurs, I believe, only twice ; that 

 is to say, the Greek Testament is practically silent about the point ; 

 and leaves the area of discussion open. 



Mr. H. De Vismes said : God created man " very good " yet 

 mortal; and with His life gave him in likeness to Himself free- 

 will, in the exercise of which by eating of the " Tree of Life " he 

 had " the power of an endless life." 



The Scriptures say : — 



"Whatsoever God doeth it shall be for ever," and "the thing 

 that hath been it is that which shall be." Ecc. iii, 14, 15 ; i, 9. 



All that man ever lost has been redeemed ; a paradise lost in 

 Genesis is the same with its " Tree of Life " regained in the 

 Eevelation, but with the life and immortality of that paradise 

 brought to light through the Gospel (2 Tim. i, 10). God gave man 

 life, and since His gifts and calling are without repentance (Rom. xi, 



