XXI. HAS GOD A PURPOSE IN DEATH..... 211 XXII. THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.. 220 PREFACE THIS book is written for the thoughtful man or woman who has had difficulty with the doctrine of endless punishment as usually taught. It aims to be constructive and is written from the orthodox standpoint. In reference to the eternality of punishment it takes issue. It holds up the Christ and His Cross and its author trusts that from its perusal there may result the salvation of souls and the comfort of many who have lost loved ones who died whether in or out of Christ, yet "loved long since and lost awhile." It is animated by the spirit of love even tho its conviction is strong that its position is in accord with a true translation and interpretation of the Word of God. It does not make light of sin nor of its dire consequences and it holds that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," not only in this life but also in that which is to come. It has no apology to offer for the truth which it presents, it rejoices in it. Its author is, however, conscious of his shortcomings and wishes that he could have done the work better, but as he believes God bade, he can do nothing but obey. The scientific world has been somewhat startled by the theory of relativity which Dr. Einstein has recently promulgated. It is largely acknowledged that by this theory alone can many of the new problems of light and electro-dynamics find solution. Without making any pronouncement on this subject, the author may be permitted to point out an analogy which may apply to his own field. He is convinced that the consistent recognition of the difference between time and eternity will accomplish for Biblical problems all that the new theory promises to do for natural science. The author once visited a silver mine where the shaft had been sunk three hundred feet and where for years the miners had dug untold riches. One day it was proposed that they go deeper, so down and down they dug and blasted until a depth of a thousand feet was reached. There a wondrous find was made, a new flow of the precious mineral in a large and wealthy vein. The author believes that the upper veins of truth have been fairly well worked in the past and their yield has been exceedingly rich, but many questions still remain unanswered and he hails with delight the workmen of God who have gone deeper. He takes no honor to himself—since others have shown the way-if he digs a little and finds another flow of precious truth. In this book he tries to tell principally of the things which he has discovered at the greater depth. Here was a satisfaction that he found nowhere else, a God of Love was vindicated, His plan accomplished, and all waste material was saved for God. He does not think that he has gone as far as others have gone and will go and yet he longs that all may share what he has gained. He realizes that there are still "blessings of the deep that lieth under." "A deep below the deep, And a height beyond the height, The author desires to express thanksgiving to God, whose enabling alone made the writing of this book possible in the midst of many other duties. He would also express appreciation of the help and fellowship of his wife, of the members of the faculty of the Pittsburgh Bible Institute, and of other friends who have aided him in its preparation for the press. Any repetition in the different chapters is for completeness of thought, as some of them may be published separately by the Institute. PITTSBURGH, PA., C. H. P. |