Christian Metempsychosis [pp. 315-341]

CHRISTIAN METEMPSYCHOSIS.
" F a man die, shall he live again?" The Christian Scrip tures assure us that he will, and that his future life will
be, in some manner, a state of retribution for the life that now is.
More distinctly still we have, from the Master's own lips, the
solemn announcement of a fixed period of Final Judgment.
"For the hour is coming in the which all that are in the grave
shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil, unto the resurrection of judgment."' Beyond these gen
eral assurances, however, no definite information is given respect
ing the period, nature, or circumstances of our future stage of
existence. Enough is said to furnish a mighty sanction for the
practical teachings of the Gospel, and thus to supply a strong
motive for the purification of our life and character while here;
but nothing is vouchsafed to gratify an idle curiosity. Hence
a wide field is left for conjecture and speculation, which, if properly conducted in a reverent spirit, and with due reserves, may
serve to enlighten and confirm our faith without disturbing its
foundations, or pretending to be wise beyond what is written.
Along the outer lines of what is explicitly revealed, and without
trespassing at all upon the inclosed region of positive belief,
there is abundant room for the legitimate and profitable exercise of a devout imagination.
This was certainly the opinion of an eloquent writer and
earnest advocate of the strictest orthodoxy of Christian belief,
the Count Joseph de Maistre. From his "Evenings at St. Petersburg" (vol. ii. p. I9I) I translate the following passage:
"Under this head [of legitimate conjecture] I class all those
opinions not directly supported by revelation, but useful for
I have translated literally ez5 adi,ddrc6zY;pideo5, instead of adopting
from our Common Version what seems to me the harsh and unauthorized interpretation, "unto the resurrection of damnation."
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