“DELIVER me from the narrowing influence of human lessons, from human systems of theology. Teach me directly out of the fulness and freeness of Thine own Word. Hasten the time when, unfettered by sectarian intolerance, and unawed by the authority of men, the Bible shall make its rightful impression upon all; the simple and obedient readers thereof calling no man Master, but Christ only."-Dr. Chalmers. THE PERISHING SOUL According to Scripture ; WITH REFERENCE ALSO TO ANCIENT JEWISH BELIEF, AND THE CHRISTIAN BY J. M. DENNISTON, M. A., AUTHOR OF "ANCIENT LANDMARKS," ETC. "THEY SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, WHETHER THOSE THINGS WERE SO." Acts xvii. 11. LONDON: F. BOWYER KITTO, 5, BISHOPSGATE STREET WITHOUT. PREFACE. IF the doctrine of immortality through the first Adam, and of endless suffering apart from the Second, be indeed of God, then every attempt to unsettle our neighbour's belief in it must be in a high degree wrong, presumptuous, and dangerous. For if such be the truth, then-" Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" is an abundant answer to everything that equity can urge against it; and the single sentence, "GOD IS LOVE," should equally suffice to silence every murmur which the thought of mercy or goodness may tempt us to. But if, on the other hand, that doctrine is without warrant in the Bible, then it must be of the highest moment to recall men from the new to the oldfrom the false to the true-from the human to the divine. Neither the honour of God nor the interests of man can permit of any compromise or alternative here. For it is a fact, however slow some may be to recognize it, that there is in the minds of multitudes no objection to the word of God comparable to the |