"Either this is the case, or else our faith in a hereafter is a myth. You prove to me that our birth is the commencement of the intelligence of man, and you also convince me that death is its end. But we have enough given in the scriptures to convince us that birth is not the beginning, and likewise that death is not the end. Christ said He came forth from the Father (John xvi: 28), and it was His prayer that the glory which He had before coming would be His when He returned. (John xvii: 5.) In His teachings to His Apostles He must have familiarized them with this exalted principle of pre-existence, for upon one occasion they came to Him with a question, concerning a blind man: 'Who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' (John ix: 2.) Surely had this been a foolish question, Christ would have corrected them, but He answered them in a manner leading us to understand that it was a principle firmly believed in by them all; and comprehending this, as certainly they did, they, more than our generation, could intelligently lisp the prayer taught them by the Master: 'Our Father who art in heaven.' Our Divine Record says that God is the Father of the spirits of all flesh (Num. xvi: 22), in whose hand is the soul of every living thing (Job xii: 10); and we find in it that when death comes, the spirit of man will return to God who gave it. (Eccl. xii: 7.) Job was asked by the Lord where he was when the foundation of the earth was laid (Job. xxxviii: 3-7), and the Almighty declared He not only knew but ordained Jeremiah to be a prophet before his earthly birth. (Jer. i: 5.) From these passages, and many others that might be cited, it should be very easy for Christians to understand that there is a natural and a spiritual body." (I. Cor. xv: 44.)
"Mr. Durant," said Sutherland, "whether this principle is true or otherwise, it cannot be gainsaid that you have scripture to support it."
"Why should we not have, Mr. Sutherland? It is truth, and it is only natural that the truth should appear reasonable. As quoted, God asks Job: 'Who laid the corner stones of this earth, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?' (Job xxxviii: 7.) Now I sincerely believe that we were there, that we helped to compose that large congregation of sons of God, and that we did shout for joy at beholding the time approaching when we also would have the privilege of visiting an earth where our Father would give us an opportunity to become possessed of bodies which should eventually be eternal abiding places for our spirits; that when we came to this school we should have our judgments taken away, or, in other words, that all recollection of our former existence should be withdrawn, in order that we might be able to use the greatest gift of all, which is 'free agency,' to do good or evil and become to a certain extent Gods in embryo, and then when we returned home from this school our Father could reward us, his children, according to our works."
"Your explanation carries with it conviction. I have been very much interested and desire to talk further with you on this subject, but fear I am doing you an injustice by requiring you to speak so much. I must not forget that the neighbors are coming in tonight, and I should therefore not weary you."
"You need not fear, I assure you: I have been talking now upon these principles for two years; it is my mission, and I am well pleased to find people who are willing to hear."
"I am very anxious to listen, I can assure you," replied Mr. Sutherland. "Let us walk through the village, you can view our improvements, and perhaps shake hands with many whom you met when here before; we might then return in time for supper, and rest awhile before our evening chat."
This proposition was agreed to, and taking their hats, the two men went out. The first person met on the ramble was our medical friend, who, learning of Mr. Durant's intended return, was hastening to the Marshall residence to welcome him. The greeting which the young missionary received from his true and lasting friend was unaffected and sincere, meaning more than language can express. Questions and answers regarding the missionary's trip, and matters, which to the general reader would amount to mere commonplace, were exchanged by the conversation, and must have been interesting to them, for it was continued during the whole of what proved a very long walk.
"I begin to feel quite like a resident here," said the Elder, "though, perhaps, I ought to say that my acquaintance is not the only cause for that feeling, for I try to be at ease wherever I go."
"And succeed I should say. If your experience elsewhere has been anything like that at Westminster."
"Yes, indeed, and in so doing I find no little comfort in the words of an eminent man who is classed as a 'pagan,' an agnostic, and so on, but who, I verily believe, was as much a Christian at heart as most of us certainly much more so than many who engage in the promulgation of Christianity as a profession: 'The world is my home, and humanity my kindred.'"