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What Is Man? What Is His Destiny and Relationship to God?
Having shewn in the foregoing chapters, that the rule of God is perfect
where he governs alone, that the rule of man is imperfect, and has
introduced confusion and misery, and that the plans of men are not
competent to restore the world to happiness, and the fulfilment of the
object for which it was created; it now devolves upon us to investigate
the way that this thing can, and will be accomplished; for there is
a time spoken of in the Scriptures, when there will be a reign of
righteousness.
First, then, we will enquire who and what is man? and what is his
destiny, and what his relationship to God? For before we can define
government correctly, it will be necessary to find out the nature of
the being that has to be governed.
What, then, is man? Is he a being temporal and earthly alone, and
when he dies, does he sink into forgetfulness? Is he annihilated? or
has he a spirit as well as a body? If the first be the case, he alone
has a right to regulate his own affairs, to frame his own government,
and to pursue that course which to him seems good; if not, the case
is different. I do not here wish to enter into a philosophical
disquisition on the subject, but, as I am writing at present to
believers in the Bible, I shall confine myself more to that. I will
state, that man is an eternal being, composed of body and spirit: his
spirit existed before he came here; his body exists with the spirit
in time, and after death the spirit exists without the body. In the
resurrection, both body and spirit will finally be reunited; and it
requires both body and spirit to make a perfect man, whether in time,
or eternity.
I know there are those who suppose that the spirit of man comes into
existence with his body, and that intelligence and spirit are organized
with the body; but we read, that when God made man, he made him of the
dust of the earth; he made him in his own likeness. Man was then a
lifeless body; He afterwards "breathed into him the breath of life, and
man became a living soul."
Before that spirit was given, he was dead, lifeless; and when that
spirit is taken away, he is again lifeless; and let not any one say
that the body is perfect without the spirit; for the moment the spirit
leaves the body, no matter how perfect its organization may be, the man
is inanimate, and destitute of intelligence and feeling: "it is the
spirit that gives life." Hence we find that when Jarius's daughter was
dead, his servant came and told him, saying, "Thy daughter is dead,
trouble not the master;" but when she was restored, it is said "her
spirit _came again_, and she arose straightway." Luke viii. 55. When
her spirit was absent, the body was dead; when it returned, the body
lived. "Moses spake unto the Lord, and said, let the Lord, the God of
_the spirits of all flesh_, set a man over the congregation." Num.
xxvii. 16. Again, the Lord in speaking to Jeremiah, said, "Before I
formed thee in the belly, I knew thee," i. 5. I would ask, What part
of Jeremiah did he know? It could not be his body, for it was not
in existence; but he knew his spirit, for "he was the father of his
spirit." The Lord speaks to Job and says, "Where wast thou when I laid
the foundations of the earth? declare if thou hast understanding, who
hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched
the line upon it. Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened?
or who laid the corner stone thereof? when the morning stars sung
together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" xxxviii. 4, 6.
Again, John says, "They that dwell on the earth, shall wonder, whose
names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the
world." Rev. xvii. 8.
This spirit proceeds forth from God, and is eternal; hence Solomon
says, in speaking of death, "Then shall the dust return to the earth as
it was, and the spirit unto God who gave it." Eccles. xii. 7. That the
spirit is eternal, is very evident, from the Scriptures; Jesus prayed
to his father, and said, "O Father, glorify thou me, with thine own
self, with the glory which I had with thee _before the world was_."
John xvii. 5. Here Jesus speaks of an existence before he came here,
of a glory he had with his Father before the world was. Christ, then,
existed before he came here and took a body. Again Jesus says, "I have
manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world:
thine they were, and thou gavest them me." John xvii. 6.
Let us see what the Apostle Paul says on the subject: "Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings, in heavenly places, in Christ; according as he
hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world." Ephes. i,
3, 4. Christ, then, existed with his Father before the world was, and
the Saints existed in, or with him. What part? their bodies? no, their
spirits. Again, man exists after he leaves here. It is unnecessary to
say anything about the life of the spirit, after the death of the body,
or of the resurrection, as the subjects are so generally known and
believed. Paul says, "If in this life only, we have hope in Christ, we
are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead,
and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came
death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ... The trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed; for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor. xv.
19-21, 52-54.
If man, then, is an eternal being, came from God, exists here for a
short time, and will return, it is necessary that he know something
about God, and his government. For he has to do with him not only in
time, but in eternity, and whatever man may be disposed to do, or
however he may vaunt himself of his own abilities, there are some
things he has no control over. He came into the world without his
agency, he will have to leave it, whether he desires it or not; and
he will also have to appear in another world. He is destined, if he
improves his opportunities, to higher and greater blessings and glory
than are associated with this earth in its present state: and hence
the necessity of the guidance of a superior power, and intelligence,
that he may not act the part of a fool here, and jeopardize his
eternal interests; but that his intelligence may be commensurate
with his position; that his actions here may have a bearing upon his
future destiny; that he may not sink into the slough of iniquity and
degradation, and contaminate himself with corruption; that he may
stand pure, virtuous, intelligent, and honourable, as a son of God,
and seek for, and be guided and governed by his Father's counsels.
Having said so much on this subject, we will continue our investigation
still further, and enquire next, What is our relationship to God? In
answering this, I would briefly remark, that the position that we stand
in to him, is that of a son. Adam is the father of our bodies, and God
is the father of our spirits. I know that some are in the habit of
looking upon God, as a monster only to be dreaded, known only in the
earthquake, the tempest, the thunder, and the storm, and that there
is something gloomy and dismal attached to his service. If there is,
it is the appendage of man, and not of God. Is there anything gloomy
in the works that God has made? Turn where we will, we see harmony,
loveliness, cheerfulness, and beauty.
The blessings of providence were made for man, and his enjoyment;
he is placed as head of creation. For him the earth teems with the
richest profusion; the golden grain, the luscious fruit, the choicest
vines; for him, the herbs, and flowers, bedeck the earth, shed their
odoriferous perfumes, and display their gorgeous beauty; for him, the
proud horse yields his back, the cow gives her milk, and the bee its
honey; for him, the sheep yields its fleece, the cotton-tree its down,
and the worm its silk. For him, the shrub and vine bloom and blossom,
and nature clothes herself in her richest attire; the rippling stream,
the pure fountain, the crystal river flow for him, all nature spreads
her richest charms, and invites him to partake of her joyousness,
beauty, and innocence, and to worship her God.
Talk about melancholy, in the fear of God, and in his service! It
is the corruption of the world, that has made men unhappy; and the
corruption of religion that has made it gloomy: these are the miseries
entailed by men, not the blessings of God. Talk about gloom! is there
gloom in the warbling of the birds, in the prancing of the horse, in
the playfulness of the lamb, or kid; in the beauty of flowers, in any
of Nature's gifts, or rich attire, or in God, that made them, or in his
service?
There are others, again, who would place the Lord at an immense
distance, and render our approach to him almost impossible; but this
is a superstitious idea, for our Father listens to the cries of his
children, numbers the hairs of their heads; and the Scriptures say,
"a sparrow cannot fall to the ground, without his notice." He speaks
to his elect, and says, "He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of
his eye." Zech. ii. 8. He is our Father; and hence the Scriptures tell
us to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven." Paul says, "We have had
fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence;
shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits,
and live?" Heb. xii. 9. We have, then, both a temporal and a spiritual
Father; and hence his solicitude for our welfare, and his desire for
our happiness. Says Jesus, "If a son ask bread, will he for bread give
him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent. If ye,
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how
much more shall your Father which is in heaven, give good things to
them that ask him."
What a delightful reflection for his servants, to draw nigh to their
Father, as to an endearing parent, and ask for blessings, as a son
would ask for bread, and be confident of receiving. Hence the faithful
in the Apostles' days received a spirit, whereby they could say, "Abba,
Father," or Father, Father. What an endearing relationship! and if the
world could comprehend, how gladly would they throw themselves upon
his guardianship, seek his wisdom and government, and claim a father's
benediction; but Satan has blinded the eyes of the world, and they know
not the things which make for their peace.