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SEPARATION OF SPIRIT AND MATTER
165 Those who seek salvation from an easy chair should know that pure pious wishes will never conquer death. Only the attainment of immortality can do this, but immortality is only possible when the body which is the compounded effect of Spirit and matter, is altogether separated from the soul. How pregnant with significance are the words of the apostle when he says (1-Cor. xv. 50-51 and 53-54) :
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
“Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed.
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
As already stated, all this affliction to be suffered is trifling as compared with the gain that shall be obtained. The Bible itself records (2-Cor. iv, 17-18) :
“For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
“While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Identically the same idea is expressed in the Epistle to Romans (Chap. viii. 18) :
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Let the modern arm-chair critic reflect on these great sayings of serious men, which promise to the suffering humanity the attainment of the perfection that is divine and unexcelled-aye, the Perfection which people associate with their loftiest conception of Divinity and God hood!
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